TERMS OF REFERENCE
EASTERN MARKHAM STRATEGIC REVIEW COMMITTEE
4
Composition
of Committee
The Committee shall be comprised of the Chair Councillor
Jack Heath, Regional Councillors Tony Wong and Bill O’Donnell, Councillor
George McKelvey and the Mayor ex officio.
2.0 Term of the Committee
December 10 2002 until July 8, 2003
3.0 Purpose of Eastern Markham Strategic
Review
The broad purpose of the Eastern Markham Strategic Review is to develop a policy framework for possible future land use, environment and transportation requirements for lands in eastern Markham. The area is bound by Steeles Ave., the CPR Line, Reesor Road, Highway 407, the Markham Bypass, the 9th Line, the Little Rouge River, the northern Town boundary and the eastern Town boundary. The review will take into account federal, provincial and other initiatives that may have implications for land use, environment, and transportation. The Committee is to report to Council by July 8, 2003.
The Committee members acknowledge that the specific duties and functions of the Committee must be focused given the short time frame available for the completion of the Review. The Eastern Markham Strategic Review Committee will, using current available information and within the time constraints of the review, focus on the following:
· Land use, transportation and environmental issues and options for eastern Markham;
· Provincially owned lands in Eastern Markham; and,
· Development of Principles and Recommendations to Council relating to the above.
4.1 Land Use, Transportation and
Environmental Issues and Options
The Committee will review currently available information relating to influences on land use, transportation and the environment in eastern Markham, especially information relating to the ongoing initiatives of various levels of government, and will evaluate the implications of possible future land use and environmental alternatives within the study area. It will have regard to the direction in the November 26, 2002 resolution of Council that the Town of Markham’s preferred use of the Provincial lands in eastern Markham is agricultural. As input to this work, the Committee shall:
· Identify the current environmental, land use and transportation conditions in eastern Markham;
· Identify the implications for land use, transportation and the environment in eastern Markham of the various ongoing initiatives and activities of all levels of government;
· Identify other land use, transportation and environmental issues and pressures that may require present or future action by Council;
· Identify possible environmental, land use and transportation opportunities and constraints in eastern Markham;
· Identify possible elements of a future transportation framework for eastern Markham (see below);
· Evaluate conceptual alternatives in relation to identified Town goals and objectives; and,
· Review possible alternative means to achieve the recommended land use option(s), including the use of public ownership.
The Committee will examine the future transportation framework for the study area at a broad strategic level, including roads, transit and railway requirements to accommodate existing and future potential growth both in Markham and surrounding areas (e.g. Seaton, Airport). As input to this work, the Committee shall:
· Review the proposals of various levels of government and agencies and the status of each of the proposals;
· Identify the actions required to accommodate/ protect for possible future transportation needs in eastern Markham;
· Identify the implications for ongoing initiatives (e.g. East Markham Bypass), as appropriate.
4.2
Provincially Owned
Lands in Eastern Markham
The Committee will review information regarding Provincial land ownership and tenancy as well as any Provincial land sales program(s) affecting eastern Markham and make recommendations to Council, as appropriate. As input to this work, the Committee shall:
· Identify the current pattern of land ownership and tenancy in the study area (where such information is available);
· Ascertain from the Province, in writing and through the use of maps, their intentions with respect to the sale of lands in east Markham, including the status and details of:
· The Provincial Tenant Purchase Program;
· Lands not covered by the tenant purchase program;
· Any previous commitments made by the Province to specific tenants or other potential purchasers with respect to the transfer of Provincial lands in eastern Markham;
· Lands which require Markham’s approval for the use of Crown Right;
· The requirements of the Provincial Class Environmental Assessment Process; and,
· Conveyance of lands from Province to TRCA pursuant to Rouge North Management Plan.
· Identify and evaluate means and constraints to achieving the concept of “agriculture in perpetuity” on Provincial lands, including:
· Consulting with the Province to determine the Province’s intentions with respect to the Town’s request of Nov. 26/02 that the Province enact measures to ensure that Provincial lands in eastern Markham remain as agricultural in perpetuity;
· Reviewing the use of agricultural easements or other appropriate mechanisms; and,
· Investigating the existing and future viability of agriculture and related rural uses in eastern Markham.
