FEBRUARY
2, 2010 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
Meeting No. 3
All
Members of Council
Development
Services Economic
Development
Chair: Councillor J. Webster Chair:
Vice-Chair: Councillor D. Horchik Transportation Issues
Chair: Regional Councillor G. Landon
PART B
Report Agenda
9:00 a.m. – Council Chamber
Attendance
|
Mayor F. Scarpitti Deputy Mayor J. Heath Regional Councillor J. Jones Regional Councillor G. Landon Regional Councillor J. Virgilio Councillor V. Burke Councillor E. Shapero Councillor D. Hamilton Councillor C. Moretti Councillor J. Webster Councillor L. Kanapathi Councillor A. Chiu Regrets Councillor D. Horchik |
J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer J. Baird, Commissioner of Development Services A. Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services C. Conrad, Town Solicitor B. Karumanchery, Senior Development Manager V. Shuttleworth, Director of Planning and Urban Design A. Brouwer, Deputy Clerk A. Tari, Committee Clerk |
The Development Services
Committee convened at
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
None disclosed.
1. DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
- January 12, 2010, Part B (10.0)
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting, Part B, held January 12, 2010, be confirmed.
CARRIED
2. HERITAGE
MARKHAM COMMITTEE MINUTES
- January 13, 2010 (16.11)
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional
Councillor J. Jones
That the minutes of the
Heritage Markham Committee meeting held
CARRIED
3. PUBLIC
INFORMATION MEETING
MARKHAM'S AGRICULTURAL
STRATEGY AND
ROUGE PARK'S DRAFT
AGRICULTURAL
POLICY AND GUIDELINES -
JANUARY 12, 2010 (10.0)
There was discussion regarding the correlation between the Environmental Issues Committee and the associated costs related to the proposed recommendations to plant more tress if the boundaries of the Bob Hunter Park are changed.
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
That the minutes of the Public Information Meeting, Markham's Agricultural Strategy and Rouge Park's Draft Agricultural Policy and Guidelines held January 12, 2010, be received.
CARRIED
4. HERITAGE
WEEK 2010 PROCLAMATION
FEBRUARY 14 TO FEBRUARY 20, 2010
(16.11)
Moved by Councillor A. Chiu
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
1) That the week of
2) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution, including the community outreach measures outlined in the report.
CARRIED
5. TOWN
OF MARKHAM COMMENTS ON
THE REGION OF YORK OFFICIAL
PLAN,
AS ADOPTED DECEMBER 16, 2009 (10.17)
Mr. Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services summarized the details in the staff report and provided the Committee with further details regarding the information contained in Appendix A.
There was considerable discussion regarding the importance of obtaining infrastructure improvements throughout the Region that will support the future forecasted growth. The Committee also discussed the conversion of employment lands or inclusion of residential uses in employment areas and the importance of live/work communities. Staff advised that the conversion of employment lands to other uses is not permitted, but is under review through a comprehensive review (of the Official Plan) and that staff are not proposing mixed use developments as a standard throughout the Town.
The Committee requested that the following suggestions be considered:
- Add the 407 Transitway throughout the entire document
- That the Region review where these rapid transits intercept to ensure that the proposed density is appropriate and that the forecasted growth will be transit supported
- Amend the proposed wording for section 7.2.25f to read: “Any such limited parking provided should be accommodated in below grade structures as a preference and above grade only as a last resort, and be designated to be physically integrated with adjacent development with priority spaces to be designated for car poolers and auto share users”
- Use another term other than“New Canadians”
- strengthen the need for segregated bike lanes
Staff advised that they will amend Appendix A of the report entitled “Town of Markham Comments on the Region of York Official Plan, as adopted December 16, 2009” incorporating the comments and suggestions received at today’s meeting and bring it back to a future Development Services Committee meeting.
Mr. Stephen F. Waque, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, representing Zodiac Developments Inc., addressed the Committee advising that his client’s property has been mistakenly included into the Greenbelt Plan and that the lands should be included as part of future employment lands. Mr. Waque has advised that he has submitted the reports that support this technical error to our planning department. He is requesting that the Town of Markham request the Region of York to request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Minister of Energy and Environment to amend the Greenbelt Plan by removing the subject lands (north east of 19th Avenue and Highway 404) from the Greenbelt Plan.
There was discussion with respect to having the Terraprobe Consulting Geotechnical & Environmental Engineering Study peer reviewed. The Committee requested that staff obtain approval from the Region and the Province on the consultant that will do the peer review.
