M E M O R A N D U M

DATE: October 11, 2005

TO: Mayor and Members of Council

Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services

Catherine Conrad, Town Solicitor

FROM: Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design

Lilli Duoba, Senior Project Co-ordinator

SUBJECT: Response to Jim Robb’s Comments

On Wednesday September 28, 2005 staff received a copy of the comments prepared by Jim Robb, Friends of the Rouge Watershed, on Markham’s draft Rouge North Management Area/Greenbelt Official Plan Amendment forwarded to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and others (copy attached). Although the comments were not addressed to the Town Clerk for consideration within the context of our OPA planning process, staff would like to respond to the issues raised since they are directly related to our draft Official Plan Amendment. The FWR comments were received after the finalization of the Report to Council and were therefore not included in the staff report.

Issue 1. Little Rouge Creek Corridor width and uses need to be consistent with the Rouge North Management Plan.

Jim Robb has suggested that the reference to stormwater facilities, municipal parks and parking areas outside of the 400 metre corridor is inconsistent with the uses identified in the Rouge North Management Plan for the 600 metre corridor. This is also an issue raised by the Rouge Park Alliance.

The Rouge North Management Plan provides criteria and direction on compatible open space uses within the Little Rouge Creek corridor and further specific direction on uses will be articulated through the Little Rouge Creek Management Plan process. As such, staff have no objection to removing the reference in the draft OPA and deferring to the Rouge North Management Plan and Little Rouge Creek Management Plan for compatible use direction. Staff have included clarification on parking facilities for Rouge Park purposes to ensure that adequate parking to accommodate appropriate Rouge Park public uses would be permitted.

Issue 2. Respect watershed, Water Budget, Source Protection and NHS Plans

Jim Robb has requested that future urban expansion be tied to the Rouge Watershed Strategy and other Provincial and TRCA documents.

Section 2.16.6 n) was originally prepared with input from Jim Robb in 2003 to address the same issue. Any future urban expansion in the Town shall be undertaken in a manner consistent with the Provincial requirements identified through the Growth Plans for the Golden Horseshoe Area and all applicable Provincial and municipal policies and having regard for all Toronto Region Conservation Authority policies and applicable watershed plans.

Issue 3. Protection of Rouge watershed tributaries
Jim Robb has identified that clarification is needed in the Little Rouge Creek policy section to ensure that tributaries of the Little Rouge Creek, not subject to the 600 metre corridor, will be subject to the ecological criteria.

The main branch of the Little Rouge Creek is subject to the policies providing for a 600 metre corridor. The tributaries of the Little Rouge Creek not forming the main branch as identified on Schedule ‘J’ are subject to the Middle Reaches policies and ecological criteria (Section 2.16.9 h).

Issue 4. Municipal Infrastructure

Jim Robb has suggested that the infrastructure policy wording contained in the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan be integrated into the draft OPA.

Section 2.16.6 h) permits infrastructure facilities within the Rouge Park, subject to consideration within the context of applicable legislation (Planning Act, Environmental Assessment Act et al), directs that infrastructure be minimized where possible and directs that all infrastructure within the park provide opportunities for enhanced environmental benefits. Jim Robb has requested the Town adopt the approach taken in the Oak Ridges Moraine Plan, however, the Rouge Amendment does not overlap with the Oak Ridges Moraine, but rather the Greenbelt Plan. As such the Rouge policies must be consistent with the Greenbelt Plan. The Province has not identified any issue with the wording of the Town’s infrastructure policies.

5. Application of the Ecological Criteria with the Urban Area

Jim Robb has requested that ‘best efforts’ and ‘best ecological science’ be used for delineating the boundary for new developments in the existing urban service area.

Section 2.16.7 f) provides direction for Town staff to negotiate enhanced protection of the Rouge boundary as appropriate where opportunities arise within the existing urban service area. The delineation of the watercourses within the existing urban area is subject to statutory approvals including Official Plan and Secondary Plan policies, Plans of Subdivision and existing Zoning.

Attach.