HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 3, 2020Cty oh
DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
Present:
Mayor David Ryan
Councillors:
K. Ashe
M. Brenner
S. Butt
I. Cumming
B. McLean
Absent:
D. Pickles
Also Present:
T. Prevedel
M. Carpino
K. Bentley
P. Bigioni
F. Jadoon
S. Cassel
C. Rose
N. Surti
A. Haniff
C. Celebre
T. Javed
L. Harker
- Chief Administrative Officer
- Director, Community Services & Deputy CAO
- Director, City Development & CBO
- Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor
- Director, Economic Development & Strategic Projects
- City Clerk
- Chief Planner
- Manager, Development Review & Urban Design
- Senior Economic Development Officer
- Principal Planner, Development Review
- Economic Development Assistant
- Deputy Clerk
1. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
2. Statutory Public Meetings
Councillor Ashe, Chair, gave an outline of the requirements for a Statutory Public Meeting
under the Planning Act. He outlined the notification process procedures and also noted
that if a person or public body does not make oral or written submissions to the City
before the By-law is passed, that person or public body are not entitled to appeal the
decision of City Council to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), and may not be
entitled to be added as a party to the hearing unless, in the opinion of LPAT, there are
reasonable grounds to do so.
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DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
Catherine Rose, Chief Planner, appeared before the Committee to act as facilitator for
the Statutory Public Meeting portion of the meeting, explaining the process for discussion
purposes as well as the order of speakers.
2.1 Information Report No.03-20
Official Plan Amendment Application OPA 19-001/P
Zoning By-law Amendment Application A 05/19
Pickering Harbour Company Ltd.
(505 and 591 Liverpool Road)
A statutory public meeting was held under the Planning Act, for the purpose of
informing the public with respect to the above -noted application.
Cristina Celebre, Principal Planner, Development Review, appeared before the
Committee to provide an overview of Zoning By-law Amendment Application A
05/19 and Official Plan Amendment Application OPA 19-001/P. Through the aid of
a PowerPoint presentation, Ms. Celebre outlined the location, proposed concept
plan, Liverpool Road Waterfront Node Development Guidelines, and public,
agency, and Department comments received to date.
Mike Pettigrew, Senior Planner, The Biglieri Group Ltd., appeared before the
Committee on behalf of the applicant regarding Information Report No. 03-20.
Through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Pettigrew outlined the
development proposal and the context of the application for land use. He noted
that the developer currently owns the lands at 591 Liverpool Road, and that
although the lands at 505 Liverpool Road are owned by the City, they had
received permission from the City to include these lands in the visioning exercise.
Mr. Pettigrew stated that the developer would be reviewing parking solutions to
increase parking in the area, and that the current land designation provides for
several uses which would allow a variety of development possibilities. Mr.
Pettigrew outlined the proposed uses of land, connectivity, and active
streetscapes.
John Foster, Vice President, Pickering Naturalists, appeared before the
Committee and through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, expressed concerns
regarding the preliminary design of the towers which included extensive use of
reflective glass that could increase the number of window strikes, putting
numerous bird species at risk. He noted that Frenchman's Bay is an important
habitat and migration stopover for monarch butterflies and pollinators, and that the
noise and dust from construction would compromise this habitat. Mr. Foster stated
that the hydro marsh is a provincially significant wetland, which deserves
protection, noting that the shadows from this development may disrupt the timing
of mating and egg -laying of turtles and frogs. He further noted that the proposed
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DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
future road connection along the north boundary of the marsh would result in
increased runoff into the marsh, encourage access for invasive plants,
compromise wildlife, and interfere with the Spring migration of birds.
Shaun Rickard, 858 Douglas Avenue, Pickering, appeared before the Committee
and through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, noted that he is not against
development in Pickering, but is against development that is not rationally planned
and does not promote positive growth in the City. Mr. Rickard stated that
Pickering's waterfront is not the place for two 23 storey towers and that since the
closure of the west shore spit, residents are limited in their ability to reach the Bay.
He expressed concerns regarding lack of parking and boat storage on dry land,
and requested that Council follow up within the next two months regarding the
City's plans to build a boat launch, as had been previously discussed.
Mr. Rickard provided the City Clerk with a copy of a petition noting opposition to
the application as well as copies of letters of objection from the community.
Kris Nelson, 20 Burningham Crescent, Ajax, appeared before the Committee to
express her concerns relating to the proposal, noting that two 23 storey towers is
a high density project that does not fit within this community. Through the aid of a
PowerPoint presentation, she expressed concerns relating to the increase in traffic
in the area, and stated that this development would actively restrict access to the
waterfront for residents. Ms. Nelson noted that the proposed connecting road is
not a traffic solution, and that during construction, residents would be limited in
accessing local businesses. She further stated that construction would also have a
negative impact on the wildlife in the area, and expressed concerns regarding
road access during an emergency.
