CORNELL ADVISORY GROUP

MINUTES OF MEETING – December 18, 2006

Attendees:	Company/Agency:
Jack Heath	Regional Councillor
John Webster	Ward 5 Councillor
Renee Torrington	President, Cornell Ratepayers Association
Andrew Keyes	Cornell Ratepayers Association
Robert Baird	President, Sherwood-Amberglen Ratepayers Association
Keith Thirgood	The Old Markham Village Ratepayers Inc.
Al Bishop	Landowner Rep – Trustee, Developers Group
Niomie Massey	Landowner Rep – Cornell Rouge
Dan Leeming	Planning Consultant – The Planning Partnership
Christine Joe	Markham Stouffville Hospital
David Clark	York Region Transit Partnership (VIVA)
Daniel DelBianco	York District Catholic School Board
Kevin Huang	Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Carolyn Woodland	Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
	Town of Markham Staff:
Valerie Shuttleworth	Director of Planning & Urban Design
Jim Jones	Regional Councillor
Biju Karumanchery	Manager, East District
Marg Wouters	Senior Planner, East District
Wendy Bond	Administrator

Chair: Councillor John Webster

1. Adoption of Minutes – Councillor John Webster:

· The motion to accept the November 20, 2006 Cornell Advisory Group minutes was made by Renee Torrington and seconded by Councillor Heath. The minutes were adopted.

· A copy of the presentation “Cornell Business Park Interface with Rouge Park” by Biju Karumanchery, Manager, East District presented at the November 20^th meeting was distributed.

2. Business Arising from Minutes: Issues addressed by Val Shuttleworth and Marg Wouters

Ø Proposed land use designation at southeast corner of Hwy. 7 and 9^th Line: The triangular piece of land at this corner is owned by the Province (MTO) and will be designated Open Space in the updated draft Secondary Plan. The ownership of the rectangular parcel of land immediately to the south of the triangle (either the Town or the Region) is to be confirmed. The portion of this parcel along 9^th Line will be designated Open Space, as a continuation of the 9^th Line Greenway. The designation of the remainder of the rectangular parcel, for either residential or open space uses or a combination of the two, is still under review. The appropriate use for the remainder of the parcel will be determined as part of the review of detailed plans for the completion of the residential component of the Lindvest lands immediately to the south.

Discussion:

· It was requested that a special treatment be considered for the open space at the southeast corner, given the prominence of the corner. Remnant parcels at the northwest corner of Hwy 7 and 9^th Line and along Hwy 407 were also discussed. The Advisory Group would prefer all three parcels be designated as park/open spaces.

Action:

· Staff will follow up with MTO with respect to future plans for the open space(s).

· Park development staff will be asked to review the proposed open space at the southeast corner of Hwy 7 and 9^th Line and make recommendations for an appropriate treatment.

Ø Timing of the Master Servicing Study: The Cornell Developers Group has initiated an update to the Master Servicing Study. Staff will be meeting with the Developer Group representative and the consultant to discuss details.

Ø MTO Intersection Design at Bur Oak Ave. and Hwy. 7: The intersection is intended to open as a stop controlled T-intersection at the end of 2006. This is an interim condition. The ultimate signalized intersection, with additional turning lanes is expected to be completed by summer 2007.

Ø Cornell Fire Hall: There are no plans to build a fire hall in Cornell area at this time. A site for the proposed fire hall has not yet been acquired. Discussion ensued regarding current response times and alternatives to improve service until the fire hall is built.

Ø Proposed swap of the YRDSB and YCDSB High School Sites: The YRDSB has indicated that they already own an appropriately sized and configured high school site, and

would therefore consider a swap of their site with the YCDSB site further south only if there was a compelling operating reason for them to do so. It was suggested that the Advisory Group have further discussions with the YCDSB regarding possibilities for shared uses on their proposed high school site across from the proposed community centre.

Action:

· YCDSB (Daniel DelBianco) will provide further information at a subsequent meeting.

1. Non Lane-Based Products: Joint Presentation by Val Shuttleworth (Town of Markham), Matthew Kingston (Mattamy Homes), Frances DeGiuseppe (Quadra Architects), and Dan Leeming (Planning Partnership)

Val Shuttleworth provided the following introduction:

· Mattamy’s proposal for non lane-based housing was presented at Development Services Committee on November 21, 2006.

· Residential development in Cornell to date has been entirely rear lane based. First phases totaling approximately 1,900 units have been built. A review of the Secondary Plan is currently taking place in order to conform with current Provincial and Regional policy directions, finalize parkland and open spaces, integrate current initiatives associated with the Master Plan for Markham Stouffville Hospital, the East Markham Community Centre, Rapid Transit, Eastern Markham Strategic Review and to address requests from landowners for non lane-based housing.

· Non lane-based housing has been under discussion with developers and staff for a number of years. Developers have advocated non lane-based housing as a means of broadening the range of housing options (i.e., larger homes) in Cornell. Mattamy Homes have developed a plan and draft development principles for their Phase 4 neighbourhood which would include non lane-based housing.

Dan Leeming and Frances De Giuseppe presented Mattamy’s proposal as follows:

· The proposed Phase 4 neighbourhood is designed as a comprehensive neighbourhood that is consistent with the new urbanism principles of defined neighbourhood edges, walkability and intergrated roads and open space, and linkages with other neighbourhoods. A park provides the central focus for the neighbourhood. A mix of lot sizes are proposed including 36 ft, 44ft, 50ft and 60ft frontages. The largest lots (60 ft) are proposed to frame the park. Garage presence from the street is minimized by locating driveways on flankages, and by recessing garages and parking pads or screening with architectural elements.

Val Shuttleworth outlined draft principles being considered for inclusion in the Secondary Plan and the next steps as follows:

· The draft principles provide for non lane-based housing which would, among other things: broaden the housing product mix; comply with the principles of new urbanism; be consistent with the Cornell community to date in terms of building siting, architectural styles and streetscapes; provide a central public open space amenity; provide a dominant presence for large lots; minimize the visual impact of the garage to the street and driveway; and limit the opportunity for parking on the driveway.

· The Town will continue to work with Mattamy on the proposed neighbourhood plan. Engineering issues regarding road cross-sections remain to be resolved. Once these issues are resolved, staff will report back to Development Services Committee with draft policies to incorporate into the Secondary Plan. Staff will present updates to the Advisory Group before taking them out for public consultation at a statutory Public Meeting.

Discussion:

· Overall reaction to presentation was positive.

· Topics of discussion included: strategies to prevent homeowners from widening their driveways, or parallel parking on the driveway apron; the location of utility transformers and other utilities; relative amounts of permeable area within lane-based vs non lane-based development; impact on on-street parking; appropriate mix of lots; how to limit permissions for this type of product; and garage size.

3. Next Meeting:

· January 15, 2007 - 6pm in the Canada Room

· Tentative agenda item: revised draft Secondary Plan

Adjourned 8:00pm.

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