RECOMMENDATION
THAT the staff report entitled “Information Report - Federal Green Space Stewardship
Advisory Committee”, dated July 7, 2003, be received;
AND THAT
Transport Canada be invited to attend a Part A Development Services Committee
meeting in early fall to present the draft Green Space Master Plan;
AND THAT
Transport Canada consider the request by the Town to protect and manage lands
adjacent to the Little Rouge Creek consistent with the Rouge Park principles
and protect a 100 metre wide environmental corridor connecting the Rouge
Watershed to Majors Creek along the southern boundary of the Pickering Airport
Site;
AND THAT
Transport Canada, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, the Region of York,
TRCA and the Rouge Park Alliance, be provided with a copy of this report;
AND FURTHER
THAT the Federal Government be commended in their efforts to protect Federal
Green Space lands in Markham.
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
The purpose
of this report is to update Committee on the work underway by Transport Canada
on the Federal Green Space Master Plan process.
BACKGROUND
Federal Government initiates Green Space Master Plan process for Federal
holdings
In May of 2002, Transport Minister David Collenette announced the
Government of Canada’s Green Space Strategy to protect the federally owned
portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine in Markham, Pickering and Uxbridge and a
north-south corridor generally located west of Ninth Line in Markham for Rouge
Park. The lands protected a total of 3051
hectares (7562 acres) in Markham, Uxbridge and Pickering. In Markham the Federal Green Space lands
generally comprise approximately 396 hectares (979 acres) on the Oak Ridges
Moraine and 617 hectares (1525 acres) along the alternate Rouge Park Corridor.
The lands are identified on Figure 1.
To assist
with the development of the Green Space Master and Stewardship Plan, the
Minister created the Green Space Stewardship Advisory Committee (GSSAC)
comprising members from the local and regional municipalities affected, a
tenant representative, a TRCA representative, an ORM representative and a
member from an environmental interest group (Green Door Alliance). The Town of Markham representative is Lilli
Duoba, Senior Project Coordinator, Environmental Planning and Rouge Park. The
Committee has met a number of times to identify issues and begin to formulate a
Green Space Master Plan for the area. A group of consultants headed by EDA
Collaborative and Senes Consultants Ltd. have been hired by the federal
government to assist in the process. Completion of a Green Space Master Plan is
targeted for the Fall of 2003.
Green Space Vision
Transport Canada, through the Green Space Master Plan process has
developed the following draft vision for the Federal Green Space lands:
“Stewardship of the Green Space Lands will showcase Canada’s
international leadership role in healthy, sustainable living in the near urban
environment. The Plan will demonstrate Stewardship principles through the
method of providing various functions including ecological, agricultural,
recreational, tourism, economic, and community values, within a management
framework, which will adapt to change over time.”
The Green Space Master Plan is intended to reflect this draft vision or
a similar version.
Green Space Master Plan process steered by Guiding Principles
The Terms of Reference for the Green Space Stewardship Advisory
Committee (GSSAC) included a set of 15 Guiding Principles. The Guiding Principles were prepared prior
to the Committee commencing its work and previously announced by Minister
Collenette in May 2002 as part of the Green Space Strategy. The Guiding Principles are attached as
Appendix ‘A’. Key aspects of the
principles include:
·
Ownership
will remain with the federal government
·
Environmentally
sensitive areas will be protected
·
Agricultural
uses should continue
·
No
new residential or large scale development will be permitted
·
General
public to have controlled access with uses being passive
·
Long
term renaturalization will be a priority
·
No
expansion of service corridors (major highways, municipal services etc.) except
where linked to smart urban
transportation solutions, as approved by the Minister
Pickering Airport planning process underway
In early
2002, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) established the Pickering
Advisory Committee (PAC) and several supporting committees to advise on the
preparation of Pickering Airport financial and land use plans. Transport Canada
oversees this work. Mayor Cousens and
Councillor Heath represent Markham on the PAC and Tim Lambe, Manager of Policy
and Research represents the Town on the Government Affairs Working Group and
attends all the PAC meetings. The
Pickering Airport work includes a number of studies on the environment,
transportation, land use and airport operations that may impact on the work of
the GSSAC. The federal government is ensuring that these two parallel efforts
are coordinated and information is shared.
COMMENTS
North-south
Rouge Park Corridor consistent with Rouge North Management Plan and Town’s
draft Rouge North Official Plan Amendment
The Green Space Master
Plan process identifies a substantial north-south linkage comprising the
westerly boundary of the Pickering Airport Site. The identification of these lands for Rouge Park is consistent
with the Rouge Park Management Plan (1994), Rouge North Management Plan (2001)
and the Town’s draft Rouge North Official Plan Amendment. The Rouge North Management Plan and the
Town’s draft Rouge North Official Plan Amendment both identify the preparation
of a site-specific management plan for the long-term management of this
connecting corridor. The current Green
Space Master Plan meets the intent of this policy.
