THE EIGHTH MEETING OF THE
EASTERN MARKHAM STRATEGIC REVIEW COMMITTEE
TOWN OF MARKHAM
Ontario Room - Markham Civic Centre
APRIL 11, 2003
MINUTES
Attendance
Regional Councillor T. Wong
Councillor G. McKelvey
Staff
J. Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
M.F. Turner, Commissioner of
Strategy, Innovation and Partnerships
V. Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design
T. Lambe, Manager, Policy and Research Division
S. Heaslip, Senior Project Coordinator
L. Wheeler, Senior Planner
K. Bavington, Committee Clerk
Consultants and Residents
Joanna Kidd, LURA - project facilitator
Mike Whittamore, resident
John O'Gorman, resident
The Eastern Markham Strategic Review Committee convened at 9:30 a.m. with Councillor J. Heath in the Chair.
1. Introductions
The participants of the meeting were introduced.
2. Review of Minutes
The minutes of the Eastern Markham Strategic Review Committee meetings held March 7, 2003 and March 21, 2003 were adopted as presented.
3. Follow-up from March 21st Meeting/ New
Business
3.1 Rouge Park land transfer - notification from Brian Varner
The province is planning an announcement later this month.
3.2 GTAA Transportation Base Case Report
Committee was provided a copy of the GTAA Transportation Base Case. It was determined that a consultant presentation on this matter is not required.
3.3 Memorandum from Director of Economic Development
The Director of Economic Development is preparing a memo for the Committee, summarizing the presentation given on March 21, 2003.
3.4 Pickering Growth Management Study Open House, April 16 2003
An Open House will be held on April 16. Staff will attend and ensure that the Town is placed on the mailing list, and will report at the next Committee Meeting.
3.5 Airport Zoning Regulations Public Open Houses, April 30 and May 3 2003, and Draft PASZR Guidance Document
Correspondence was received from David Bayliss, Regional Manager of Transport Canada, with the final draft document attached. Staff will provide a copy to all Council members for information. The draft AZR will be published in the Canada Gazette on April 12 and 19, 2003.
The Open House will be advertised to Markham residents on the Markham page of the newspaper. There is a concern that TRCA has not been involved, and an invitation will be sent to them to attend the Open House
Staff will report to Council following the Open House. It is recommended that the Town move forward on a cooperative basis, and endorse the AZR in principle. However, staff should identify the need to focus on the implementation process especially as this relates to Town-owned uses. Discussions included grandfathering.
3.6 Rouge Alliance resolution re: transportation & infrastructure in Rouge Park
Committee received the staff report dated March 25, 2003 and the Markham Council extract dated April 1, 2003, in which the Town "continues to support the current provisions of the Rouge North Management Plan…"
3.7 Rouge
Park OPA
The Committee was advised that meetings are being scheduled between stakeholders and the Rouge Park Alliance with respect to the Rouge Park OPA.
3.8 Transportation Influences
Further to the previous transportation presentation and input from the Committee,
a revised chart showing transportation influences was provided.
4.
Schedule for Balance of EMSR Committee Work
- April 11 - EMSRC Meeting
- April 25 - EMSRC Meeting
- April 30 - Notice for second Forum, if required
- May 9 - EMSRC Meeting
- May 12/15 - Second Forum, if required
- May 23 - EMSRC Meeting
- June 13 - EMSRC Meeting
- June 17 - presentation to DSC, if feedback required before report finalized, or if DSC meeting is used for public commentary rather than/in addition to a second forum
- June 20 - EMSRC Meeting, if required
- June 20 - Deadline (normal) for Report to DSC on July 7
- June 30 - Deadline to Clerk for July 7 DSC
- July 7 - Final Report to DSC
- July 8 - DSC recommendation to Council
The decision on whether to hold a second Public Forum was deferred. It may be held in conjunction with a presentation to the Development Services Committee.
