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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD 09-06 From: Subject: REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 027 Report Number: PO 09-06 Date: January 24, 2006 Neil Carroll Director, Planning & Development Places to Grow - Better Choices. Brighter Future. Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe November 2005 EBR Registry Number: XR05EOO02 - Informational Notice Recommendation: 4. That Pickering Council RECEIVE Report PO 09-06 on the Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, prepared by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal, dated November 2005; That Pickering Council ADVISE the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal that it continues to support: (a) a growth plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe; (b) Pickering's inclusion within the sub-area that includes the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton; the identification of downtown Pickering as an urban growth centre; and protection of designated employment lands from conversion to non-employment or major retail land uses; That Pickering Council REQUEST the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal to: (a) amend the final Growth Plan to identify the Cherrywood Community as a designated greenfield area and to coordinate with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the removal of this area from the Greenbelt Plan; and in the absence of this, amend the final Growth Plan to identify lands in the northeast sector of Pickering, having an area equivalent in size to the Cherrywood Community, as a designated greenfield area instead of Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan Area; and respond in writing to Pickering Council regarding the Minister's rationale for his decision on this matter; That Pickering Council REQUEST the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal to incorporate the following recommended changes into the final Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, such that: (a) the adequacy of the designated urban land supply in the Growth Plan is reviewed at least every five years; (b) lower-tier municipalities, in addition to the upper and single-tier municipalities, are formally consulted on the: (i) reviews of the population, household and employment forecasts; (ii) undertaking of sub-area assessments; 1. 2. (c) (d) 3. (b) (c) Report PO 09-06 Date: January 24, 2006 (I}2~bject: Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Page 2 (iii) delineation of the built boundary; (iv) identification of the boundary for and scale of development in Pickering's urban growth centre; (v) determination of the timing for and location of future designated greenfield areas; the content of sub-area assessments are refined to focus on regional scale infrastructure, economic development, transportation and transit, and urban boundary expansion matters and that the identification of the natural system, prime agricultural and rural areas are the responsibility of upper, lower and single-tier municipalities; a schedule identifying the sub-areas is re-introduced; a new policy is added to section 2.2.3 - General Intensification, allowing the Minister to permit achievement of the 40% intensification in Durham Region at a point in time after the year 2015, following review of the current intensification opportunities and supply of existing approved greenfield developments; the term "municipality" in policy 2.2.32., (which requires those municipalities currently achieving an intensification ratio of higher than 40% within their built-up area to continue to achieve that ratio), is clarified to refer to an "upper or single-tier municipality" only, and that it is not to be applied at the lower-tier municipal level; the employment to population ratio is increased to 50% (one job for every two persons) for Durham Region; the employment areas along Highways 407 and 401 within Durham Region are recognized and identified as provincially significant in the Growth Plan; the transportation system is revised to: (i) add a proposed higher order transit route along Taunton Road and Kingston Road; add a proposed higher order transit route on the CP Belleville rail line through Durham Region; (iii) add a proposed higher transit route from the Pickering GO Station to the Highway 407 transitway; and (iv) extend Highway 407 easterly to Highway 35/115 in the pre-2031 timeframe, and add a proposed higher order transit route on Highway 407 through Durham Region; That Pickering Council continues to REQUEST that, prior to finalizing the Growth Plan, the Province release details of the fiscal, regulatory and other tools that will be made available to properly implement the Growth Plan policies at the local level; (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) 5. (ii) That Pickering Council AUTHORIZE staff to prepare and bring back to Council for authorization, terms of reference for a "Downtown Pickering Urban Growth Centre Study" to determine the scope, scale and nature of the downtown centre, in consultation with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal and the Region of Durham; and 6. Report PO 09-06 Date: January 24, 2006 Subject: Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Page 3 7. That the