Report to: Development Services Committee Date of Meeting: April 7, 2009
SUBJECT: Toward
a Markham Growth Management Strategy:
Refined Working
Principles for Intensification Strategy
PREPARED BY: Policy and Research Division Staff,
Planning
and Urban Design Department
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report entitled “Toward a
Markham Growth Management Strategy: Outlining an Intensification Strategy”,
dated March 24, 2009, and
the report entitled “Towards a Markham Growth Management Strategy: Refined
Working Principles for Intensification Strategy” dated April 7, 2009, be received;
And that the “Intensification Principles” and the
“Intensification Hierarchy”, as described in the March 24th report, and
further refined in the April 7th report, be endorsed as a basis and
framework for finalizing a Markham Intensification Strategy addressing both
residential and employment intensification within the Town’s current settlement
area;
And that, as per Council’s direction on
February 10, 2009, Staff report
back to Development Services Committee with a summary of responses received on
the housing and employment growth alternatives through public consultation;
And that Staff report back to the Development Services Committee with a
recommended Intensification Strategy following endorsation of the preferred
alternative for housing and employment growth as identified in the Markham
Growth Management Strategy;
And that Staff be authorized and
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On March 24, 2009, Development Services Committee deferred
consideration of the report entitled
“Toward a Markham Growth Management Strategy: Outlining an Intensification Strategy”,
dated March 24, 2009. A copy of the report is attached as Appendix
“A” to this report.
On March 31, 2009, Staff provided the Development Services
Committee with an overview presentation of the March 24th report. The presentation outlined the intensification
principles and intensification hierarchy recommended for endorsement as a basis
for finalizing Markham’s
Intensification Strategy. As well, Staff
outlined the five phase approach being applied to the intensification analysis
underway in support of the Town’s Growth Management Strategy Study.
In response to comments received
from Development Services Committee on March 31st, staff have:
·
refined the intensification principles to reduce
overlap and to place greater emphasis on certain points (eg. sustainable
development);
·
added specific reference to the need for parking
reductions and strategies;
·
included a principle with reference to heritage
conservation districts; and
·
included a specific principle with reference to Markham’s
strong history and practice of respecting the quality of life of Markham
residents, and addressing public input in municipal land use policy and
development approvals.
The working principles outlined in
this report will be used as a basis for Markham’s
Intensification Strategy and will be further refined with:
·
input
received from the public meetings held on the Growth Management Strategy
housing and employment alternatives;
·
input
received from other related GMS studies such as the Built Form, Height and
Massing Study and Section 37 OP Policies and Guidelines Study; and
·
further
discussions and workshops to be scheduled with Development Services Committee
to discuss strategy options and draft recommendations.
The intensification hierarchy (see Figures 1 and 2) will provide a framework to guide development
of Markham’s Intensification
Strategy.
At the March 31st
meeting, the Committee requested that the working principles outlined in the
March 24th report be further refined to consolidate similar
principles and add specific reference to such matters as heritage conservation
district policies, the need for parking strategies, and the Town’s ongoing
practices of engaging public input and participation. The Committee also requested that a
recommendation be added to highlight Council’s February 10th action
request for Staff to report back with a summary of responses received on the housing and employment
growth alternatives through public consultation.
Staff are recommending that the “Intensification Principles” as described in
the March 24th report, be refined as outlined below, and along with
the “Intensification Hierarchy” described in the March 24th report,
be endorsed as a basis and framework for finalizing a Markham Intensification
Strategy addressing both residential and employment intensification within the
Town’s current settlement area.
Markham’s Intensification Principles
Staff recommend that the following working principles be
endorsed by the Development Services Committee and be used to finalize a Town
of Markham Intensification Strategy:
1. Refine the Town’s urban structure to manage growth
and intensification within the current settlement area without significantly
impacting the Town’s existing structure of residential neighbourhoods, heritage
districts and business parks, while limiting the extension of urban land uses
outside the Current Settlement Area.
2.
Intensify and improve the mix of development and direct
it to designated centres and corridors, which are well served and connected by
rapid transit, to create mixed use, pedestrian friendly, livable communities
that are transit supportive.
3.
Focus intensification in areas that have a reduced
impact on Town infrastructure, or which
justify investment in new and sustainable infrastructure.
4.
Retain employment uses and employment districts serving
Town residents and businesses, and create new job opportunities through intensification
of employment districts and mixed use development in transit nodes and
corridors.
5.
Intensification areas and sites are to be prioritized, phased
and linked to service and infrastructure delivery.
6.
Improve connectivity by providing a street
network/public realm that is more conducive to transit, cycling and pedestrian
use, and implement travel demand management and parking strategies to reduce
reliance on the automobile as a preferred mode of transportation.
7.
Intensification needs to be appropriate to the area
context in which it occurs. The built
form of development, its height and density, the appropriate mix of uses
involved, and the relationship to the surrounding community form and function
will be subject to area studies.
8.
Infill and redevelopment in Heritage Conservation Districts will only be
considered in
accordance with existing Official Plan
policies and Heritage District Conservation
Plans.
9. Incorporate
sustainable development practices, and promote innovative solutions and pilot
projects in such areas as green energy, green buildings and green infrastructure
technologies and practices.
10. Respect the
quality of life of Markham
residents, and address public input and participation in municipal land use
policy and development approvals.