HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 22, 2007
CiUI o~ Minutes I Meeting Summary
Seaton Advisory Committee
Thursday, November 22, 2007
10:30 am
Pickering City Hall, Main Committee Room
Attendees: Councillor Rick Johnson, Chair
Mayor Ryan
Councillor Doug Dickerson
Neil Carroll
Tom Melymuk
Gil Paterson
Catherine Rose
Robert Starr
Grant McGregor
Steve Gaunt
Graham Martin, ORC
Ash Kothiyal, ORC
Reg Webster, Sernas Associates
John Connolly, Transport Canada
Bruce Fisher, Metrus Development
Lloyd Cherniak, Lebovic Enterprises
Tim Warner, Mattamy Homes
Dave Madeira, Mattamy Homes
Tom Albani, Metrus Development
Christopher Matson, Matson, McConnell Ltd.
Gordon Willson, Whitevale Resident
Absent: Council/or Bonnie Littley, Vice-Chair
Tom Quinn
Ron Taylor
Bruce Sing bush, MMAH
Dorothy Skinner, Region of Durham
Extensive data has been collected on the existing environment; the
data is being analyzed; this background information will be presented
to the public at a Public Information Centre scheduled for January 10,
2008 (presentation at 7pm);
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With respect to the Energy Management Strategy component of the
MESP, Reg advised that he completed the Terms of Reference and
has received a quotation from a consultant; there will be a meeting
with the landowners during the week of November 26th to discuss the
matter; Reg advised that there may not be much available on this
topic for the January 10th public meeting.
Tom enquired if any progress has been made on discussions for the
community facilities. Reg stated that he attempted to organize a
meeting with the City, the School Boards, the Region and other
providers of major facilities; the amount of land for these uses need to
be identified. Background work by John Van Nostrand was done for
the CPDP addressing community facilities. This work should be
reviewed to see if it is still current.
From the City's perspective, a list of facilities is yet to be finalized.
T om indicated that at a recent meeting with Culture & Recreation
staff, staff advised that the City needs a Parks & Recreation Master
Plan for Seaton, as input to the Neighbourhood Planning study and
MESP. C & R staff noted they do not have a copy of the earlier work
by Van Nostrand. Reg advised that they can forward the document
to Tom for circulation.
The landowners' group indicated at an earlier meeting that they were
prepared to fund a consultant to assist the City in determining its
community facility needs.
Councillor Dickerson enquired if energy was included as a
component of the MESP. Reg confirmed that it is part of the MESP
and advised that he is following up with one of the consultants who
participated at the FCM Mission held last July.
City to SE!t out scope of
work and anticipated
cost for retaining
consultant for Parks &
Recreation Master Plan
for Seaton for discussion
at upcoming meeting on
Community Facilities.
Catherine mentioned that they are finalizing the draft Terms of
Reference which should be availablei for review and comment by the
end of the year. The challenge for City staff is conceptualizing the
study, recognizing the three key components of neighbourhood plans,
sustainable performance measures and urban design are highly
integrated. And a further important decision to make at this time is
determining which sub-studies (such as the housing strategy, the
retail market impact analysis and the parks and recreation master
plan) are inputs to the main part of tlhe study, which studies already
underway (such as the trail plan and part of the MESP) are input to
the main part of the study, and which items are outputs or parallel
matters (such as the CMHC research analysis).
I
I
I
______J________.
The RFP will be forwarded to Council for approval in the new year.
CORP0228-2/02
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Reg enquired about the funding, and acknowledged the City had
I provided a figure for the neighbourhood planning studies for the
I consideration of the developers' group. Tom advised that the details
I of funding have not been completely sorted, yet there are a number
of options. For example, an upfront sum could be provided to the
City (same as the City's Growth Management Study) or the invoices
could be paid by the City and the City be reimbursed by the
developers' group (current process for the technical/peer review
assistance for Duffin Heights).
Tom noted there is an agreement being used at the Region for study
funding, and suggested that it may be simpler if the City and the
developers' group used a similar agreement! memorandum of
understanding. Reg, on behalf of the developers' group, suggested
that the details of the funding mechanism and the specific
agreement!MOU wording should be discussed at a separate meeting.
Lloyd Cherniak enquired if the City plans to use any information
gathered from previous studies or whether we are hiring other
consultants to conduct similar studies. In particular, Lloyd noted that
a retail analysis was completed during the preparation of the CPDP,
and that he thought the City and the Region had a copy. Catherine
advised that the City does not have a copy.
T om mentioned that any work completed from previous studies will
be used as the basis for the new study and some components may
not have to be redone. At the same time, under the CPDP, the City is
required to do a retail market analysis study.
Lloyd indicated that some builders are almost ready to file subdivision
plans and is worried that the consultants are leading the
development. He would like some clarification on what the process
is.
Reg advised that once the draft Terms of References for the
Neighbourhood Planning process are circulated, it will provide
everyone with a better understanding of what will be expected.
Councillor Dickerson asked if provisions will be in place to determine
street widths to maintain heritage look and achieve greater
sustainability. He suggested that we should look at other
communities which have been built on narrower street right-of-ways.
Catherine noted that the CPDP advocates for minimized rights of way
whenever possible. Councilor Dickerson suggested right-of-way
widths be discussed with the Sustainable Pickering Committee.
Neil Carroll indicated that new road right-of-way widths are currently
under discussion with Mattamy Homes for their lands in Duffin
Hei hts. These ri ht-of-wa widths ma be considered for Seaton.
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Tom M. to set up
meeting with appropriate
City staff and
developers' group
representative, re:
funding.
