HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/15/1990
STATUTORY PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
A Statutory Public Meeting was held by the Pickering Town Council on
Thursday, March 15, 1990 at 7:30 p.m.
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PRESENT:
r.1. Brenner
D. Dickerson
R. Johnson
R. Mitchell - Chairman
ABSENT:
Mayor W. Arthurs (vacation)
B. Morgan (family business)
K. Van Kempen (vacation)
ALSO PRESENT:
B. Taylor
T. r~agi
N. Carroll
T. r~e 1 ymu k
L. Taylor
J. Cole
K. Heritage
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- Town Clerk
- Director of Planning
- Manager, Current Operations Division
- Manager, Policy & Information Division
- Planner
- Planner
- Planner
(I) OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT 88-115/P, DRAFT PLAN OF SUBDIVISION
18T-89077 AND REZONING APPLICATION A67/88 SUBMITTED BY
GOSSAMER HILLS INC. ON THE EAST SIDE OF DIXIE ROAD, SOUTH
OF THE ONTARIO HYDRO CORRIDOR
1. An explanation of the application, as outlined in
Information Report No. 24/90, was given by Kevin Heritage,
Planner.
2.
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Mr. Marvi n Gei st, representi ng the appl i cant, stated that
the majority of the property is flat with a ravine and
woods on the south and east sides. The r'.1arshall Farms
Community Associ ati on objected to thei r fi rst proposal for
193 townhouses and because of thi s, the present revi sed
plan was submitted and includes single family dwellings on
lots rangi ng from 40-70 feet. Lots 1 to 11 on the dra ft
pl an abut lots on Meadowl ane Crescent and are 1 arger in
size. These lots will have a private screen of trees at
the rear and he recommended that rear yard setbacks be
extensi ve to provi de conti nual pri vacy for the homeowners
on Meadowl ane Crescent. A covenant woul d be put in the
deeds for the lots in the draft plan that would protect the
trees. This development \'/ill yield nine units to the acre
and woul d be no di fferent than other townhouse or medi urn
density developments in the Liverpool Community that abut
the hydro corridor. This draft plan would be a logical
extension of the existing residential neighbourhood,
servi ci ng can be easi ly extended to the development and
amenities such as schools, libraries, shopping are close
by. This draft plan meets the goals of the Liverpool
Community Plan and all required studies have been
submi tted. Vari ous government agenci es have responded to
the circulation and no agency has voiced an objection. His
client met the r1arshall Farms Community Association and as
a result of this meeting, the buffer zone at the south end
of the plan was put in. They met again in November, 1989
but were asked to 1 eave the meeti ng because the res i dents
di d not want any development. The Town may have assured
people in 1982 that there would be no development north of
the Marshall Farms subdivision but planning and development
is not a static matter.
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Ontario Hydro now has a policy of selling its lands in the
private market and that is how his client obtained the
lands. ~1r. Geist noted that there is a large commercial
plaza at the corner of Dixie Road and Finch Avenue which is
close to this development.
Ri chard ~1aj, 1128 Meadowl ane Crescent, stated that Ontari 0
Hydro had the property designated residential and not the
Region of Durham in order to sell the land. This is not a
logical extension of the existing residential neighbourhood
because the trees provide a distinct barrier. The
statement in the 1 etters from the government agencies that
they have no objection to the draft plan should not be
construed as support for the pl an. The meeti ng wi th the
Community Association in April, 1989 was only to provide
information and the developer was asked to leave the
meeti ng hel din November, 1989 because the resi dents had
strong negati ve feel i ngs about the development. He noted
that Ontario Hydro has always sold surplus properties. The
applicant will benefit financially from this development
but the existing neighbourhood will be adversely affected
because of increased traffic and noise, pressure put on the
ravine and a loss of privacy.
4. Richard Senechal, 1132 Meadowlane Crescent, stated that
this draft plan is not a logical extension of the existing
residential development because there is no infrastructure
to service this plan. This development will be totally
i sol ated from the exi sti ng communi ty and the future
homeowners woul d not develop a sense of communi ty as is
presently found in the r~arshall Farms subdivision. r~any
trees wi 11 di sappear even though on the conceptual plan it
appears that many will be saved. The wildlife report that
was submitted by the applicant states that species such as
the white tailed deer will be wiped out by this proposal.
