M E M O R A N D U M

To: Members of Development Services Committee

From : Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services

Date: June 15, 2010

Subject: DSC Agenda Item 20 – Recommended Modifications to Regional Official Plan

Suggested Revision to Region of York Modification dealing with Buttonville Airport

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The purpose of this memo is to recommend a revision to the wording currently proposed by Regional staff regarding a modification to the Regional Official Plan dealing with Buttonville Airport.

As noted on page 2 of the Town staff report dated June 15, 2010 (Agenda page 370) Region of York staff are recommending a modification to the newly adopted Regional Official Plan, resulting from a request of the owners of Buttonville Airport. This new policy in the Regional OP would read as follows:

“The Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport lands are designated for

business park use in the Town of Markham Official Plan, including

permission to operate an airport. When airport operations at the

Buttonville Airport cease, the significant majority subject lands

shall be retained for business park use, as contemplated in the Town of

Markham Official Plan. The Town of Markham will determine the details

of the future use of these lands through an implementing secondary plan

process.”

It was the intent of the above wording, discussed between Town and Regional staff and Malone Given Parsons (planning consultant for the landowner), that the Town’s Secondary Plan process (with public input and subject to Markham Council approval) would prevail in determining the future use of the lands.

However, Malone Given Parsons has requested further modification to the Airports policy in the Regional OP to clarify, given the unique attributes and land use context of the Airport site and its intended redevelopment through a comprehensive Secondary Plan process, that the approval of a Secondary Plan by the Town would not be considered a land conversion nor require a Regional municipal comprehensive Official Plan review. In addition, Malone Given Parsons assures the Town that while the landowner will be seeking a wider range of use permissions through the Secondary Plan process, the lands are intended primarily for employment and will expand upon the number of jobs planned for the site.

Town staff would support a further clarification to the wording in the Regional OP to reflect this, as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the new policy in the Airports Section of the Regional Official Plan dealing with the future closure and redevelopment of the Buttonville Airport site (as outlined in the staff addendum memo to DSC dated June 15, 2010) be modified by adding the following additional clause at the end of the policy:

“The re-use of the Airport site is intended to generate a range of quality employment opportunities and expand upon the number of jobs planned for the site. Approval of the Secondary Plan to the satisfaction of the Town in consultation with the Region will not be considered a conversion, and a further Regional municipal comprehensive review will not be required.”