Jordan Morgan, Pickering Dragon Boat Club (PDBC), appeared before the
Committee and through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, expressed concerns
that this development could have on the existence of the PDBC. He noted that the
PDBC is one of the largest and most successful Dragon Boat Clubs in the world,
and provided an overview of Club's successes and annual events. Mr. Morgan
stated that for the PDBC to continue to operate, they would require ample parking,
dryland for warm-up exercises, dryland storage facilities for equipment, and easy
access to the water for all athletes, and requested that the City support the Club's
continued existence should the development proceed.
Carol McGuffie, 911 Vistula Drive, Pickering, appeared before the Committee and
through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, expressed her concerns pertaining
to the application. Ms. McGuffie noted that the Durham Region Official Plan
designates land along the waterfront as "people places", and questioned what
residents would like their waterfront to look like in 50 years. She stated that she
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DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
would like the waterfront to be clean, accessible, open, connected, usable,
diverse, affordable, and attractive, and that the proposed application would not
serve to achieve this.
Andre Pilon, 663 Chipmunk Street, Pickering, appeared before the Committee and
through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, noted that the Official Plan requires
the City to protect the waterfront using all available resources, and questioned
whether this was being achieved with this application. He stated that he was
strongly opposed to the application, that the City should not sell 505 Liverpool
Road, and that the Ontario Power Generation exclusion zone should be strictly
adhered to.
Michael Bellmore, 986 Vistula Drive, Pickering, appeared before the Committee
and through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, provided a history of the
property, and stated that in 2001, James Lucas Properties Ltd., provided a
blueprint for the way the property should be used, noting it was not consistent with
the applicant's proposal. He outlined what is needed for the property, including an
improved, vibrant marina, improved boat storage operations, drop off areas for
boaters, ample parking for the public, a dock master's office on the marina side,
improved shoreline and existing docks with no bay fill, and improved vistas of the
bay. Mr. Bellmore noted that residents would like to maintain the waterfront for
their enjoyment, not for private enterprises.
Mr. Bellmore provided a copy of the 2001 James Lucas Properties letter to the
City Clerk for circulation to Members of Council and appropriate City Staff.
David Steele, Pickering resident, appeared before the Committee and through the
aid of a PowerPoint presentation, expressed his concerns regarding Information
Report No. 03-20. Mr. Steele expressed concerns relating to the increased density
that this development would bring to the area, as well as concerns relating to the
development being within the OPG exclusion zone. He noted that the application
does not correspond with the Liverpool Road Waterfront Node Development
Guidelines, and that in the By-law that established the entrance into Frenchman's
Bay, there was a benefits statement, which, if still active, prohibits this application.
He also expressed concerns relating to the poor water quality in the Bay, and
requested that the stormwater management report be reviewed on an annual
basis.
Mr. Steel provided supporting documentation relating to his delegation to the City
Clerk for circulation to Members of Council and appropriate City Staff.
Rick Sergison, 1746 Broadoak Crescent, Pickering, appeared before the
Committee and through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, expressed his
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Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
concerns regarding the increase in traffic, the negative impacts on water and
wildlife, limited access to beaches, and the increase in density at the waterfront,
should this application proceed. Through the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, he
summarized the differences between the Ajax and Pickering waterfronts, noting
that Pickering has beaches, natural habitats, a marina, and a nautical village,
which Ajax does not, noting the need for the City to preserve these assets. Mr.
Sergison commented that the Durham Live development is only 8 minutes from
Millennium Square, and that this could provide a great opportunity for Pickering to
drive tourism to the waterfront.
Thomas Dalzell, 1285 Commerce Street, Pickering, appeared before the
Committee to express concerns relating to the protection of the habitat for
monarch butterflies, noting that the butterflies rely heavily on the Frenchman's Bay
area. He also expressed concern relating to an increase in traffic, access for
emergency vehicles, and requested that OPG's exclusion zone be adhered to.
Eileen Higdon, 852 Fairview Avenue, Pickering, appeared before the Committee
in opposition to the application. Ms. Higdon noted that the developer is only
considering the financial implications of the development, and is not investing in
the improvement of the waterfront. She stated that much time and money had
already been invested into the waterfront and that the development was
discouraging public access over private access to the waterfront.