The closest park is about one kilometre from the draft plan
and the Maple Ridge School has five portables and is
already over crowded. He stated that there seems to be a
sense of inevitability to this development because of the
money that has already been spent by the developer.
Ronal d t~ortson, 1124 Meadowl ane Crescent, stated that the
Cherrywood Transformer Stati on is across the road from the
draft plan and is presently buffered by the applicants
lands. By approving the development, it will delete a
buffer, be a danger to children and provide increased noise
from the Station. Until there is a concl usi ve study that
electro-magnetic fields do not cause cancer, the draft plan
shoul d not be approved. At 1 east 70% of the trees on the
subject lands will be destroyed and there is no realistic
method of stopping future homeowners from putting in pools
or accessory bui 1 di ngs thus destroyi ng more trees. Di xi e
Road will need extensive upgrading if this development is
approved.
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6. Brian Moss, 1192 t~aple Gate Road, stated that if this
development is approved, Counci 1 shoul d re-exami ne it
economic development strategy because the existing
nei ghbourhood provi des executi ve homes for future busi ness
owners. Tree preservati on much be carefully exami ned and
if the development is approved, parkland should be
requested and not cash-in-lieu.
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7.
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Robert Stephens, 1114 Timber Court, stated that Ontario
Hydro's comments should be discounted because they sold the
land to the developer. The Maple Ridge School has
indicated that they are currently experiencing traffic
problems and if this plan is approved, it will only make
the traffic at the school worse. If the development is
approved, wildlife such as deer will disappear and the
ravine will dry up. There is no advantage to the Town in
approving this draft plan.
8. John t1archand, 1138 ~1eadowl ane Crescent, stated that he
opposes the proposed development. If this draft plan is
approved, it coul d set a precedent for all owi ng
development on other Ontari 0 Hydro surpl us 1 and and across
from the Cherrywood Substati on. Many trees wi 11 be
destroyed and the developer coul d easi ly remove exi sti ng
trees that are pl anned to be saved as was done by another
developer.
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9.
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Michelle Senechal, 1132 Meadowlane Crescent, stated that
over the years traffic and noise from Dixie Road has
increased and by removing any trees on the subject lands,
the noi se from Di xi e Road as well as from the Brock West
Landfi 11 Site and the Cherrywood Transformer Station woul d
be increased.
10. Marvin Geist, representing the applicant, responded by
stati ng that hi s cl i ent is prepared to meet most of the
objecti ons of the ratepayers and is prepared to speak to
each ratepayer individually. He noted that the people who
wrote the reports submitted with the application are
professionals.
(II) REZONING APPLICATION A49/89 SUBMITTED BY N. PHILLIPS ON THE
NORTH SIDE OF DUNBARTON ROAD, EAST OF APPLEVIEW ROAD
1. An explanation of the application, as outlined in
Information Report No. 21/90, was given by Jeffrey Cole,
Planner.
2.
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3.
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Nicola Phillips, the applicant, stated that the present
Montessori School on Toynevale Road was opened in 1984 to
meet a need in Pi ckeri ng and are currently teachi ng up to
140 children up to age 12. The present school has 4,300
square feet and can permit 150 children and the proposed
school woul d have 4,000 square feet to serve 90 chil dren.
The change from a day care centre to a pri vate school is
not significant and the pool at the rear of the property
will be removed and a larger septic tank installed thus
increasing the amount of land for outdoor activities.
There wi 11 be a dri ve-through for those parents 1 etti ng
their children off at the school plus parking in the front
yard for 11 vehicles. Any noise from the children would
not be great because they are 1 et outdoors in staggered
groups. The present day care centre has been in existence
for 25 years and she intends to improve its appearance.
Most of the neighbours in the area of the Toynevale school
have signed a statement that it has not been a problem.
Traffic at the proposed school would be less than the day
care centre because the cars would be coming in over
staggered hours.
Donna Kelly, 660 Cowan Circle, stated that she supports the
application because they provide day care for children
above six years of age in addition to providing a quality
education.
4.
