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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. 1 Cty oh 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 2 Cty oh 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 3 Cty oh 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 4 Cty oh DICKERING 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. 5 Cty oh 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, 6 Cty oh 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. 7 Cty oh 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. 8 Cty oh 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; 9 Cfl h 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. 10 Carried