Electronic Special Development Services Committee Revised Agenda

Meeting Number: 11
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Live streamed

Please bring this Special Development Services Committee Agenda to the Council meeting on March 29, 2022.

1.
CALL TO ORDER
 

INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


We begin today by acknowledging the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples and their commitment to stewardship of the land. We acknowledge the communities in circle. The North, West, South and Eastern directions, and Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Anishnabeg, Seneca, Chippewa, and the current treaty holders Mississaugas of the Credit peoples. We share the responsibility with the caretakers of this land to ensure the dish is never empty and to restore relationships that are based on peace, friendship, and trust. We are committed to reconciliation, partnership and enhanced understanding.

2.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
 

3.
COMMUNICATIONS
 

4.
PRESENTATIONS
 

4.1
MARKHAM CENTRE SECONDARY PLAN INTERIM UPDATE AND DISCUSSION, DRAFT DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT: FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN (WARDS 2, 3, AND 8) (10.4)
This item has attachments. 

1.2022.03.16_MCSP_Update_Mar-22-2022_DSC_Downtown_Final.pdf

S. Lue, ext. 2520


Presentation is now attached.


Note: This is meeting 2 of 3 to discuss this topic.

    1. That the presentation entitled "Markham Centre Secondary Plan Interim Update and Discussion, Draft Development Concept: Focus on Downtown (Wards 2, 3, and 8)" be received. 

5.
NOTICE OF MOTION
 

5.1
IMPROVING THE TRANSIT ORIENTED COMMUNITIES PROPOSALS IN THE RICHMOND HILL / LANGSTAFF GATEWAY URBAN GROWTH CENTRE (10.0)
This item has attachments. 

1.NofM_TOC-RH+Markham - Final.pdf
  1. WHEREAS rapid population growth will continue in the Greater Toronto Area; and,
  2. WHEREAS sprawl must be contained as much as possible, to reduce traffic congestion, maintain farmland, improve housing affordability, mitigate climate change, achieve carbon reduction, and keep property taxes low; and,
  3. WHEREAS the optimum growth solution includes Transit Oriented Communities (TOCs), designed as dense complete communities (diversity of homes, jobs, retail, leisure) connected to each other with rapid transit; and
  4. WHEREAS the draft Secondary Plan for Richmond Hill Centre and the existing Secondary Plan for Markham Langstaff Gateway already meet and exceed TOC population density criteria & meet the goal of complete communities; and,
  5. WHEREAS the recent Infrastructure Ontario proposals for TOCs at Bridge and High Tech Stations on the planned Yonge North Subway Extension have numerous concerns as outlined in Markham staff report of January 24, 2022, including:
    1. Excessive population density that would over-burden surrounding hard and soft infrastructure; and,
    2. Lack of insufficient jobs, meaning the Centre would not be a destination for in-bound commuters; and,
    3. Insufficient parkland, leisure facilities and community amenities; and,
    4. Potential safety hazards by locating residences too close to high voltage transmission lines; and,
  6. WHEREAS 82 ha of land in this area are undevelopable due to the presence of high-voltage hydro transmission lines.  This land is largely owned by the province and has approximate real estate value of $5B-7B and economic development potential of $50B-100B; and,
  7. WHEREAS Gas Insulated Lines (GIL) technology exists to safely bury 3,750m of 407 hydro transmission lines, at an estimate cost of $220M; and,
  8. WHEREAS utilizing these hydro lands as part of a unified Urban Growth Centre development plan would:
    1. Provide significant financial return to the landowner (i.e., Province); and,
    2. Provide more land for appropriate development, allowing complete communities to be developed; and,
    3. Reduce safety concerns from above ground high voltage hydro transmission lines; and,
  9. WHEREAS this urban growth centre has the potential to become one of the top three centres in the GTA,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

  1. That Markham Council urges the Province of Ontario to revisit the plans by Infrastructure Ontario for TOCs at High Tech and Bridge Stations and align more closely to the existing Richmond Hill and Langstaff Secondary Plans; and,
  2. That Markham Council urges the Province to promptly meet with York Region, Markham, and Richmond Hill representatives to understand the economic value that can be untapped from the high-voltage transmission lands; and,
  3. That Markham Council urges the Province to promptly commission a Blue-Sky Planning Exercise for the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre, including burial of the high-voltage hydro transmission lines and relocating the stormwater management pond,

And this motion be circulated to the following:

  • Hon Doug Ford, Premier
  • Hon Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure Ontario
  • Hon Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation
  • Hon Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  • Hon Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance
  • Hon Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
  • Andre Horwath, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario
  • Steven Del Duca, Leader of the Liberal Party of Ontario
  • Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario
  • Phil Verster, CEO, Metrolinx
  • Michael Lindsay, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario
  • York Region Councillors
  • Mayor and Councillors, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan
  • CEOs and Commissioners of Planning, York Region, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan
  • City Clerks – Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Durham, Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto
  • Local MPPs and MPs

6.
CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS
 

6.1
INFORMATION EXPLICITLY SUPPLIED IN CONFIDENCE TO THE MUNICIPALITY OR LOCAL BOARD BY CANADA, A PROVINCE OR TERRITORY, OR A CROWN AGENCY OF ANY OF THEM - TRANSIT ORIENTED COMMUNITY (WARD 1) [Section 239 (2)(h)] (13.2)
 

7.
ADJOURNMENT
 

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