David White, Devry Smith Frank LLP, representing 2388116 Ontario Inc., Ralph
Morgan, appeared before the Committee to request that the City of Pickering be
consistent in their interpretation and application of relevant planning documents in
making a decision regarding this application, as a similar application for Wharf
Street was most recently denied by the City, and is currently awaiting a decision
from the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).
Fran Scott, 925 Bayly Street, Pickering, appeared before the Committee to
express concerns relating to an increase in traffic on Bayly Street, and the
proposed parking lot and whether residents would be required to pay for parking in
the future. Ms. Scott noted that if the City approves one development along the
waterfront, that more developments are likely to follow, which will destroy the
waterfront.
Stephen Lomax, 1667 Tawnberry Street, Pickering, appeared before the
Committee to express concerns relating to traffic and flooding and questioned how
deep the developers would need to dig to support the proposed development
structures in the marshland area.
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DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
Peter Falconer, 1435 Parkham Crescent, Pickering, appeared before the
Committee in opposition to the application. Mr. Falconer noted concerns relating
to increased traffic, and concerns relating to emergency situations that may
require evacuation in the area. He stated that two 23 storey buildings would ruin
the aesthetics and serenity of the area, and that the development will do
irreparable damage to the wetlands and requested that Council reject the
application.
Elizabeth Blanchard, 1338 Tatra Drive, Pickering, appeared before the Committee
to express concerns relating to traffic noting that it is currently already congested
in the area and her street is used by vehicles trying to circumvent current traffic
volumes. She questioned how residents would evacuate the area in the event of
an emergency and noted that this application could increase the likelihood of
flooding, and that the construction could be disruptive and have a negative impact
on the nuclear reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Station.
Elizabeth Italiano, 645 Annland Street, Pickering, appeared before the Committee
to express concerns relating to the road plan and urban planning. She noted that
as the traffic studies were only completed in June, one data point is insufficient to
capture accurate traffic volumes in the area. Ms. Italiano further noted that in the
event of an emergency, residents would have difficulties evacuating the area due
to the increase in traffic from the proposed development.
Catherine Rose, Chief Planner, responded to questions pertaining to the traffic
study, noting that the Region of Durham identified a number of deficiencies in the
study, and that the City had also hired a consultant to complete a peer review of
the traffic study provided by the Applicant.
Elizabeth Blanchard, 1338 Tatra Drive, Pickering, returned to the delegation
podium, noting her concerns with pollution, the location of the water filtration plant,
and whether adequate studies had been conducted to examine the widespread
impact on surrounding areas.
Michael Shaw, 713 Balaton Avenue, Pickering, appeared before the Committee to
express concerns relating to an increase in traffic and stated that Council needed
to consider all ongoing projects within the City, not just this specific site project, as
the feeder roads coming into the City from Hwy 401 were already backed up.
Janet Cardno, 790 Batory Avenue, Pickering, appeared before the Committee to
express concerns relating to the environmental impact of the application. Ms.
Cardno noted that the development proposes to build a parking garage
underground, and that this would not be possible due to the high water table. She
stated that there will likely be water damage to the buildings in the long term,
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DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
stating that Council needed to consider long term impacts and not just the
immediate build out of the proposal. Ms. Cardno expressed further concerns
regarding the increased traffic in the area as well as the number of heavy delivery
trucks that would be coming into the area for new residents. She concluded by
stating that parking issues would increase, due to individuals visiting the new
towers, which would take away public parking spaces for those visiting the
waterfront.
Philip Perrin, 689 Alderwood Place, Pickering, appeared before the Committee to
express concerns relating to the increase in residents with this application, and
that their access to City services would be limited due to the high demand. He
noted concerns with improper drainage of the site as well as traffic issues and
questioned whether recent LPAT decisions and City Planning documents would
impact the consideration of this application.
Xaine Bhatia, 966 Vistula Drive, Pickering, appeared before the Committee to
express concerns regarding traffic as it relates to pedestrian and cyclist access to
the waterfront trail from Ajax to Pickering. She stated that currently, to go from one
part of the trail to another, one had to travel along Liverpool and Bayly, down the
west shore, which created safety issues and noted that with the increased
residents in the area, the volume of cars would only increase. Ms. Bhatia
expressed further concerns regarding the weeds and algae in Frenchman's Bay,
and questioned whether the bridge that was shown at the October Open House
was part of the proposal.
Catherine Rose, Chief Planner, responded to Ms. Bhatia, noting that the bridge is
not a part of the application, and that it was used solely for the visioning exercise.
Phil Warne, 518 Cliffview Road, Pickering, appeared before the Committee to
express concerns relating to the damage that will be done to the wildlife and
wetlands during the construction process, and that the proposed causeway across
the Bay is incompatible with the area.
