HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 10, 2008
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Minutes I Meeting Summary
Seaton Advisory Committee
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
2pm
Pickering City Hall, Main Committee Room
Attendees:
Absent:
Rick Johnson, Regional Councillor, Chair
Bonnie Littley, Regional Councillor, Vice-Chair
Doug Dickerson, City Councillor
Neil Carroll, Director, Planning & Development
Tom Melymuk, Director, Office of Sustainability
Catherine Rose, Manager, Policy, Planning & Development
Steve Gaunt, Senior Planner, Planning & Development
Kathy Grant, Library
Graham Martin, aRC
Ash Kothyial, aRC
Bryce Jordan, Sernas Associates
Dorothy Skinner, Region of Durham
Rodger Miller, Mattamy Development Corporation
Chris Matson, Matson McConnell Ltd.
Bruce Fischer, Metrus Development
Tom Albani, Metrus Development
Lloyd Cherniak, Lebovic Enterprises
John Connolly, Transport Canada
Steve Heuchert, TRCA
Jim McCafferty, Durham Catholic District School Board
Gordon Willson, Whitevale Resident
Gordon Zimmerman, Pickering Heritage
Peter Rodrigues, Whitevale Resident
Mayor Ryan
Tom Quinn, Chief Administrative Officer
Grant McGregor, Principal Planner, Policy, Planning & Development
Joan Wideman, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Reg Webster, Sernas Associates
Donna McFarlane, UOIT, Durham College
Kathy McKay, Executive Director, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Item I
Ref#
1.
CORP0228-2/02
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Welcome
Councillor Rick Johnson
Chair
Introductions and welcome.
Page 1
2.
Seaton Nei hbourhood - Oesi n Com etition
Gordon Willson, a long time resident of Whitevale, with an extensive
background in urban design submitted a proposal to Mayor Ryan and
Members of Council in early May with regards to holding a
"Sustainable Seaton Neighbourhood Design Competition"
Gordon Willson
Gordon mentioned that in Seaton, good urban planning and design is
essential. He attended the Toronto Design Exchange exhibition a
few years ago where a number of examples of sustainable buildings
were being shown as part of a design competition. The designs
were very interesting and provided exciting ideas for building more
sustainable neighborhood.
A "made in Pickering" design is necessary as Seaton is unique.
Councillor Dickerson enquired if the design competition would apply
to all of Seaton or if the idea is to do one neighborhood at a time.
Gord indicated that this matter is open for discussion. There are
some similarities in the neighbourhoods and design could vary by
location.
Councillor Dickerson also asked if the Planning & Development
Department is considering phasing the neighbourhood plans. Neil
advised that staff have considered the possibility that the later phases
of Seaton be completed with only a base level of detail. However, the
RFP for the neighbourhood planning program is not currently set up
that way. It requires all neighbourhood plans to be completed to the
full level of detail.
Catherine also commented that the landowners stated in an earlier
meeting that they were interested in submitting draft plans over most
of their holdings as soon as possible. This suggests the need to have
the full level of detail completed for all neighbourhoods.
Councillor Littley enquired if the design competition would have a
theme that would be in keeping with local heritage.
Gord mentioned that guidelines dealing with this could be included in
the design brief. He also noted that the design competition would
also be a great marketing tool for the Seaton project and that
landowners would benefit from this.
Bruce Fischer enquired how winners would be selected.
Gord advised that designs would be reviewed by a panel consisting
of landowners, staff and elected officials.
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CORP0228-2/02
Item /
Ref #
Bruce advised that he does not support the idea. Typically, in design
competitions, costs are always an issue. If the City is willing to pick
up the cost then they might consider participating.
Bruce indicated that they could develop designs for one
neighbourhood, but not all over Seaton and noted that most
developers already have sales and marketing resources, and thus
don't need the additional publicity from a competition.
Steve Heuchert suggested the City of Toronto be contacted with
regards to the design competition as they just completed a similar
process for the waterfront. He noted the process started with an
expression of interest, and that a short list of 3 or 4 potential
development consortiums were selected. In response to a question,
Steve acknowledged that most of the land involved in the Toronto
waterfront competition is publicly owned.
Councillor Dickerson stated the he would like to see design plans
other than the cookie cutter type neighbourhoods and agrees that it
can be a very costly exercise. Many residents have expressed an
interest in a design competition.
Lloyd Cherniak advised that the provincial plan dictates what the
developers can do and does not require a design competition. We
should rely on the neighbourhood planning program.
Rodger Miller agrees that the cost for the design competition can be
extensive and feels that similar results can be achieved through the
RFP program. It is a very interesting idea but not supported by
Mattamy.
Chris Matson, representing Sundial Homes, also agrees that the
neighbourhood planning process should provide sufficient design
guidance and that a competition would only duplicate these efforts.
Gord Willson replied that the design competition could be structured
to ensure there is no duplication and that the outputs are useful.