City Clerk FORWARD a copy of Report PO 09-06 to the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Region of Durham, Durham area municipalities, and Wayne Arthurs, MPP, Pickeri ng-Ajax -Uxbridge. Executive Summary: The Province has released a Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, following public consultation on its earlier Draft Growth Plan. Copies of the Proposed Growth Plan were distributed to Council late in 2005. The Province requests comments on the Plan by January 27, 2006. The essential elements of the Proposed Growth Plan remain unchanged from the Draft: directing growth to built-up areas including urban growth centres (such as downtown Pickering); directing new greenfield development to designated growth areas (such as Seaton); establishing growth targets for built-up areas, the urban growth centres, and designated greenfield areas; and promising Provincial support for the Growth Plan with investment in public transit and infrastructure, and provision of new fiscal and regulatory tools for municipalities to implement the Plan. However, the concerns raised by the City in our earlier comments on the Draft Growth Plan have not been addressed by the Province in the Proposed Growth Plan (the text of Report PO 12-05 on the Draft Growth Plan is included as Attachment #1). This Report (PO 09-06) recommends that Council reiterate its concerns: requesting explicit reference to consultation with lower-tier municipalities by the Ministry as it continues to lead all subsequent work; increasing Durham Region's jobs to population ratio from 1 :3 to 1 :2; releasing fiscal or regulatory tools essential to achieve intensification; and reconsidering the magnitude and timing of intensification targets. Clarification is required on a new intensification provision that could constrain Pickering's ability to approve new development in Duffin Heights and Seaton if applied at the lower-tier level. In the absence of the Province amending the final Growth Plan to incorporate the Cherrwood Community as a designated greenfield area as requested yet again, staff recommends lands of an equivalent size be incorporated in the final Growth Plan as a designated greenfield area in northeast Pickering. In anticipation of the Province's proposed work on urban growth centres, the City should commence its own review of the downtown. It is recommended that staff be authorized to prepare terms of reference for a "Downtown Pickering Urban Growth Centre Study" to determine the scope, scale and nature of the downtown centre, and report back to Council. It is also recommended Council request the Minister of Infrastructure Renewal to incorporate the changes identified in this Report in the final Growth Plan. Financial Implications: There are no financial implications to providing comments on the Proposed GroWth Plan. Significant staff time will be required to review Provincial initiatives arising from the Growth Plan including delineating the built boundary and completing the sub-area assessments. The 2006 budget submission to Council will address funding for the recommended Downtown Pickering Urban Growth Centre Study. 03 (keport PO 09-06 Date: January 24, 2006 Subject: Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Page 4 Background: 1.0 Discussion 1.1 Pickering's initial concerns with the specific provisions of the previous Draft Growth Plan have not been considered in the Proposed Growth Plan. The Provincial Growth Plan's vision of managing growth and developing stronger transit-supportive communities continues to be supported. However, the Proposed Growth Plan continues to focus much of the responsibility for land use planning to the provincial and regional levels of government. There is no specific recognition of the local municipal authority for land use planning in the Proposed Plan. A new tier of plans crossing both local and regional boundaries will be created for each of the sub-areas, although the Proposed Growth Plan notes that sub-area assessments are not intended to duplicate local official plans and policies. Official plans are required to conform to the Growth Plan within three years of the date of approval of the final Growth Plan. A chart has been prepared outlining staff's comments on the schedules attached to the Draft Plan, with an indication of whether they were incorporated or not, is provided as Attachment #2 to this Report. 1.2 The employment forecasts for Durham Region should be revised in the final Growth Plan to establish a job to population target of 1:2 (50%). Staff had previously recommended that the employment forecasts for Durham Region be increased to achieve jobs to population ratio target of 1:2 (50%) to be consistent across the GT A-Hamilton sub-area, and with the current target of the Durham Regional Official Plan. Durham Council shares this position. The employment projections on Schedule 3 of the Proposed Growth Plan continue to indicate a jobs to population ratio target of approximately 1:3 (36.5%) for Durham Region for 2031. Staff recommends the Growth Plan establish a more balanced jobs to population ratio target of 50% throughout Durham Region if it is to achieve the Plan's objective of creating complete communities that make more efficient use of the existing and proposed infrastructure. 