THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE

COMMERCIAL POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Canada Room, Markham Civic Centre

February 21, 2005

 

MINUTES

 

Attendance

 

Members:

Mayor D. Cousens

Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti (10:20 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.)

Councillor J. Virgilio

Councillor G. McKelvey

 

Others:

Councillor D. Horchik

 

Staff

J. Baird, Commissioner of Development Services

V. Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design

E. Silva-Stewart, Senior Planner, Policy and Research

B. Karumanchery, Senior Project Coordinator

J. Kee, Committee Clerk

 

Guests

B. Clarkson, MHBC Planning (Trinity)

M. Glase, Miller Paving Ltd.

L. McArthur, Miller Paving Ltd.

D. Stewart, Boxgrove Hill Dev. Inc.

S. Thompson, Loblaw Properties Ltd.

S. Zakem, Aird & Berlis

J. Kirk, Malone Given Parsons Ltd.

 

 

 

The fourth meeting of the Commercial Policy Review Committee convened at

10:05 a.m. with Mayor Cousens in the Chair.

 

 

 

 

1.         MINUTES OF THIRD MEETING OF COMMERCIAL POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE – SEPTEMBER 29, 2004

 

That the minutes of the third meeting of the Commercial Policy Review Committee held on September 29, 2004 be adopted.

CARRIED

 

 

 

2.         STATUS OF COMMERCIAL POLICY REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Ms. Val Shuttleworth, Director of Planning, provided information for Committee on the status of the Commercial Policy Review recommendations; the Neighbourhood Commercial Strategy; Lifestyle Centres; Commercial Inventory and Highway #48; and the Peer Review.  Staff reports for the Neighbourhood Commercial Strategy and Lifestyle Centres are targeted for the Development Services Committee on March 1, 2005

 

Committee discussed a variety of issues and requested staff to provide information on the following matters:

 

            - inclusion of Markham Centre in Commercial Policy Review

            - minimum gross floor areas

            - summary of revisions proposed

            - definition of “lifestyle centre”

            - details of the proposed “lifestyle centre” development in the Barrie area, and also

                              the proposed development in the Don Mills Shopping Centre

 

 

 

3.         STAFF COMMENTS ON DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE

 

Staff presented detailed opinions on the three development applications under consideration: Loblaws; Miller; and Woodbine Cachet West, and Members were advised that three separate comprehensive staff reports, with recommendations, are targeted for Development Services Committee on March 22, 2005.  In addition, the Director of Planning also provided a brief update on the status of the Box Grove developers issues with respect to the Business Corridor Area O.P.A..

 

Reference was made to the Retail Impact Study and the Commercial Inventory which had been undertaken by Mr. John Winter of John Winter and Associates, Consultant, and staff advised that a Peer Review is now being undertaken, in addition to an Urban Design Study for Highway 48.  The results of these studies will be communicated to Council through the Development Services Committee at a later date.

 

 

Mr. Leo McArthur, of Miller Paving Ltd., was in attendance and provided comments on the Miller application, and asked that Council give it fair consideration.

 

Mr. Jim Kirk, of Malone Given Parsons Ltd., was also in attendance, and spoke in support of the Miller application.  Committee requested that Mr. Kirk put his comments in writing to be considered by Development Services Committee along with the staff report of March 22nd.

 

Mr. Brent Clarkson, MHBC Planning (Trinity), was also in attendance, and responded to staff’s comments regarding the Miller application.

 

Mr. Steven Zakem, of Aird & Berlis, expressed comments on behalf of the Loblaws application, and advised Members that he would continue to work with staff regarding the application.

 

There were no representatives present on behalf of the Woodbine Cachet West development application.

 

The Chair expressed his appreciation to staff for all of the work carried out to date on this matter.

 

 

 

4.         COMMUNICATIONS

 

Moved by Councillor G. McKelvey

Seconded by Councillor J. Virgilio

 

That the letter dated September 20th, 2004 from Dave Forfar, 14 Elizabeth Street, regarding his concerns over the proposed development possibilities for the Highway 48 and Bur Oak site, be received;

 

And that the letter dated September 20th, 2004 from Steven A. Zakem, Aird & Berlis LLP, regarding the engagement of a public meeting for Loblaw Properties Limited, be received.

 

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

5.         DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

It was agreed that the Committee would continue to meet on an “as-needed” basis, and any future meetings of the Commercial Policy Committee would be at the call of the Chair.

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The fourth meeting of the Commercial Policy Committee adjourned at 11:55 a.m.