HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD 18-03
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REPORT TO
COUNCIL
Report Number: PO 18-03
Date: March 27, 2003
From:
Neil Carroll
Director, Planning & Development
Subject:
Comments on City of Toronto Official Plan
Recommendation:
1.
That Report Number PO 18-03, concerning the City of Toronto Official Plan, be
RECEIVED;
2.
That the Region of Durham be REQUESTED to take any action it considers
appropriate with respect to the transportation policies and designations in the
City of Toronto Official Plan in so far as they fail to enhance traffic and transit
connections at the Toronto/Durham boundary;
3.
That the City Clerk FORWARD Council's resolution and Report PO 18-03 to the
Clerk of the Region of Durham.
Executive Summary: The first Official Plan for the new amalgamated City of Toronto
was adopted by Toronto City Council in November 2002. Comments from City of Pickering
staff and the Region of Durham identified certain shortcomings with road, road-width and
transit supportive designations in the Toronto Plan for the connection between Steeles
Avenue in Toronto and Taunton Road in Pickering/Durham, the connection between
Kingston Road Toronto and Pickering/Durham, and for a new Morningside Avenue arterial
road in Scarborough. The comments were not addressed by the City of Toronto. The
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved the Plan recently with modifications that
satisfy the Momingside Avenue issue and provide only for Toronto to "consult" adjacent
municipalities about shared transportation corridors and cross-boundary provisions. Approval
of the Plan is subject to appeal by April 1 0, 2003.
As the transportation issues are inter-regional in nature and of significance for the economic
development for the Region of Durham as a whole, the Region is requested to take any action
it considers appropriate respecting the approval of the City of Toronto Official Plan.
Financial Implications:
Not Applicable
Report PD 18-02
Date: March 27, 2003
Subject: Comments on City of Toronto Official Plan
Page 2
Background:
City of Toronto Adopted it's New Official Plan November, 2002
On November 28, 2002, Toronto City Council adopted the first Official Plan for the new
amalgamated City of Toronto. This followed release of the Plan in May 2002, earlier
release of a number of reports, and initiation of the Plan review process in April 1999.
The proposed Official Plan for the City of Toronto presents a strategic vision and
principles to guide the growth of Toronto over the next 30 years. The Plan sets out
urban structure and growth management policies and establishes goals for building a
successful City. It also establishes land use designations and sets out a general
approach to implementation.
As a strategic plan, it seeks to protect existing neighbourhoods and directs a population
increase of up to an additional one million persons to the Downtown and Waterfront,
four Centres, major Avenues and employment Districts. The Plan emphasizes compact
urban form and mixed use development in pedestrian-friendly communities with a more
fully co-ordinated transit system.
Pickering Staff Identified Shortcomings
Pickering Planning & Development staff comments (see Attachment #1) supported the
Toronto Plan's proposed principles for growth and change, protection of
neighbourhoods and the environment, and many other policies. In addition, the Plan's
clarity in presenting policy at various levels (general, area and site specific) was
supported.
The staff comments also identified a number of transportation matters in the Toronto
Plan which are inconsistent with the Pickering Official Plan. These include road, road-
width and transit designations for a north-south connection within Toronto, and for a
number of east-west cross-boundary routes into Pickering. Without modifications,
cross-boundary traffic and transit flows will not be maximized as they should be.
The provisions in the Toronto Plan for the north-south connection of Morningside Avenue into
the Town of Markham did not adequately reflect a previous OMB decision to protect for the
proposed extension of Morningside Avenue as an arterial road.
The road, road-width and transit designations in the Toronto Plan mainly provide for
lower classifications for the connections of Steeles Avenue to Taunton Road, and for
Kingston Road into Pickering. Details are provided in Attachment #1 to this Report.
Similar comments made by the Region of Durham respecting the Morningside Avenue
arterial and the Steeles Avenue connection to Taunton Road received no response
from Toronto, and were subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing.
Report PD 18-02
Date: March 27, 2003
Subject: Comments on City of Toronto Official Plan
Page 3
Further, a number of the land use and transportation designations, identified on a map
in the Toronto Plan of municipalities surrounding Toronto, do not accurately reflect
designations contained in the City of Pickering or Durham Region Official Plans.