The federal Rouge Park
corridor extends north from the main branch of the Little Rouge Creek on lands
owned by ORC and intended to be transferred to TRCA and the Town for Rouge Park
purposes. The federal corridor
comprises approximately 800 hectares (2000 acres) including the federal portion
of the Oak Ridges Moraine lands.
Federal Green
Space Master Plan process is generally consistent with Eastern Markham
Strategic Review
The Eastern Markham Strategic Review (EMSR)
was initiated by Council in November 2002, for the purpose of developing a
policy framework to guide Council on possible future land use, environment and
transportation requirements in eastern Markham. The Federal Green Space Master Plan process has been recognized
as an important initiative affecting Eastern Markham.
The EMSR process has identified two key
environmental properties on the Federal Green Space holding. It is recommended that the Federal
government convey these two parcels to the Toronto and Region Conservation
Authority for rounding out of the Little Rouge Creek Corridor. The EMSR process has also identified a
recommended 100 metre wide east-west linkage to Majors Creek. Staff have spoken to the Transport Canada
staff regarding protection of this key linkage and they are open to considering
the protection of the linkage for the purposes being recommended. The parcels are identified on Figure 2.
Transportation
and servicing infrastructure requires careful consideration to address emerging
and future needs
The Green Space Guiding
Principle No 12 states that:
“No expansion
of service corridors (major highways, pipelines – fuel, sewer, water) except
where there would be linkage with smart urban transportation solutions, as
approved by the Minister.”
The Region
of York owns Ninth Line, Major Mackenzie Drive and York Durham Line and has
planned 10-year capital road expansion projects in the area including
improvements to Ninth Line and Major McKenzie Drive. The Town of Markham owns Nineteenth Avenue, Reesor Road and Elgin
Mills Road. There are currently no
improvement works scheduled by the Town for roads or services within the
Federal Green Space lands.
In addition
to identified capital works, the York Region Transportation Master Plan
identifies long-term transportation projects in this area, as well as some
municipal works (Stouffville Trunk Sewer along Ninth Line). Some of these
planned facilities may require right-of-way expansions. The Town of Markham Transportation Planning
Study does not identify any major improvements for the planning horizon to
2011. Also influencing transportation
is the airport transportation and servicing planning studies underway by the
Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA).
If the Pickering Airport is approved to proceed the need for improved
transportation facilities in the area of the Green Space lands should be
protected. As such, a coordinated
approach to infrastructure needs in the area will be necessary, particularly to
respond to the environmental protection priority of the Green Space lands. The short and long-term transportation
planning needs should be considered in the context of the Federal Green Space
Master Plan as identified by the EMSR Committee. The Region of York and Town of Markham have both responded to a
resolution passed by the Rouge Park Alliance with respect to infrastructure
within the Rouge Park. The Town of
Markham resolution is attached as Appendix ‘B’ for information. A comparable position should apply in the
case of the Green Space lands, Principle 12.
Work of the GSSAC and the GTAA are
being coordinated by the federal government staff.
Green Space Master Plan to be
finalized in the Fall 2003
The completion of the
Federal Green Space Master Plan is expected in the Fall of 2003. Key issues for the Town of Markham are:
- An inspiring Green Space Master Plan
reflecting the Green Space priorities for ecological, agricultural,
tourism, economic, community and recreation functions;
- Protection and integration of future
Airport, Regional and Town transportation and servicing infrastructure
needs;
- Preservation of heritage structures;
- Integration of public use and public
access within the Green Space lands;
- Interface of the Green Space Lands with
adjoining federal and private lands;
- Short and long term land use for Federal
non-green space lands in Markham; and,
- The role of the municipality in Green
Space Lands implementation.
Staff
anticipate a further report to the Development Services Committee at that time,
as the basis for formal Town comments to the Minister.
FINANCIAL
CONSIDERATIONS
There are no
financial implications for the Town.
CONCLUSION
The Federal Green Space Master
Plan process represents a significant contribution to the Rouge Park and green
space in eastern Markham, and supports recommendations emerging from the
Eastern Markham Strategic Review process.
It would be appropriate to invite staff from Transport Canada to a Work
Session of Development Services Committee in the Fall to present the draft
Master Plan and obtain Committee input.
The Federal Government should be commended for it’s contribution and
long-term commitment for green space in Markham.
ATTACHMENTS
Figure 1 - Federal
Green Space Initiative
Figure 2 - Federal
Green Space Initiative – Eastern Markham Strategic Review
Recommendations
Appendix ‘A’ - Federal
Government Green Space Guiding Principles
Appendix ‘B’ - Council
Resolution regarding Rouge Park Infrastructure
File Path - Q:\Development\Planning\MISC\MI445
Federal Greenspace\
report to DSC July 7,
2003.doc
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Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director of Planning and Urban Design
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Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Commissioner of Development Services
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