Lloyd to forward copy of
retail study as
background.
Catherine to ensure all
work the City has is
available for consultants
to review.
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IBI and Sernas would like this clarifiEld as soon as possible.
IBI consultants have contacted Gil Paterson about reactivating the
Financial Impact Study for the City.
Gil mentioned that Seaton warrants :area-specific development
charges, as these could be quite significant and would create a
burden for development in the rest of the City if combined as a City-
wide charge.
Gil also stated that the City's basic position is that no extra financial
pressure should be placed on the existing Pickering residents for the
development of Seaton.
The City will be hiring a consultant to update its existing development
charges study and by-law. Timeline is for the work program to be
presented at Council early in 2008, with study expected to be
com leted b mid 2009.
5.
Natural Heritage Study (NHS) - The first draft of the management
plan should be released in early January 2008. Consultation process
is underway, with the stakeholders' session on Monday, November
26, 2007 @ 7 pm.
Consultation sessions with First Nation are scheduled for December
4th, at Queen's Park. A public meeting is scheduled for December 5th
at the O'Brien Room at the Pickering Recreation Centre.
Bruce Fisher enquired whether it was the MESP or the Natural
Heritage Management and Trail study that would determine the
location of stormwater management facilities. Steve explained that a
preliminary trail concept plan included stormwater pond locations, but
that those locations were based on old information. The MESP is the
main determinant locating the stormwater management facility.
These facilities are permissible in the NHS, so long as they are not in
a feature. The NHS and Trail study includes a review of locations
where trail heads could be co-located with stormwater ponds.
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It was noted that some stormwater pond and trail locations may not
be decided until the neighbourhood plan is completed since the
processes are interrelated. Catherine stated that the principle of co-
located storm ponds and trail heads in the NHS buffers is reasonable.
York-Durham- Toronto Transportation Study - Graham Martin
advised that a representative has been assigned from MPIR (Ralph
Eades), but he was not available to attend the meeting today.
John Connolly representing Transport Canada advised that they have
had discussions with MTO with regards to the proposed interchanges
and they are still reviewing the locations.
I Lloyd mentioned that the locations of the interchanges were identified
as part of the Central Pickering Development Plan. The
Environmental Assessment has been done - only Design
Construction Reports are required.
The York-Durham-Toronto study is providing a list of early priorities to
be undertaken.
Seaton Economic Development Study - Tom advised that the City
will be posting a copy of the completed Hemson study on the City's
Seaton website. The Seaton website will be launched in January
2008. Staff is available to make a presentation at the next SAC
meeting.
Addressing Graham Matin, Councillor Johnson enquired about the
letter the City sent to aRC in July requesting their commitment to
ensure jobs are created before houses are built.
Graham advised that although there has been no written response to
the City, there have been ongoing discussions at the Province at the
political level to address these issues. Graham stated that aRC is
committed to the development of the Seaton employment lands as
set out in the Study. Further discussions are needed between the
Region, the City and aRC respecting a joint effort in marketing the
lands according to the vision.
John Connolly advised that Transport Canada would be interested in
attending any meetings about the employment lands. It was
suggested that Transport Canada and the GT AA be invited to
marketing meetings.
Councillor Johnson suggested that we also extend an invitation to the
Region's Economic Development Department to attend these
meetings.
The Chair mentioned that this is a very comprehensive process and
that we need to work together. However, jobs must be created first
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City to post Highway 407
(Seaton Lands)
Economic Development
Study on Seaton section
of City's website.
Presentation of Seaton
section of City's Website
to be done at next
Seaton Advisory
Committee meeting.
Page 5
before houses are built. A copy of Council's resolution #207/07 was
distributed. This resolution ties building permit issuance north of
Taunton Road to the creation of commercial and industrial floor
space.
Bruce commented that, as a developer, it is not surprising that they
would be expected to build the infrastructure to sustain employment
lands first and that residential development would only be approved
3-4 years later. But, this is a huge investment for developers. The
infrastructure will not be created without residential development
Lloyd commented that they will not build the infrastructure if they can't
build the houses. The City can not expect them to build Pickering's
infrastructure without building houses.
Councillor Dickerson mentioned that the retail areas within the
residential developments can also plrOvide employment.
Mayor Ryan explained that although the motion states construction of
square footage, the real intent is to create jobs. The reason we are
standing firm on 'no houses without jobs' is because it will only create
a suburban community where people buy homes and travel to other
areas for work.
Lloyd stated that the infrastructure is a huge cost for the developers
and we have to be pragmatic and work together to achieve a
common ground.
It was suggested that bringing the Fiscal Impact Study forward now is
timely as discussions can start once the results are known.
6.
It was suggested by Reg Webster that the next meeting be held
during the 3fd week of January, after the MESP consultation sessions.
MTO and its consultants TSH have Gompleted the stage
the development of a model to determine the impact of Seaton on an
inter-regional transportation scale. The boundaries of the model are
the OV.P to the west, Oshawa to thl~ east, north end of the airport
lands to the north and Lake Ontario to the South.
The first run of the model was complleted which showed present
picture (and also helped to identify gaps/problems with the.m. odel). i
The next step is to run the model assigning person trips to/from
Seaton based on population and employment forecasts f~~_~eaton,___ __
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location of population and employment and staging of population and
employment. This stage is anticipated to be completed with 2-3
weeks.
Following that, the analysis of transportation priorities, costs etc. will
begin.
Meeting Adjourned: 12 noon
Copy: Members of Council
CAO
Directors
Division Heads
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