THE THIRTEENTH MEETING OF THE

EASTERN MARKHAM STRATEGIC REVIEW COMMITTEE

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Ontario Room - Markham Civic Centre

June 20, 2003

MINUTES

Attendance

Councillor J. Heath (Chair)

Regional Councillor T. Wong

Councillor G. McKelvey

Staff

V. Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design

T. Lambe, Manager, Policy and Research Division

L. Wheeler, Senior Planner

K. Bavington, Committee Clerk

Consultants and Residents

Joanna Kidd, LURA - Project Facilitator

Rash Mohammed - ORC Consultant

Paul Peterson, Legal Consultant

John O'Gorman, resident

The Eastern Markham Strategic Review Committee convened at 9:30 a.m. with Councillor J. Heath in the Chair.

1. Review of Minutes

The minutes of the Eastern Markham Strategic Review Committee meeting held June 13, 2003 were adopted as presented.

2. Follow-up from June 13th meeting/ New Business

2.1 Letter from Michael McQuaid dated June 13, 2003 - received

The correspondence indicates support for the Draft Report, particularly for the suggested action for L5.

2.2 Letter from William Virdiramo dated June 9, 2003 - received

The correspondence indicates support for agricultural uses, and states the writer's preference to purchase or obtain a long-term lease for his land. The Committee recognized that ORC needs to deal with land owners equitably, in and outside of the tenant purchase program.

3. Discussion items

3.1 Preferred Approach re Provincial Lands (incl L6)

A handout was provided regarding the basis for dialogue regarding Provincial lands in Eastern Markham. Key issues and objectives are to be identified.

3.2 Appropriate Tools to Achieve Objectives (incl L1,L3)

Paul Peterson provided a draft chart of tools for discussion.

- not an either/or issue, should use multiple mechanisms

- consider advantage of tax relief provided by some solutions

- disadvantage of easements is difficulty of enforcement

- long-term optimum preference is new Smart Growth land use legislation

- identify alternate areas for urban boundaries, to steer development away from

Eastern Markham

- strategy: get Province to commit/agree to agricultural use in perpetuity

: impose MZO as immediate short-term measure

: work to put long-term mechanisms in place - agricultural easements at
the time the land is transferred to TRCA

- give the Province an incentive - "Smart Growth" agenda

- cooperative approach

- convince the province of the agricultural viability of the area

- the vision is a thriving countryside; green is better than paved

3.3 Review and Agreement re Wording Changes from June 13 Discussion

Draft document dated June 19, 2003, was reviewed in detail.

3.4 Review and Agreement re Matters Identified at DSC June 17

A handout was provided.

L1 - Tenant Purchase Program:

- Town has consistently support the tenant purchase program

- wording to ensure agricultural preservation has been strengthened

- Heritage and Study Area designations will protect against inappropriate uses

L3 - Minister's Zoning Orders/Easements

- a cooperative package may be best approach

- include some immediate short-term steps (ask for MZO) and permanent

long-term solutions (easements and legislative changes)

- easements should be in three parties (Region, Town & TRCA) so it will be

harder to change

L6 - indicate what we want, not second choices

E11- what is the rationale for E11 - to expand park?

- recognize the role of residents and hamlets

- voluntary placement of ag/conservation easements on private land can be

added to the responsibilities of the Rural Liaison Committee.

- strengthen E11, delete E6

T5 - strengthen wording

T - GTAA has concluded that there is no opportunity to link airport to 401/407

T - alignment of by-pass is predetermining the Class EA and is too specific

T10 - specifying rail transit nodes is too detailed - reword to "as many as

possible"

O4 - no change in wording with respect to Crown Rights, but add a rationale to

Explain why it is needed

Appendix - add organic farming to agricultural uses

- add reference to MDS for future consideration

3.5 Priorities Among Recommended Actions

It was suggested that priorities be dealt with in the resolution by identifying 3 or more items for immediate action, and staff report back in September, prioritizing actions

3.6 Finalization of Vision Statement

3.7 Format for July 7

- consultant's reports, Public Meeting reports, and correspondence received will

be appendices to the final report

- Clerk's staff to compile correspondence package

- an implementation strategy report will follow in the fall, however, dialogue

with ORC should begin before that time

- Rash Mohammed requested copies of the reports for review

3.8 Resolution for July 7

- to be presented by the Chair of the EMSR Committee

- will include reference to the Council resolution of November 2002

- will request the EMSR Report be received and endorsed

- will include a paragraph dealing with approach to the Province

4. Further Business

-Committee discussed a resolution before the Rouge Park Alliance today, proposing to request that Heritage designation of buildings be withdrawn until an evaluation has been undertaken. Town staff consider that adequate reports and evaluations have been completed already, and that actions taken reflect the intentions of the RNMP. Committee reviewed the status of RPA as a corporation, and it's ineligibility to object to the Heritage designation.

- Committee discussed the need for traffic calming and enforcement of speed limits in rural areas, in consideration of farm vehicles.

Consultants and Residents

Fri June 27 Final EMSR Report Complete for Submission to Clerk

Mon. June 30 Deadline to Clerk for July 7 DSC Agenda Items