Councillor Johnson thanked Gordon Willson and committee members
for their comments and noted that the cost could be a factor and
recognizes that the developers have a bottom line to consider. He
also noted that he would prefer not to have Seaton become another
cookie cutter development, and that the idea for the design
competition would be to stimulate public discussion and interest.
Lloyd Cherniak mentioned that Lebovic Homes takes pride in the
houses and communities that they build. All houses meet the
Ontario building code and he objects to the comment about cookie
cutter houses made earlier.
CORP0228-2/02
Page 3
Item /
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Councillor Littley advised that Pickering is trying to raise the bar on
sustainability beyond the building code. The concept of a design
competition is worth considering in the terms of reference.
Councillor Johnson agreed that the developers represented here are
very reputable builders with a solid history of building complete
neighbourhoods, including schools and recreation complexes. They
should be given the opportunity to design neighbourhoods.
Bruce Fischer stated that we must follow the process outlined in the
Seaton Plan before moving on to another idea. He reiterated his
concern with holding a design competition.
3.
Neighbourhood Planning Program
- Terms of Reference (update)
Tom Melymuk mentioned that the Special Meeting of Council
scheduled for June 9th to brief Council on the revised Terms of
Reference for the Seaton Neighbourhood planning process was
deferred. The revised Terms of Reference propose a collaborative
approach to managing the study between the City and landowners.
Catherine Rose summarized the changes to the Terms of Reference
and copies were distributed to committee members and other
attendees for their review.
Catherine advised that a collaborative approach to managing the
study is proposed and that the services of a professional consulting
team would be engaged with funding provided by the Seaton
landowners.
Under the revised Terms of Reference the developers would hire the
consultant and there would be a joint management group overseeing
the study. The joint management group was proposed to be 3
developer representatives and 3 City staff.
Other changes to the Terms of Reference included deleting the
requirement to undertake the CMHC Fused Grid research project,
and the deletion of two peer review tasks.
Other changes included:
P. 3 - in response to TRCA's suggestion, a requirement that the
consultants selected should also have "international" expertise.
P. 6 and 7 - updating the status of various studies.
CORP0228-2/02
Action Items / Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Catherine Rose
Page 4
Item /
Ref #
Tom Melymuk indicated that other than the change to the study
management structure, most of the other changes were technical or
housekeeping matters.
Catherine mentioned that copies of the comments on the initial Terms
of Reference are available should anyone be interested in reviewing.
Dorothy Skinner enquired if there is a requirement for a design
competition as suggested by Gord and asked if it should be up to
Pickering to decide.
Dorothy also questioned whether the design competition would
replace the design workshop discussed at earlier meetings, or
whether it would be additional input.
Catherine Rose advised that the design competition is not required by
the current Terms of Reference. She also noted that a design
workshop could also be very beneficial and has not been ruled out.
Neil Carroll noted that a consulting team could propose a design
workshop or set up a "think tank" as part of their approach to the
neighbourhood planning exercise.
Gord Willson mentioned that there are 200 year old heritage homes
on Whitevale Road, and that this should be noted in the Terms of
Reference.
Lloyd Cherniak indicated that heritage conservation has been raised
before and it was noted that the style of houses should not be based
on copying existing heritage architecture.
Councillor Littley suggested that the cultural aspect could be
incorporated with the today's newer designs.
Councillor Dickerson enquired if the expectation is to preserve the
homes along Whitevale Road in their current state or to move them to
another central area such as the Pickering Museum Village.
Tom Melymuk advised that final comments on the Terms of
Reference should be submitted to Catherine Rose. Once this is
done, staff will report back to Council with a final version of the Terms
of Reference and ask for direction to proceed.
4.
MESPU date
Bryce Jordan provided comments from Reg Webster.
All
The Existing Conditions Report should be completed by the end of
June. With respect to storm pond, base flow and water balance,
there is not enou h baseline data to move forward at this time.
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CORP0228-2/02
Boreholes and wetland monitoring information is required to
supplement the Morrison Wetland Water Balance Study. This work
may be delivered in a second report.
Energy sustainability - sub-consultant is currently analyzing short list
of potential energy options.
First Nations consultations are starting in early July with discussions
of existing conditions report.
An Oversight Committee Meeting is being scheduled for July. The
next Public Information Centre will be in the fall
5.
U date on Other Studies
Natural Heritage System - Bryce Jordan mentioned Sernas has
sent comments to the Province on behalf of the developers' group.
Comments were copied to City.
The City also provided comments on the draft study.
The consultant is currently working through extensive revisions to
address concerns raised through circulation of draft study.
6.
Other Business
The next meeting will be held in September.
Meeting Adjourned: 3:30 pm
Copy: Mayor
Members of Council
Directors
Division Heads
CORP0228-2/02
Action Items / Status
(include deadline as
a ro riate
All
All
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