Report to: Development Services Committee                       Date of Meeting:  February 6, 2007

 

 

SUBJECT:                          PRELIMINARY REPORT

                                            Dufferin Concrete

                                            7655 Woodbine Avenue

                                            Applications for Official Plan and zoning by-law amendment to permit the modernization of an existing concrete plant

 

                                            FILES:  OP 06 132795 and ZA 06 132837

                                           

PREPARED BY:               Scott Heaslip, ext. 3140

                                            Senior Project Coordinator,

                                            Central District

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That a Public Meeting be held to consider the applications for Official Plan and zoning by-law amendment submitted by Dufferin Concrete to permit the modernization of the existing concrete plant at 7655 Woodbine Avenue.

 

And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution. 

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable.


1. Purpose                2. Background         3. Discussion             4. Financial         5. Environmental

 

6. Accessibility       7. Engage 21st             8. Affected Units       9. Attachment(s)

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide preliminary information regarding applications for Official Plan and zoning by-law amendment for the proposed modernization of the Dufferin Concrete batching plant located on the east side of Woodbine Avenue, south of Riviera Drive, and to obtain authorization for staff to schedule a Public Meeting to consider the applications.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

Subject Lands and Area Context

The 3 hectare (7.4 acre) property is located at the south-east corner of Woodbine Avenue and Riviera Drive.   The property is occupied by a concrete batching plant operated by Dufferin Concrete, a division of St. Lawrence Cement.  

 

Surrounding uses include multiple unit industrial buildings to the south and east, vacant lands and a multiple tenant industrial building to the north across Riviera Drive, and commercial uses to the west across Woodbine Avenue.

 

Applicant proposes to modernize existing facility

Dufferin Concrete is in the midst of a program of modernizing and upgrading their existing facilities across the GTA to reduce environmental impact, improve efficiency, and improve customer service.  

 

The proposed modernization and upgrading of this facility includes the replacement of the existing batch plant (cement storage silos and mixers), operations building (operator’s office and storage), aggregate handling system (aggregate storage and conveyors to batch plant), boiler house (compressed air for machinery and steam for winter operations), and washout facility (wash down and wash out returning trucks). 

 

The existing truck repair garage building at the front of the property is proposed to remain in its current location and use.   

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

 

Official Plan and zoning by-law amendments required

The subject property is designated “Commercial (Commercial Corridor Area)” in the Official Plan.  This designation does not provide for a concrete batching plant and the associated outside storage, which is an industrial use. The majority of the property is zoned M4, which permits the concrete batching plant and the associated outside storage.  However the north-east portion of the property is zoned A1 – Agricultural, which permits only agricultural uses.   Official Plan and zoning by-law amendments are therefore required to permit the proposed facility modernization.

 

The existing concrete batching plant has operated at this location for more than 25 years.  The applicant advises that it would be difficult to relocate this facility as concrete batching plants need to be close enough to their customers that the delivery trucks can make their deliveries and return to the plant before the concrete begins to set.

 

 

Proposed modernization provides opportunity to upgrade landscaping and other site improvements

The proposed modernization includes the following site improvements:

·        Replacement of the batch plant, operations and aggregate handling facilities with more modern equipment (Figure 5).  The new equipment will be primarily faced with grey prefinished metal.

·        New 6 metre wide landscape buffer containing a 1.2 metre high berm and intensive plantings along the Woodbine Avenue and Riviera Drive frontages (Figures 4 and 6).

·        Consolidation of access driveways.

·        Curbing and paving of access driveways and the employee parking area. 

 

The environmental impact of the facility will be reduced through the following:

·        New truck washout and washdown facility will act as a sedimentation basin to contain wash water and reduce tracking onto adjacent streets.

·        Wash water will be recycled back into production.

·        Concrete remaining in returning trucks will be cast into blocks, crushed and reused.   This activity involves dumping the material into forms to solidify, storing the material in a pile at the rear of the property, and bringing in portable equipment twice each year to crush the concrete to allow it to be recycled into the batching plant.

 

Issues/Concerns to be Resolved:

The following is a brief summary of the concerns/issues raised to date: 

 

These matters, and others identified through the circulation and detailed review of the proposal, will be addressed in a final staff report to be presented to Committee at a later date.    The final report will also address the site plan application submitted by the applicant.   

 

Public Meeting is recommended

It is recommended that a Public Meeting be scheduled to consider the applications.

 

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE (Separate Attachment):

None at this time.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The proposed modernization would reduce the environmental impact of the facility. 

 

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

None at this time.

 

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The proposed development will assist with the implementation of the following key Town of Markham Corporate Goals: Environmental Focus and Economic Development.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The application has been circulated to all relevant departments and outside agencies.  Comments and requirements will be addressed during the review process.

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                       Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P, R.P.P                 Jim Baird, M.C.I.P, R.P.P

                                             Director, Planning & Urban Design                Commissioner, Development

                                                                                                                                Services

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1 - Location Map

                                                Figure 2 - Area Context

                                                Figure 3 - Air Photo

                                                Figure 4 - Proposed Site Plan

                                                Figure 5 - Existing and proposed concrete batching plant

                                                Figure 6 - Proposed landscape buffer

                                                Figure 7 - Existing Repair Garage

                                                 

 

 

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