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Andy Emink, 938 Dunbarton Road, stated that he lives
immediately west of the subject property and stated that
the issue is if there is adequate reason to depart from the
exi sti ng zoni ng. The 1 ack of day care centres or the use
of the subject property as a t~ontessori School is not a
zoning issue. The age of the children attending the
proposed school is not of concern to him but the increase
in their numbers is. The present use of the lands as a day
care centre is not consistent with the zoning of the
property even though it is a legal non-conforming use. The
neighbours moved into the area based on the present size of
the day care centre. Traffic will be a problem even with a
parking lot and a drive-through and noise from the cars
will be aggravating. Although the applicant has guaranteed
that the privacy of the neighbours will be maintained, what
will happen if she sells the property. The letters of
support for the ~1ontessori are not relevant because the
people who wrote them do not 1 ive in the area. Staggered
traffi c at the school wi 11 only increase the exposure of
traffic in the neighbourhood. The present day care centre
is a nuisance because the parents park at the bottom of his
driveway when they are delivering their children to the
centre and his garbage cans have been hit by cars.
5. Brian Lupson, 1008 Dunbarton Road, stated that the proposed
Montessori School is a full-fledged commercial facility.
Traffic, sewage and noise problems will occur if the School
is allowed. A parking lot in the front yard and any
additional structure would not be compatible with the
surrounding houses. Dunbarton Road is an important link
with much pedestrian traffic that would be in danger
because there are no sidewalks. The present zoning was
imposed for the purpose of protecti ng the exi sti ng
residential neighbourhood.
6. Nicola Phillips, the applicant, responded that there is no
existing private school zoning in place in the Town and
that since the day care centre is already in operation, it
was felt that this use would not be a problem. She stated
that she had spoken with the neighbours and they felt that
the drive-through would be better than parking on the
street.
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(III)
DRAFT PLAN OF SUBDIVISION 18T-89028 AND REZONING
APPLICATION A23/89 SUBMITTED BY NORTH PIER ESTATES LTD.
(FORMERLY CROCKET POINT ESTATES LTD. IN TRUST) ON THE SOUTH
SIDE OF FINCH AVENUE, EAST OF ROSEBANK ROAD
DRAFT PLAN OF SUBDIVISION 18T-89029 AND REZONING
APPLICATION A31/89 SUBMITTED BY 769393 ONTARIO INC. ON THE
SOUTH SIDE OF FINCH AVENUE, EAST OF ROSEBANK ROAD
DRAFT PLAN OF SUBDIVISION 18T-89069 AND REZONING
APPLICATION A33/89 SUBMITTED BY KELECK INV. ON THE SOUTH
SIDE OF FINCH AVENUE, EAST OF ROSEBANK ROAD
OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT 88-109P, DRAFT PLAN OF SUBDIVISION
18T-89071 AND REZONING APPLICATION A34/89 SUBMITTED BY
666178 ONTARIO LTD. ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF FINCH AVENUE, WEST
OF WH ITES ROAD
1. An expl anation of the appl i cati on, as outl i ned in
Information Report Nos. 17/90, 19/90, 20/90 and 18/90, was
given by Linda Taylor, Planner.
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2.
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Hel en Lepek, representi ng North Pi er Estates Ltd., 769393
Ontario Inc. and 666178 Ontario Ltd., stated that this
Information Meeting is a good way to make the applicant and
residents more aware of proposed developments and
concerns. Although she had a numbers of concerns about the
information provided by staff, she will be meeting with
them to review these concerns. With respect to the
application submitted by 666178 Ontario Ltd., she stated
that a commercial study has been undertaken and that the
road patterns will be discussed with the staff. The
applicant may alter the draft plan to delete the townhouses
and replace them with 30 foot singles.
3. Richard Ward, R. R. # 2, Blackstock, stated that he objects
to Napanee Drive entering onto Finch Avenue because it will
provide a need for a traffic light in the future. If this
proposal proceeds, he would like notification of when the
draft plan of subdivision will be considered by Council.
He also asked if he coul d have copi es of all Pl anni ng
Reports pertaining to these applications.
4.
Helen Lepek, representing three of the applicants, stated
that the extens i on of Napanee Dri ve to enter Fi nch Avenue
only implements the Highbush Community Plan.
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(IV) ADJOURNMENT OF STATUTORY PUBLIC MEETING
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Dated
April 2nd 1990
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