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio
1) That the correspondence dated February 1, 2010 from Mr. Don Given, Malone Given Parsons Ltd., on behalf of their clients Armadale Properties Limited noting that their client has formally raised concerns with the Region regarding the adopted Regional Official Plan policies related to the future development of the Buttonville Airport, be received; and,
2) That staff report back to the Development
Services Committee by March 2010 on the findings of the consultant’s peer
review of the Terraprobe Consulting Geotechnical & Environmental
Engineering Study.
CARRIED
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Virgilio
1) That the report entitled “Town of Markham Comments on the Region of York Official Plan, as adopted December 16, 2009”, be received; and,
2) That staff be directed to
amend Appendix A in this report and report back at the
3) That staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
6. OAKCREST/
SABISTON/ RIVER BEND
STUDY AREA REVIEW FINDINGS (10.0)
Mr. Nick McDonald, Principal, Meridian Planning Consultants, delivered a PowerPoint presentation providing their findings for the Oakcrest, Sabiston and River Bend area.
There was discussion regarding the proposed recommendation that would support lot severances only if the lot frontages are not less than 50% of the average lot frontages on the street and proposes a new standard which restricts the length of the front wall facing the street to 70% of the lot line (intended to maximize side yard setbacks).
Mr. Phillip K. H. Eng,
Mr. Nunzio Fuina, Oakcrest Avenue, addressed the Committee regarding the findings from Meridian Planning Consultants for the Oakcrest, Sabiston and River Bend Study Area stating that lot creations should be allowed through lot severance with lot sizes no less than 50’ frontage. He advised the Committee that he did his own survey of the residents on Oakcrest and that many of the residents are in favour of lot creation through severance.
Mr. Greg Chitilian, Oakcrest Avenue, addressed the Committee with respect to the findings from Meridian Planning Consultants for the Oakcrest, Sabiston and River Bend Study Area requesting that his applications (submitted in June 2007) to create two 70’ lots be considered based on the existing zoning by-laws and not the recommendations outlined in the Consultant’s report.
Staff advised that they are comfortable bringing a recommendation report forward now that the consultant’s report is complete that would support Mr. Chitilian’s application to create two 70’ lots, and that staff will continue to work with Mr. Chitilian and his architect.
Mr. Pat Dimilta,
Mr. Roy Handapangoda,
Ms. Evelin Ellison, Ward One South Thornhill Residents, addressed the Committee with respect to the findings from the Meridian Planning Consultants for the Oakcrest, Sabiston and River Bend Study Area and stated some concerns. She believes that the study should have reference to water run-off and would like to know if the Storm Water Management is sufficient to sustain the proposed future developments.
Staff advised that the broader implications outlined in the consultant’s report will be considered as part of the Official Plan Amendment and that staff would not be recommending a specific minimum lot size.
The Committee suggested that allowing lot severance equal to half the original lot size would be a more reasonable approach than the recommendations outlined in the consultant’s report.
Moved by Councillor D. Hamilton
Seconded by Regional Councillor J. Jones
1) That the staff report titled “Oakcrest/ Sabiston/ River Bend Study Area review findings,” be received; and,
2) That the attached Study report titled “Land Use Planning
Report, Oakcrest/ Sabiston/ River Bend Study Area - South Unionville,” (dated
January 5, 2010, prepared by
3) That Staff be directed to prepare a report
and recommendation on rezoning
applications for
4) That staff prepare an
Official Plan Amendment specific to the Oakcrest, Sabiston, and Riverbend Area
having regard for the principle that severances equal to half the original lot
size would be permitted; and,
5) That the correspondence from Don and Carrie Perruzza, Bill
and Lesley Kelly, Aurelio Filice and Pat Dimilta, be received; and further,
6) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
7. STAFF
COMMENTS ON THE
“MARKHAM PERMANENT FOODBELT PROPOSAL
– BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCES” AS
PER DECEMBER 1, 2009, COUNCIL
MEETING (10.0)
The Committee thanked staff for all their work in
bringing this forward. The Committee
discussed the possibility of forming a Task Force that will assist in achieving
the Town’s natural heritage policies including a 30% forest cover that would
include representatives from various agencies such as the
Moved by Mayor F. Scarpitti
Seconded by Councillor V. Burke
1) Th
2) That based on the discussion in this report, public and stakeholder input into growth management and sustainability initiatives continue to be addressed through the established Town committee structure, policy studies and public consultation processes currently underway, under the direction of Council; and,
3) That, as per the recommendations of the Agricultural
Assessment Study endorsed by Council in principle on December 1, 2009, the Town
advance the creation of an Agricultural Advisory Committee to assist with
4) That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
ADJOURNMENT
The Development Services
Committee meeting adjourned at
Alternate formats for this document
are available upon request.