HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 17, 2021
Minutes/Meeting Summary
Accessibility Advisory Committee
February 17, 2021
Electronic Meeting
7:00 pm
Attendees: Peter Bashaw
Saima Fatima
Dan Hughes
Glenn Lang
Megan Thorpe Ross
David Wysocki
John McLellan, Ajax-Pickering B oard of Trade
Tim Higgins, Staff Representative
Rumali Perera, Recording Secretary
Isabelle Janton, Senior Planner - Site Planning
Vince Plouffe, Manager, Facilities Capital Projects
Absent: Anthony Lue
Guests: Sinead Zalitach
Item/ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items/Status
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1. Welcome & Introductions
T. Higgins welcomed members and guests to the
electronic Committee meeting.
2. Review and Approval of Agenda
T. Higgins reviewed the agenda items. Agenda
approved.
3. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
4. Review and Approval of Minutes
- January 20, 2021
Moved by D. Hughes
Seconded by G. Lang
That the Minutes of the January 20, 2021 meeting of
the Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved.
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Carried
5. New Business
5.1 Site Plan Review
S12/02 (R20) 1400 Squires Beach Rd.
Isabelle Janton, Senior Planner - Site Planning,
provided an overview of the proposal noting that
the applicant proposes to add a canopy to the
existing building, additional parking space, a loop
for truck movement, and a loading area under the
canopy.
A question and answer period ensued between
Members of the Committee and Isabelle Janton,
regarding:
• why there are a large number of parking
spaces for a warehouse;
• providing a pathway into the property from
the intersection of Bayly Street and Squires
Beach Road for employees that may be using
public transportation;
• whether there are employment opportunities
for individuals with disabilities;
• the need for sidewalks for both Bayly Street
and Squires Beach Road;
• the associate entrance to the warehouse
being the best location to place the
connecting pathway to public transportation;
and,
• whether the second storey office is
accessible
S 02/19 9004807 Canada Inc. – Stonepay
Phase II
Isabelle Janton, Senior Planner - Site Planning,
noted that the first phase of the proposal, which
was before the Committee in 2019, was approved
in December and the applicant is now be moving
forward with construction. She added that a pre–
consultation meeting had been requested by the
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applicant to review a proposal for Phase II of the
development.
Ms. Janton provided the Committee with an
overview of the proposal which include 108
stacked townhouses and 14 standard
townhouses and noted that the proposed Site
Plan is almost a mirror image of the approved
Phase I lands.
A brief question and answer period ensued
between Members of the Committee and Ms.
Janton, regarding the recommendations that were
made by the Accessibility Advisory Committee in
2019 during Phase I and whether these
recommendations were followed through by the
applicant.
Tim Higgins enquired whether there are plans for
transit routes to the subject lands, availability of
parklands, and the width of the right of way for
Palmer’s Sawmill Road.
Tim Higgins suggested that Isabelle Janton
attend the upcoming Core Accessibility Team
Meeting t o discuss the recreational potential and
value of the subject lands.
Pickering Museum
Vince Plouffe, Manager, Facilities Capital
Projects, through the aid of site plan images,
provided an overview of the site plan for the
Pickering Heritage Community Centre and
discussed available parking, access to the
building, and major features of the building.
A brief question and answer period ensued
between Members of the Committee and Vince
Plouffe regarding:
• access to the second floor and whether the
elevator would provide access to the
basement; and,
• whether the r emaining portion of the East
wing w ould be structured such that a
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second floor could continue along the
entirety of the wing.
Tim Higgins enquired whether there is any
potential use for the rooftop space and whether the
Indigenous Community had been consulted on the
project. Mr. Plouffe advised that there would be no
open access to the rooftop due to the rooftop being
used for a number of different functions and that
Staff are working with the Indigenous Community
on a key exhibit.
Vince Plouffe provided the Committee with an
update on the Recreation Complex noting that
demolition had already begun.
5.2 Service & Support Animals Initiative
D.Wysocki provided the Committee with an update
on the Service & Support Animals Initiative, noting
that the innovation labs had begun taking place. He
noted that through the Survey designed by the
Taskforce, four key stakeholder groups were
identified which include front facing businesses, users
of support animals, advocacy groups, and the
different levels of government. He added that the last
innovation lab is being held tomorrow where
participants would be discussing solutions to the
issues that were identified a nd creating a persona. D.
Wysocki outlined the next steps of the project which
include a monograph and the public launch of a
awareness webinar.
Sinead Zalitach joined the Committee meeting v ia
audio connection and stated that she was a
participant of the innovation, lab and noted that
creating a persona through discussion was both
rewarding and challenging.
D. Wysocki added that the innovation l abs allowed
people to step outside of themselves and address
issues that any one particular group or persons could
not normally address.
Tim Higgins provided the Committee with an
overview of a number of highlights from the project.
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Members of the Committee noted the importance of
action that should be taken by the City in response to
the findings of the initiative.
5.3 Accessible/Affordable Housing
Tim Higgins advised that there is a formal
consultation process that is being undertaken by the
City regarding accessible and affordable housing,
and that the next formal meeting would be taking
place next Thursday where the Committee could
present issues relating to accessible and affordable
housing.
Discussion ensued between Members of the
Committee and Tim Higgins regarding:
• various accessible housing designs such as
stacked bungalow houses or townhouses;
• affordable housing and ac cessible housing
being two separate issues and concerns
regarding the creation of low income
communities by integrating the two issues;
• lack of accessible housing for seniors;
• whether there is a business model to entice
builders to create affordable or accessible
housing;
• the need for affordable and accessible housing
being dependent on the age groups; and,
• looking at a new structure of financing for
affordable housing.
Members of the Committee enquired whether the
members of the Study would be able to attend the
next Accessibility Advisory Committee to receive
input from the Committee.
6. Other Business & Updates
6.1 Member Updates
D. Hughes advised that the site plans for the Axess
Condominium project had been submitted to the City.
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G. Lang enquired whether the Region would be
looking at potential issues relating to accessibility and
access to the COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
J. McLellan thanked the Committee for nominating
him for the City of Pickering Civic Awards.
7. Adjournment
Meeting Adjourned: 9:25 pm
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