1.3 A formal process to permitting extensions to the 2015 timeframe for achieving the target of a minimum 40% intensification in built-up areas should be added to the final Growth Plan. Although staff generally supports intensification within the existing built-up areas, we are concerned that there may not be sufficient land or adequate infrastructure within the built-up area of Durham Region to accommodate the Proposed Growth Plan's 40% intensification target on an annual basis by 2015. Report PO 09-06 Date: January 24, 2006 031 Subject: Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Page 5 1.4 1.5 Using Pickering as an example, with the development of Duffin Heights and Seaton, a significant increase in the rate of growth in the designated greenfield area is anticipated outside the current built-up area. Further, much of Pickering's growth in recent years has been through infill and intensification projects within the built-up area, further limiting additional opportunities for redevelopment and/or infilling. In addition, the Proposed Plan fails to mention any specific incentives to landowners to develop and/or redevelop land within existing built-up areas. Staff recommends that the final Growth Plan be amended to permit the Minister to grant an extended time frame to meet the 40% intensification target in built-up areas subject to detailed review of the opportunities and approved growth within the upper or single-tier municipalities. Further, staff requests a clarification that the policy requiring a "municipality" to continue achieving a higher intensification rate if it is already doing so (policy 2.2.3 2.) is referring to "upper or single-tier" municipalities. It would be inappropriate to apply this policy at a lower-tier municipal level. Formal recognition of the need to consult and involve lower-tier municipalities in the subsequent activities (including the built boundary, sub-area assessments, future designated greenfield areas, and urban growth centres) should be incorporated into the final Growth Plan. The Proposed Growth Plan continues to exclude lower-tier municipalities as a formally recognized body to be consulted in such important activities as verification and delineation of the built boundary, the assessment of the need for future designated greenfield areas, the determination of the scope and scale of urban growth centres and completion of the sub-area assessments. Although technical background papers issued by the Ministry indicate that consultation with relevant lower-tier municipalities would occur, staff requests that the final Growth Plan recognize lower-tier municipalities as a formal participant in these subsequent Provincial activities. Further, a schedule showing the boundaries of the sub-areas should be added to the final Growth Plan. A funding or assistance toolkit should be incorporated into the final Growth Plan, or released at the same time as the final Plan, to ensure appropriate levels of infrastructure can be provided in accordance with the Growth Plan's objectives. Staff continues to request that the final Growth Plan include additional information on the fiscal and regulatory tools that will be made available by the Province to facilitate the implementation of the Growth Plan at the lower-tier municipal level. Alternatively, a companion document could be released at the same time. A significant investment in community infrastructure will be required to accommodate the intensity of growth in built-up areas and urban growth centres identified in the Proposed Growth Plan. In the absence of a source of funding to address the infrastructure deficit, achievement of targeted intensification is doubtful. 03 2 Report PO 09-06 Date: January 24,2006 Subject: Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Page 6 Prior to releasing the final Growth Plan, the related implementation toolkit must be established and released either as an integral component of the Plan, or as a companion document to the Plan. 1.6 Transportation system modifications, as requested previously, should be incorporated into the final Growth Plan to enable achievement of the level of transit service envisaged by the Plan. The transportation system of the Proposed Growth Plan continues to exclude the higher order transit routes through Durham Region that Council previously requested. These revisions would support intensification as well as improve transit linkages throughout Durham Region. Staff recommends that the final Growth Plan be revised to add a proposed higher order transit routes along Taunton Road, Kingston Road, the CP Belleville rail line through Durham Region as well as from the Pickering GO Station to the Highway 407 transitway. Staff also request that a proposed higher order transit route be added on Highway 407 and that Highway 407 be extended easterly to Highway 35/115 prior to 2031. 