City of Toronto did not Respond to Comments
The Pickering staff comments, forwarded to the City of Toronto in September 2002,
received no response and were not addressed in the Toronto Official Plan adopted by
Toronto City Council. Similarly, subsequent Pickering Planning & Development
inquiries to the Toronto Planning Department, following receipt of the notice of adoption
of the Toronto Plan, received no response. On March 3, 2003, the Director,
Planning & Development forwarded the staff comments to the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and Housing (see Attachment #2) and requested modifications to the Toronto
Plan to address the concerns.
Toronto Plan Now Approved
On March 24, 2003, Pickering received a Notice of Decision from the Deputy Minister of
Municipal Affairs and Housing approving the Toronto Official Plan subject to certain
modifications, including:
. A new policy requiring Toronto to consult adjacent municipalities regarding
shared transportation corridors and cross-boundary service provisions; and,
. A new footnote that addresses the Morningside Avenue matter.
The approval of the Toronto Official Plan may be appealed, with the last date for appeal
being April 10, 2003.
Appeal by City in Pickering Not Recommended
While the policies in the Toronto Plan for the Steeles Avenue/Taunton Road, and
Kingston Road connections do not maximize opportunities for traffic and transit capacity
between Toronto and Pickering, the two modifications appear to settle the
Momingside Avenue issue and provide for mandatory consultation on shared transportation
corridor and cross-boundary service provisions.
The undertaking of an appeal to provisions of another municipality's Official Plan
requires investment of considerable staff resources, which are better applied to more
pressing matters of importance to the City of Pickering at this time.
Inter-regional transportation is a key issue in ensuring healthy economic development
for the Region of Durham as a whole. The Region of Durham is responsible for such
regional matters through its Official Plan and for the review of the Durham Region
Transportation Master Plan. Regional staff are better positioned to provide the
technical justification that would be required to support an action, such as appeal, to
transportation policies in the Toronto Plan.
Report PD 18-02
Date: March 27, 2003
Subject: Comments on City of Toronto Official Plan
Page 4
Conclusion:
The Region is requested to take any action it considers appropriate respecting the
decision to approve the Toronto Official Plan, in order to ensure co-ordinated and
maximized cross-boundry traffic and transit opportunities between Toronto and
Pickering /Durham are secured.
Attachments:
1.
Letter from Manager, Policy, dated September 11,2002, to City of Toronto
2.
Letter from Director, Planning & Development, dated March 3, 2003, to the
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Prepared By:
Approved I Endorsed By:
~ liuh* .
Steve Gaunt, MCIP, RPP
Planner II
t~~~
Catherine Rose .
Manager, Policy
SG:jf
Attachments
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer
Recommended for the consideration of
Pickering City Council
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ATTACHMENT" - J TO
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Pickering Civic Coij:lpl
One The Espfánac
Pickering, Ontar
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Direct Access 905,420.461
cityofpickering,cOl
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPf..RTIvíENT
Department 905.420,4617
Facsimile 905,420,7648
plan &devl@city.pickering,on,ca
September 11 , 2002
Kerri Voumvakis
Manager of Official Plan
Urban Development Services
Metro Hall, 22nd Floor
55 John Street
Toronto, ON M5V 3C6
Subject:
Toronto's New Official Plan (May 2002)
Preliminary Comments from the City of Pickering
Planning & Development Department
ï
City of Pickering Planning & Development staff was unable to attend the roundtable
discussion held Friday, August 16th, 2002; on Toronto's new Official Plan. Staff has
briefly reviewed the new Official Plan for Torònto, dated May 2002. Our preliminary
comments are as follows:
1.
General Matters
Overall, staff supports the Plan's proposed principles for steering growth and change to
selected parts of the City of Toronto, while protecting the neighbourhoods and green
spaces from development pressures. Staff also supports the additional policy directions
that guide decision making aimed at: nurturing the residential neighbourhoods, parks,
ravines and natural areas; improving air, soil and water quality while expanding the
economy; and encouraging high quality redevelopment.