· Identify how public ownership may help to achieve the identified objectives with respect to land use, transportation, and environment; and,
· Provide recommendations to Council with respect to Town goals and objectives for the Provincially owned lands, and potential means to achieve these. This may include recommendations regarding conditions for the use of Crown Right (to update Council’s 1996/7 position regarding the use of Crown right), as required.
4.3
Development of
Principles and Recommendations
The Committee will prepare, based on its review and consultations:
· A statement of recommended principles to guide the further activities or decisions of Council and others relating to:
§ The present or future use of lands within the area;
§ The present or future transportation system serving the area;
§ The environmental system within the area; and,
§ The Provincial land sales program.
· Specific recommendations for action required by Council:
§ In the short term, before the completion of the Review (e.g. before July 8th);
§ In regard to ongoing initiatives, including initiatives of other levels of government and agencies;
§ In regard to additional studies that may be required to support possible future actions or decisions by Council or others, and the timing of such studies;
§ In regard to changes to Official Plan policy or designation:
o That should be considered by Council in the near term, prior to any Official Plan Review. Where a change in land use needs to be considered prior to a review of the Official Plan, to identify the change, and to establish the required planning rationale for the change; or,
o That should be considered by staff and Council by specific amendment or pursuant to a future Official Plan Review; and,
§ In regard to other possible actions by Council.
4.4
Public Consultation
Public Consultations will be held:
· To ensure that the public, including landowners, and tenants on the Provincially-owned lands, have the opportunity to participate in the Strategic Review through Public Forums and other means of consultation, as appropriate; and,
· To consult with other stakeholders, including representatives of senior governments, agencies and authorities as required, to solicit comments and information regarding initiatives affecting land use and transportation requirements within the study area.
Notice of public forums will include publication in the Economist and Sun, and notice to individuals requesting notification, in writing, to the Town Clerk, and to the presidents of the ratepayers groups in the study area (Cedar Grove Community Club and Box Grove Community Association).
The Committee will meet with Minister David Tsubouchi, MPP Markham, as soon as possible to inform the Minister of Council’s December 10, 2002 resolution and request the assistance of his office and the Provincial Government in the Town of Markham’s strategic review of eastern Markham.
4.5
Other Duties and
Functions of the Committee
The Committee should consider in the Review:
o North Pickering Land Exchange Review Panel
o Federal Greenspace Initiative
o Transport Canada’s Planned Airport Zoning Regulations
o GTAA Pickering Airport planning
o City of Pickering Growth Management Study
o East Markham Bypass Extension Environmental Assessment
o Rouge Park North Management Plan Implementation
o Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act
o Durham Region Planning and Transportation Initiatives
o Region of York Planning and Transportation initiatives
o Provincial Tenant Purchase Program
o Existing land use, transportation and environmental conditions
o Town and Regional Official Plan Policy
o Other matters as appropriate.
5.0 Resource Requirements
5.1 Staff Resources
· Staff from Development Services Commission (Commissioners office) to arrange meetings;
· Staff from the Clerk’s Department to provide notification of public forums, prepare minutes (in absence of facilitator);
· Staff from Development Services Commission to provide primary professional support re land use, transportation, environment and related planning matters. One additional staff member, retained on contract until July 8, 2003 will be required; and,
· Support also from Acting Town Solicitor and other staff, as required.
It is anticipated that the following consultant support will be required for the Committee:
§ Facilitator for meetings and public forums;
§ Legal counsel re “agriculture in perpetuity”;
§ Transportation consultant re future transportation framework for eastern Markham;
§ Environmental consultant re open space systems; and,
§ Expert in planning and viability of agricultural lands in the urban-rural fringe.
5.3 Budget
Total budget of $96,000 (inclusive of GST and employee benefits), consisting of:
§ $70K for consultants; and,
§ $26K for 6 month contract staff
6.0 Frequency of Meetings
The Committee will hold two regular meetings per month, Fridays at 9.30 a.m. -12.30 p.m.
The Committee will also hold additional meetings as required, to inform and solicit input from various stakeholders, including: Two Public Forums, the first in March 2003, and the second in May; meetings with government and agency representatives as required; one meeting with Minister Tsubouchi, as directed by Council. Some meetings are anticipated to require evening times.
7.0 Reporting Procedure
The Committee Chair will update the Development Services Committee at each regularly scheduled meeting of Development Services Committee.
q:\development\planning\misc\mi467
eastern mkm strategic review\terms of reference\drafttermsrefjh.doc