1.7 The Cherrywood Community, or an area of land equivalent in size in northeast Pickering, should be included in the final Growth Plan as a designated greenfield area, and the adequacy of the supply of designated greenfield areas should be reviewed every five years. Both the City and the Region of Durham have identified that Pickering does not have a 20-year supply of designated urban land. The City's Growth Management Study properly assessed growth options and recommended a settlement boundary expansion to address the supply issue. The Study meets the criteria that are set out in the Proposed Growth Plan. The final Growth Plan should add the Cherrywood Community as a designated greenfield area, and the Ministers of Public Infrastructure Renewal and Municipal Affairs and Housing should coordinate the removal of the Cherrywood Community lands from the Greenbelt. In the alternative, the final Growth Plan should include an area of land in northeast Pickering, equivalent in size to the Cherrywood Community, as designated greenfield area, to address the City's urban land supply shortfall. The Proposed Growth Plan maintains there is an adequate supply of designated urban land to accommodate the population and employment forecasts for 2031. The Plan sets out that the Ministry will lead the review of the need for future designated greenfield area. This review should be undertaken in consultation with lower-tier municipalities (not just upper and single-tier municipalities), and should occur at least every five years in conjunction with proposed reviews of the population, household and employment forecasts, and with proposed monitoring intensification targets. Report PO 09-06 Date: January 24, 2006 033 Subject: Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Page 7 1.8 The City should commence a "Downtown Pickering Urban Growth Centre Study", to define the scale, scope and nature of our downtown centre, and to inform the Ministry's initiatives. Pickering's vision for its downtown has been that of an area with the highest mix and intensity of development. The Plan's concept of downtown Pickering as an urban growth centre is consistent with our vision. The Growth Plan's intensification target for urban growth centres by the year 2031, of an average of 200 residents and/or jobs per gross hectare, is three to four times current average density levels. Significant investment in both hard and soft infrastructure will be required to meet this level of redevelopment. Pickering has been working on a number of initiatives related to sustainability, including the plans for Seaton, the Partners for Climate Protection project, the Sustainable Neighbourhood Plan (Phase 3 of the Growth Management Study), and the more recently initiated Benchmarking for Sustainability. Pickering's vision for an urban growth centre should be viewed in light of these broader City initiatives. It is recommended that staff be directed to prepare terms of reference for a "Downtown Pickering Urban Growth Centre Study" to define the scale, scope and nature of the downtown centre, and bring them back for Council's consideration in the spring. Provision will be made for this work in the 2006 budget submission to Council. 1.9 Staff will continue to monitor the Growth Plan and advise Council of significant events or information. It is anticipated that the next Growth Plan released will be the final Plan, with no further opportunity for review. Staff will follow-up with the Province respecting Council's comments on the Plan, and will continue to advise Council of significant matters about the Provincial Growth Plan. Attachments: 1. Text of Report PO 12-05 on the Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, February 2005 Comparison chart of the Proposed Growth Plan and the previous Draft Growth Plan 2. O~port PO 09-06 Date: January 24, 2006 Subject: Proposed Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Page 8 Prepared By: Approved I Endorsed By: 1lL ~' ~ Rick Cefaratt' Planner II //~ /' I ~:. Neil Carroll, P Director, Planning & Development ~Ii- Catherine Rose, MCIP, RPP Manager, Policy RC:ld Attachments Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Director, Corporate Services & Treasurer Director, Operations & Emergency Services Division Head, Corporate Projects & Policy Recommended for the consideration of Pickering Cit cil ,/~ ~" ,// C¡tJ¡ 01 ATTACHMENT # / TO REPORT # PO CR -0" REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE @J;5 Report Number: PO 12-05 Date: March 31,2005 From: Neil Carroll Director, Planning & Development Subject: Places to Grow - Better Choices. Brighter Future. Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe February 2005 Recommendation: 1. That Pickering Council RECEIVE Report PO 12-05 on the draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, prepared by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal, dated February 2005; That Pickering Council ADVISE the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal that it supports: (a) the concept of a growth plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe; (b) Pickering's inclusion within the 'Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton Sub-area'; and the identification of downtown Pickering as an 'urban growth centre'. 