Staff finds the Plan is clearly organized, given the complexity and amount of material
contained in the three-volume document. The policy and mapping is presented at a
variety of scales appropriate to the issue.' In general, the Plan is easy to read and
understand. ,
2.
Transportation Matters
Staff concludes the Plan consistently fails to recognize the importance of
east-west connections to Durham Region, and fails to maximize the use of
existing opportunities to increase capacity along existing east-west routes. The
chart on the following page identifies designations, or Jack thereof, within the new
I
Toronto's New Official Plan (May 2002)! ,,', f\; .,.,~.,:Zt~ (L3 September 11, 20Ó2
City of Pickering Planning & Development Department Comments Page 2
Toronto Plan that are inconsistent with designations or policy approaches within the
Pickering Official Plan.
Map 3: Right-
of-Way Widths
Associated
with Existing
Major Streets
Steeles
Avenue
Right-of-way Taunton Road:
Width Maximum right-of-way
36 metres width maximum
50 metres
Map 4: Higher Steeles
Order Transit Avenue
. Corridors
Fails to
designate as à
Transit Corridor
Map 4:, Higher
Order Transit
Corridors
Kingston
Road
Fails to
designate as a
Transit Corridor
Map 5: Stee.les
Surface Transit. Avenue
Priority
Network
Fails to
designate as a
Transit Priority
Se ment
Map 5: Kingston
Surface Transit Road
Priority
Network
Fails to
designate as a
Transit Priority
Segment
Designates
Taunton Road
as a Transit
Feeder SeNice
Designates
Kingston Road
as a Transit
Spine
Designates
Taunton Road
as a Transit
Feeder SeNice
Designates
Kingston Road
as a Transit
Spine
- ,--
""
Revise Map 3
to designate
Steeles Avenue
as having a
45 metres and
over maximum
. ri ht..of..wa
- ,
Add to Maþ 4, a
Transit
Corridor
designation on
Steeles Avenue'
Add to Map 4, a
Transit
Corridor
designation on
Kin - stan Road
Add to Map 5, a
Transit Priority
Segment on
Steeles Avenue
Add to Map 5, a
Transit Priority
Segment
designation on
Kin stan Road
To better co-ordinate east-west transportation planning initiatives between
Toronto - and Pickering I Durham, staff recommends the changes to the new
Toronto 'Official Plan outlined in the above table be made.
Toronto's New Official Plan (May 2002)
#--Lro September 1'1,2002
~, PD_i-K ~ 03._..._. '"
City of Píckerin_~ Planning & Development Department Comments
Page 3
The Plan would be improved with some changes to Schedule 2, The Designation of
Planned but Unbuilt Roads. Staff recommends that Schedule 2 be revised to
include the proposed right-at-way widths of the roads, and that a Map of the
Schedule 2 information be added to enable a reader to visualize the location of
the proposed roads.
Pickering is in support of maintaining the opportunity for a high.,speed arterial road in
.the Momingside corridor, to connect Toronto and Markham. However, the City's
records are incomplete on the final disposition of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) on
the Morningside Heights Secondary Plan and extension of Morningside Avenue. Staff
requests confirmation that the language in the new Toronto Official Pian
implements the OMB decision to protect for the proposed extension of a
Morningside arterial road. .
j
The proposed designation of Finch Avenue, Beare Road and Plug Hat Road through
the Rouge Park as 27-metre rights-of-way is inconsistent with Pickering Council's
position. City Council's position is that. these roads be maintained as 20-metre
rights-of-way through the Rouge Park. However, staff notes that within the Site and
AreaSpecific Policies, section 141.(d) reads "[these] 27 metre rights-of-way will not be
used to accommodate four lane roads". Staff requests clarification on this matter.
As a minimum, Schedule .1, Existing Minor Streets with Right-at-Way Widths
Greater than 20 Metres, should be revised with a footnote referring the reader to
the related policy exception for these roads.
By contrast, staff notes the Plan is consistent with Pickering Council's position to
maintain Twyn Rivers as a 20-metre road allowance through the Rouge Park.