Committee confirmed that a second Transportation forum (due to weather at the first forum) is not required
- Discussion re Public Forums on March 31st and
April 3rd
5.1 Correspondence Received
Committee received a package of correspondence from the Public Forums:
o Jennora Limited
o Emery Investments
o Camp Robin Hood
o TRCA
o Barry Little
o Comment Forms
§ Lloyd Cherniak
§ Ron Christie
§ Bev Driscoll
5.2 Distribution of Notes and Presentation
Materials
At the Public
Forum, a commitment had been made to distribute notes and materials to all who
attended (75) plus there had been a few additional requests for the packages,
and all Council members will also receive them.
5.3 Issues Arising from the Forums
Joanna Kidd provided draft meeting notes broken down into categories, and the Committee discussed the comments received. There was both a convergence and a divergence of opinions expressed. The question of whether it is viable to consider agriculture in perpetuity was raised.
5.4 Discussion
John O'Gorman made several statements:
1. If the lands are to remain agricultural/rural, the agricultural income of farmers will be tied to their ability to stay and invest long-term, otherwise, the next generation will find other ways to utilize the land
2. Critical mass/density - density is required to support agriculture, however, urban intrusion disturbs agricultural potential (odours, noise, spraying)
3. Agritainment (B&B, pick-your-own) has a growing impact
4. Simple Justice - if the land was expropriated, land owners should have first chance to purchase at agricultural prices, without the right to flip it. He suggested a penalty clause in the purchase contract, in the event of re-sale.
Committee discussed mechanisms that can prevent turnover of land, such as easements, and the need to dispel the assumption that the land can be used for development speculation. It was suggested that development is not a right, and the public interests have to be protected.
The following items were discussed:
- will government lands be subject to Official Plan and Zoning regulations
- it will make a difference if the lands are within or outside the urban boundary
- agricultural planners are required, rather than urban planners
- economic development issues are important to agricultural viability
- agricultural preserve to be considered for agricultural use and for parkland
- tenants' desire to get their properties back will be a key issue
- low subsides are discouraging to young people working as farmers
- the tenant-purchase land encompasses 650 acres, which is the equivalent to one
or two farms, although it is currently fragmented
- transportation infrastructure expansion will create a major impact on farming
- review of constraints and the probability of retaining agricultural lands as an
urban separator
- "countryside" and "agritainment" uses - what should be permitted
- consider park expansion and open space links if the tenant does not want to
purchase the property
- discussion of urban boundaries location
- commercial classification may affect the tax assessment of properties
- the Town can request that the ORC layer on controls, such as easements, and
consider the Rouge Park to be an urban boundary
- premature to consider the impact of the airport
- should the Province identify lands east of the rail line as open space
- this strategic review should be making a statement about opportunities to
enhance surplus airport lands (i.e. - green space) by declaring the Town's interest
- the Rouge Alliance should be preparing the Rouge Park Plan, and the Federal
government should be preparing a Green Space Initiative Plan; the Town should
participate in both
- Rouge Alliance has been encouraging expansion of the park to the east to
include all government lands, but the Province has not responded to date
- is Parks Canada involved - coordination between groups is required
- is the park being created in Markham from the Rouge Park OPA called "Rouge
Park" - should Markham have an increased role
- private ownership east of Rouge will improve homesteads
- Rouge Park connection under the 407 needs more attention - title to land for
connection
6. Further Business
6.1 Follow up with Mark Schollen, Paul Peterson and Harry Cummings
- schedule for next meeting
6.2 Continuation of request to ORC to provide information
- staff will continue to request information from ORC regarding the tenant
purchase program
7. Next Meeting - April 25 9:30 – 12:30 p.m. – Ontario Room
Tentative
agenda:
- The agricultural and legal consultants will be present to discuss options.
- Begin to prepare principles/recommendations
Adjournment
The Eastern Markham Strategic Review Committee adjourned at 12:15 p.m.