2. (c) 3. That Pickering Council REQUEST the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal to coordinate the transfer of the Cherrywood Community from the Greenbelt Plan to the Growth Plan under a 'Designated Growth Area' category, consistent with Pickering's approved Growth Management Study; 4. That Pickering Council REQUEST the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal to incorporate the following recommended changes into the final Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, such that: (a) upper, lower and single-tier municipalities are engaged as full participants in the preparation of the work program for their respective sub-area growth strategy and that all municipalities be included as members of the sub- area growth strategy working teams in addition to the Province; local municipalities are provided with the authority to determine the way in which intensification is achieved in their respective areas; a meaningful public consultation process to inform and obtain comments from residents and landowners in all parts of each sub-area is included as an integral component of the sub-area growth strategy work program; (d) the content of sub-area growth strategies is refined to focus on the broader cross-boundary issues such as infrastructure, economic development, transit, and urban boundary expansions with less emphasis on rural, agriculture and natural heritage matters; (e) the timeframe for achieving the intensification targets in the Growth Plan is extended from 2015 to a longer timeframe; (b) (c) 03IDIReport PO 12-05 ATTACHMENT # ( TO REPOR1 # PO Dq -Ole Date: March 31, 2005 Page 2 Subject: Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 5. the employment to population ratio is increased to 50%( one job for every two persons) for Durham Region; the transportation system is revised to: (i) add a proposed higher order transit route along Taunton Road and Kingston Road; add a proposed higher order transit route on the CP Belleville rail line through Durham Region; (iii) add a proposed higher transit route from the Pickering GO Station to the Highway 407 transitway; and (iv) extend Highway 407 easterly to Highway 35/115 in the pre-2031 timeframe, and add a proposed higher order transit route on Highway 407 through Durham Region; That Pickering Council REQUEST that, prior to finalizing the Growth Plan, the Province release a comprehensive package of Greater Golden Horseshoe initiatives including details of the fiscal, regulatory and other tools that will be made available to properly implement the sub-area growth strategies, the Transportation Strategy, and the 10-year Strategic Infrastructure Investment Plan; and (f) (g) (ii) 6. That the City Clerk FORWARD a copy of Report PO 12-05 to the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Region of Durham, Durham area municipalities, and Wayne Arthurs, MPP, Pickeri ng-Ajax -Uxbridge. Executive Summary: The Province has released a draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe following public consultation on its earlier Places to Grow - Better Choices. Brighter Future. Discussion Paper. In the draft Growth Plan, growth is directed as infill and redevelopment to built-up areas especially the urban growth centres, such as downtown Pickering. New greenfield development is directed to designated growth areas, such as Seaton. The Province is proposing to support the Growth Plan by investing significantly in public infrastructure, public transit, assuming stronger Provincial authority, and providing new fiscal and regulatory tools for municipalities to implement the Growth Plan. A summary of the draft Growth Plan is provided as Attachment #1 to this Report and the specific provisions of the Growth Plan for Pickering are discussed in Section 1.1 of this Report. Comments have been made on the draft Growth Plan relating to: the shift in responsibility for land use planning matters from municipalities to the province; the need for municipalities to be equal partners in the preparation of the sub-area growth strategies; the need to extend the timeframe from 2015 to a longer timeframe in order to achieve the minimum intensification targets; the need to increase the employment forecast for Durham Region; and the need for further information on possible new fiscal and regulatory tools to implement the Growth Plan. Report PO 12-05 ATTACHMENT # I TO REPORT # PO 0 Cf -()V;¡ Date: March 31, 2005 Page 3 @37 Subject: Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe It is recommended that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal incorporate Pickering's comments into the final Growth Plan. Further, the Province should release a comprehensive package of all of its Greater Golden Horseshoe initiatives for further consultation, prior to finalizing the Growth Plan. Financial Implications: There are no financial implications to providing comments on the draft Growth Plan. However, significant staff time will be required in order to have meaningful participation in the Provincial process. Background: 1.0 1.1 Discussion The specific provisions of the Growth Plan relating to employment projections, intensification targets and transportation system components are problematic. A summary of the provincial draft Growth Plan is provided as Attachment #1 to this Report. A full copy of the draft Growth Plan was previously provided under separate cover to members of Council. Specific provisions of the draft Growth Plan for Pickering are identified in the chart below. Comments are also noted. Key issues are discussed in more detail in the remaining sections of this Report. Disagree. A more balanced live-work relationship of one job for every two persons is required for Durham Region, particularly for urban lands within the GTA and Hamilton sub-area (50% jobs to 0 ulation ratio. Support identification of downtown Pickering. . Actual limit of centre to be identified in sub-area rowth strate. . Schedule 4 shows a built-up area. Actual limit of built-up area to be enerall for south Pickerin . identified in sub-area rowth strate. . Schedule 4 shows a designated. Support identification of Seaton. growth area for Pickering (Seaton). . Actual limit of growth area to be identified in sub-area growth strategy. . Add the Cherrywood Community to the 'designated growth area' for Pickerin . Draft Growth Plan Schedules . Schedule 3 (see Attachment #2) . indicates an employment forecast of 350,000 jobs for Durham Region at 2031 (36.5% jobs to population ratio ). Staff Comments . Schedule 4 (see Attachment #3) . identifies Downtown Pickering as an 'urban growth centre'. 