Charles Guthrie, 854 Miriam Road, Pickering, appeared before the Committee and
stated that he agreed with all the prior delegation's remarks thus far. He reiterated
the statement of the Chair that no decision had yet been made on this application
and noted that he was putting his trust in Council to make the right decision. Mr.
Guthrie stated that his major concerns, in order of importance were environmental,
compatibility with the character of the neighbourhood and the rate of growth and
infrastructure noting that the neighbourhood cannot support this large
development.
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DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
David Reiter, 825 Zator Avenue, Pickering, appeared before the Committee to
express concerns relating to parking and the OPG exclusion zone, noting that a
change to an exclusion zone would require a safety analysis and a licensing case
that would need to be presented to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
(CNSC). Mr. Reiter questioned why the CNSC would want to do this and who
would pay for such analysis.
Graham Crawshaw, 1281 Wharf Street, Pickering, appeared before the
Committee to express concerns relating to the increase in traffic, environmental
impact, stormwater management, and that the studies that have been completed
are biased. He suggested that a better use for this land would be a pavilion or
multi -season facility for all residents to enjoy community events, and requested
that the City consider acquiring the nautical facilities to ensure proper
maintenance. He expressed concerns regarding the potential for a future road
connection, noting that this road would have a significant impact on the natural
marsh environment.
John Foster, 288 King Street East, Oshawa, appeared before the Committee in
opposition to the application, noting that the waterfront is a beautiful spot, and that
he hopes it will stay that way.
Mr. Robertson, 284 Lawrence Avenue, Toronto, appeared before the Committee
in opposition to the application, noting his concerns relating to the environmental
impact of the development.
Karen Keating, 1314 Broadview Street, Pickering, appeared before the Committee
and questioned whether the City is required to meet any deadlines to respond to
this application as it pertains to appeals at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal
(LPAT).
Catherine Rose, Chief Planner, responded to Ms. Keating, confirming that the City
is required to respond within 120 days, and that this deadline had passed. Ms.
Rose noted that the applicant could appeal to LPAT for failure of Council to make
a decision, however, both parties have obligations and rights to appeal under the
Planning Act. She noted that information regarding this process going forward will
be available to the public on the City's website.
Stephen De Vries, 1617 Deerbrook Drive, Pickering, appeared before the
Committee in opposition to this application, requesting that Council listen to the
people and deny the application.
There were no further delegations from the public.
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DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
Members of the Committee requested that the following items be addressed when
the recommendation report is brought back to the Planning and Development
Committee:
- traffic;
- evacuation plan;
- density height and massing;
- shadowing;
- environmental issues, including, marsh, wetland, and light pollution;
- parking;
- relationship to OPG and exclusion zone;
- access to beach and waterfront;
- boat ramp and continuation of the marina;
- road patterns;
- underground structures and water levels; and,
- impacts of construction and drainage.
Mike Pettigrew, Senior Planner, The Biglieri Group Ltd., returned to respond to
questions raised, noting that many of the issues expressed had been addressed
through the studies included as part of the proposal. He stated that once technical
reviews and responses from agencies have been received, they will provide a
fulsome response and obtain additional studies if required. Mr. Pettigrew noted
that this was a visioning exercise, which provided options to deal with connectivity
and ideas, and that elements regarding parking were preliminary, and stated that
they would continue to work with City Staff and agencies to address all issues.
A question and answer period ensued between Members of Council, City Staff,
and Mike Pettigrew regarding:
- whether the applicant would continue to work with the City rather than
appealing the City's non -decision to LPAT;
- the incorporation of the 2015 report prepared by OPG, regarding the
repurposing of the Pickering Nuclear Station, that states that residential
housing is incompatible in this area, in the recommendation report that
would be presented in future to the Committee;
- reviewing this application in relation to the Infill and Replacement Housing
in Established Neighbourhoods Study, and Great Lakes Nautical Village
Guidelines;
- reviewing this application in light of the Kingston Road Corridor and
Specialty Retailing Node Intensification Study - Intensification Plan and
Draft Urban Design Guidelines;
- reviewing the developments' impact on the wetlands, and whether the soil
can support this type of design and height;
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DICKERING
Planning & Development
Committee Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2020
Council Chambers — 7:00 pm
Chair: Councillor Ashe
- compatibility of this application with the Liverpool Road Waterfront Node
Development Guidelines; and,
- the inclusion of the City's parking lot in the visioning exercise, and
confirmation that if the City were to sell this lot, that it would come to
Council for approval.
3. Other Business
There were no items of other business.
4. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor McLean
Seconded by Councillor Butt
That the meeting be adjourned.
The meeting adjourned at 10:22 pm.
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