Further, staff notes the Plan is consistent with the positions of Durham and Pickering
Councils to abandon connections of Bayly Street in Pickering with Lawrence Avenue in
Toronto, and Rossland - Finch Avenues in Pickering with Finch Avenue in Toronto.
Although Map 1 is provided for informational purposes only, we note the
following matters that should be corrected:
. The Durham Regional Official Plan currently designates Employment
Areas on both sides of Highway 407 and both side of Brock Road ;n
Pickering;
. The Durham Regional Official Plan no longer designates an
Employment Area on the north side of the St. Lawrence & Hudson
Rail line between West Duffins Creek to just west of Brock Road;
. . The Pickering OfficiaJ Plan currently designates a Potential GO Line on
the St. Lawrence & Hudson Rail line terminating just west of Brock Road
(not east of Brock Road);
tTTJI':::o~~~[m # ° { TO
Toronto's New Official Plan (May 2002) r.~ ,!;~l i PDo"J8.::.t23......
September 11 , 2002
City of Pickering Planning & Development Department Comments
Page 4
It The Highway 407 . alignment should be illustrated throughout
Durham Region as shown in the Durham Regional Official Plan, not just
ending it in the middle of rural Pickering (currently, the road is constructed
only to Highway 7, just east of Brock Road); . .
(j The new Toronto Plan identifies a Potential GTA Transit Corridor along
Kingston Road but does not illustrate such a transit corridor on the
corresponding operative Maps in the Official Plan; .
It The new Toronto Plan should be showing a Potential GTA Transit Corridor
connecting Highways 401 and 407 in the vicinity of Whites Road in
Pickering;. .
.. Employment Areas appear to be identified on the Map, but are not labelled
in the. Legend as such; and
It There is an unnecessary municipal boundary line east of the Rouge River,
running east along .the Lake Ontario shoreline.
Your consideration of these comments is appreciated. Staff. requests a written
response to these comments so that we may determine whether to appraise our
CounciL Further, we would appreciate information on whether this is .the only
opportunity for the City of Pickering to comment, or whether a revised version of the
plan with .asubsequent requestfor comments will be forthcoming.
Please telephone me at (905) 420-4660, extension 2038, if you wish to discuss the
comments further. . .
Yours truly
.k;./L
Catherine L. Ro§e I
Manager, Policy
CLR:pr
Mgmtlctt'lopaslTorontO.doc
Copy:
Director, Planning & Development
Michael Cook, Region of Durham Planning Department
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Píckering \2:ivic Complex
One The Esplanade
Píckering, Ontario
Canada
LlV6K7
Direct Access 905.420.4660
cityofpíckering.com
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Department 905.420.4617
Facsimile 905.420.7648
plan&devl@city.pickering.on.ca
March 3, 2003
Sybelle von Kursell
Municipal Planning Advisor
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Municipal Services Division - Central & Southwest
777 Bay Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M5G 2E5
Subject:
City of Toronto Official Plan
Your File No.: 20-0P-2002
I am writing to provide City of Pickering staff comments on the Official Plan for the
City of Toronto. These comments, which were previously sent to the City of Toronto
in September 2002, were neither addressed in the adopted Official Plan nor
responded to when staff contact with City of Toronto staff was recently attempted.
Our concerns are outlined in the attached letter. I anticipate that a motion will be
forwarded shortly providing Pickering City Council's endorsement of these
comments.
I am requesting that these concerns be considered by the Minister as the basis for
modifications to the proposed Official Plan for the City of Toronto.
I would also request that a notice of the Minister's decision on the proposed City of
Toronto Official Plan be forwarded to the City of Pickering once issued.
If you have any questions respecting these comments, please contact Steve Gaunt
at extension 2033.
Yours truly
SG:jf
SGiM is err 0 TO nto Plan MMA H Com m e ntLeU e r
Attachment
Copy:
Mayor Arthurs
Chief Administrative Officer
A.L. Georgieff, Commissioner of Planning, Region of Durham
Kerry Voumvakis, Manager of Official Plan, Urban Development Services,
City of Toronto