0 3 ~eport PO 12-05 ATTACHMENT # REPORT # PO I TO Oq -olo Date: March 31, 2005 Page 4 Subject: Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Draft Growth Plan Schedules Staff Comments . Schedule 4 identifies 'designated non-urban area' northeast Pickerinq. . Schedules 5 and 6 (see. Attachments #4 & #5) shows the future proposed Pickerinq airport. . Schedule 5 shows the CP Havelock. Railway to Peterborough as a proposed higher order transit to 2031. . Schedules 4 and 7 (see Attachment. Lands west of West Duffins Creek and #6) shows the 'draft' greenbelt lands. north of the CP Railway, the former Lake Iroquois Shoreline and the East Duffins Creek are within the greenbelt lands; final Growth Plan should include updated Greenbelt Plan map. . Transfer the Cherrywood Community from the Greenbelt Plan to the Growth Plan. the. Lands within a 'designated non-urban in area' would not be considered for urban purposes until after 2031. Consistent with the Places to Grow Discussion Paper. . Schedule 6 shows Highway 407 . East of Brock Road as Future Economic / Transport Corridors. Add a proposed higher order transit route along an easterly extension of Highway 407 before 2031. . Add a proposed higher order transit route along Taunton Road and Kingston Road. . Add CP Belleville Railway as existing higher order transit. . Add a proposed higher transit route from the Pickering GO Station to the Highway 407 transitway. . Clarify that the higher order transit route for the CP Havelock railway is of lesser priority than other transit and transDortation projects within PickerinG. Extend Highway 407 corridor easterly to Highway 35/115 and clarify the priority of the 407 extension within the 2031 planning horizon. The Growth Plan down plays the importance of extending Highway 407 through Durham Reaion. Support the inclusion of Pickering in the GTA and Hamilton sub-area. . Extensive area consisting in total of 43 municipalities, regions, and conservation authorities. . Schedule 8 (see Attachment #7) . shows Pickering within proposed Sub-area 1 - GT A and Hamilton. Report PO 12-05 ATTACHMENT # / TO REPORT II PO Dq -0(0 Date: March 31, 2005 Page 5 l?1'¡3'9' ll: ),,' Subject: Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 1.2 1.3 1.4 The provincial Growth Plan and sub-area growth strategies for the Greater Golden Horseshoe create a new higher level planning document to which all municipal official plans will have to conform. The provincial Growth Plan's vision of managing growth and developing stronger transit-supportive communities is generally supported. The preparation of a sub-area growth strategy for the GT A and Hamilton provides an opportunity to directly engage the Province in maximizing infrastructure investments and attracting investment in downtown Pickering, which is recognized as a 'urban growth centre' in the draft Growth Plan document. As well, the 'urban growth centre' designation provides an opportunity to enhance Pickering's downtown as a strategic gateway between Durham Region and Toronto. Previously, the Places to Grow discussion paper identified downtown Pickering as an 'emerging urban centre'. However, the provincial Growth Plan appears to represent a significant shift in responsibility for land use planning matters from local and regional levels to the provincial level. A new tier of plans crossing both local and regional boundaries will be created for each of the sub-areas. The Growth Plan notes that sub-area growth strategies are not intended to duplicate local official plans and policies. However, official plans will be required to conform to the Growth Plan. The Province should ensure that municipalities are equal partners in preparing the work program for their respective sub-area growth strategy and as members of their respective sub-area growth strategy working team. Although the Growth Plan notes that the Province jointly with municipalities will prepare sub-area growth strategies, the municipal role in this process must be strengthened. Local municipalities must be provided with the authority to determine the way in which intensification is to be achieved in their respective areas. To ensure that municipal issues are brought forward for consideration, it is requested that the Province engage municipalities as full participants both in the preparation of a work program for their respective sub-area growth strategy and in the sub-area growth strategy working team. As a minimum, lower-tier municipalities identified as urban growth centres and upper-tier municipalities should be active participants in the Provincial exercise. The sub-area growth strategy should focus on the broader cross-boundary issues instead of detailing local level matters. The growth strategies are intended to be comprehensive in scope addressing a wide range of topics for each sub-area. A more strategic focus on the broader cross-boundary issues such as infrastructure, transportation, economic development, transit and urban boundary expansions is recommended. There should be less emphasis on the agricultural system, rural areas, and mineral aggregate resources outside of urban areas as these matters are more appropriately addressed through local official plans. Without refining the scope of sub-area growth strategies, staff is concerned that the process could take several years from initial inception to approval for the large geographic sub-areas. 040 Report PO 12-05 ATTACHMENT#~TO REPORì # PO --c¡::¡::o~ Date: March 31, 2005 Page 6 Subject: Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 1.5 The timeframe to achieve the minimum intensification requirements in the draft Growth Plan should be extended from 2015 to a more realistic timeframe. The draft Growth Plan requires a phased increase in the amount of residential intensification occurring within existing built-up areas, such that by 2015, 40% of all new residential development occurring annually shall be within today's build-up area. It is our understanding that Durham Region will be responsible for increasing the current intensification target of 20% incrementally until it reaches 40% by 2015 and that all municipalities will be required to meet the 40% target. Considering the high residential growth rates anticipated for Seaton (outside the built-up area) over the next 15 years, a 40% annual intensification rate for Pickering would be hard to achieve by 2015. This means that if we have 2,000 new residential units constructed annually by the year 2015 in Pickering, 40% or 800 units would have be constructed in today's built-up area. Our concern is that there may not be sufficient land and adequate infrastructure within the built-up area to accommodate the 40% intensification target on annual basis. As well, intensification areas are to be generally planned to achieve not less than 200 residents and jobs per net hectare. Staff is concerned that this level of intensity cannot be achieved in such a short time. As an example, the newly constructed OPG building on Brock Road is approximately 16,150m2 (6-storey building) on 4 hectares of land with a projected 750 jobs being accommodated. This translates into 187.5 jobs per hectare, which is below the Growth Plan density. 1.6 Although infill and intensification within the existing built-up areas is supported, it should be recognized that municipalities can only provide opportunities for higher densities but no landowner can be compelled to develop. Intensification and redevelopment is not a one-time process, but rather an ongoing evolution of a community. A more gradual implementation of the density over 20-30 years, rather than 10 years, would provide a more realistic timeframe for the market to respond with higher density development. The employment forecasts for Durham Region should be increased to achieve jobs to population ratio of one to two rather than one to three, to be consistent across the GT A-Hamilton sub-area. Schedule 3 of the draft Growth Plan indicates an employment forecast of 350,000 jobs (36.5% jobs to population ratio) for Durham Region at 2031. This is lower than the employment forecast presented in the Durham Regional Official Plan Review (423,000 jobs or 40.1 % jobs to population ratio for 2031), and less than Durham's current jobs to population ratio target of 50%. A lower employment forecast is not supportive of Durham Region's direction to balance population growth with employment. A more balanced live-work relationship of one job for every two persons is required in Durham Region if it is to achieve the Report PO 12-05 ATIACHMENT II ( TO REPORT II PO ()q -[fo Date: March 31, 2005 Page 7 @41 Subject: Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 1.7 Growth Plan's objective of creating compact, transit-supportive communities that make more efficient use of existing and proposed infrastructure. Public consultation should be included as an integral part of the preparation sub-area growth strategies in the Growth Plan. The preparation of a sub-area growth strategy includes no public consultation process. To ensure that the Province undertakes a meaningful consultation process, it is recommended that the Province enshrine a public process in the Growth Plan to inform and obtain comments from residents in all parts of each sub-area as a component of the sub-area growth strategy process. 1.8 Details on fiscal and regulatory tools to support municipal efforts to implement the draft Growth Plan are lacking in the draft Growth Plan document. Details on fiscal and regulatory tools referenced in the original Discussion Paper, are not provided in the draft Growth Plan. A representative of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal has advised that information relating to a wide variety of fiscal tools that may be used to implement the Growth Plan is currently being prepared but these tools will not be finalized prior to the Growth Plan being approved. An appropriate financial toolbox is essential to enable implementation of the Growth Plan in municipalities and to assist the public in making appropriate housing choices. It is essential that the Province provide further information on these fiscal and regulatory implementation tools for municipal review and comment, prior to finalizing the Growth Plan. 1.9 More information on the role and structure of the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (GTTA) is required. No details are provided on the role and structure of the previously announced establishment of a Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (GTTA) with sub-area growth plans, provincial funding ministries and municipal transit operators. Although there is merit in provincial coordination of broader transit planning and funding, the Province is requested to provide further information on the GTTA's relationship to local transit providers. 1.10 Staff will continue to monitor the Growth Plan and advise Council of significant events or information. Staff will follow-up with the Province respecting Council's comments on the Plan, and will advise Council of significant matters about the final Growth Plan. 04 ~eport PO 12-05 A II ALH¡ViElìlT # I TO HEPOR1 # PO oq -CXo Date: March 31, 2005 Page 8 Subject: Draft Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe ATTACHMENTS: 1. 2. Summary of the draft Growth Plan Schedule 3 - Distribution of Population, Greater Golden Horseshoe 2001-2031 Schedule 4 - Urban Growth Centres Schedule 5 - Moving People Schedule 6 - Moving Goods Schedule 7 - Draft Greenbelt Plan Schedule 8 - Proposed Sub-area Concept Households and Employment in the 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Prepared By: Approved I Endorsed By: ORIGINAL SIGNED BY RIGINAL SIGNED BY Grant McGregor, MCIP, RPP Principal Planner - Policy Neil Carroll, MCIP, RPP Director, Planning & Development ORIGINAL SIGNED BY Catherine Rose, MCIP, RPP Manager, Policy GM:ld Attachments Copy: Chief Administrative Officer (Acting) Chief Administrative Officer Division Head, Corporate Projects & Policy Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council ORIGINAL SIGNED BY Thomas J. Quinn, Chief Administrative Officer ATTACHMENT' 2 TO AEPORT , PD~ - C>~ Chart Comparing the Draft and Proposed Growth Plans Draft Growth Plan Schedules . Schedule 3 proposes an employment forecast of 350,000 jobs for Durham Region at 2031 (36.5% jobs to population ratio). . Schedule 4 identifies Downtown Pickering as an urban growth centre. . Schedule 4 shows a built-up area (generally) for south Pickering. . Schedule 4 shows Seaton as a designated growth area for Pickering, but not the Cherrywood Community. . Schedules 4 and 7 . show the draft greenbelt boundary. . Schedule 4 identifies. the designated non-urban area in northeast Pickering. Proposed Growth Plan Schedules . No change. . No change. . No change . No change. Schedules 4, 5 . and 6 now show the greenbelt lands. Schedule 4. identifies land in northeast Pickering as part of the Greater Golden Horseshoe Plan Area. . Schedules 5 and 6 . No change. show the future proposed Pickering airport. 043 Staff Comments . Continue to disagree. A more balanced live-work relationship of one job for every two persons is required for Durham Region (50% jobs to population ratio). . Continue to agree. Support identification of downtown Pickering. . Built boundary to be established by MPIR; request formal consultation with lower- tier municipalities. . Continue ~ support identification of Seaton. . Continue to request addition of the Cherrywood Community as a designated growth area, or alternative lands of same size in northeast Pickering. Continue to request addition of the Cherrywood Community as a designated growth area for Pickering, and deletion from Greenbelt Plan. Lands within GGH Plan Area, but not currently designated for urban development, are classed as not required for urban purposes until after 2031 ; . Request 5-year reviews of need for future designated greenfield areas. . No comment. ATTACHMENT '~TO . REPORT I PD~ W44 Chart Comparing the Draft and Proposed Growth Plans Page 2 Draft Growth Plan Schedules . Schedule 5 shows the. CP Havelock Railway to Peterborough as a proposed higher order transit route to 2031 . . Schedule 6 shows Highway 407 East of Brock Road as Future Economic / Transport Corridors. . Schedule 8 shows. Pickering within proposed Sub-area 1 - GTA and Hamilton. Proposed Growth Plan Schedules Deleted proposed higher order transit route as requested . No change. No change to . the sub-areas. However, the sub-areas are no longer shown on a schedule. Staff Comments . Continue to recommend adding the following: 0 a proposed higher order transit route along an easterly extension of Highway 407 before 2031; 0 a proposed higher order transit route along Taunton Road and Kingston Road; 0 a future higher order transit on the CP Belleville Railway; 0 a proposed higher transit route from the Pickering GO Station to the Highway 407 transit way. . The Growth Plan downplays the importance of extending Highway 407 through Durham Region; . Continue to recommend adding Highway 407 corridor easterly to Highway 35/115 and identify the high priority of the 407 extension. Re-introduce a schedule illustrating Pickering within GT A-Hamilton sub-areas.