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- [Speaker] Three.

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- Welcome, ladies and
gentlemen and council,

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to tonight's council meeting
of Tuesday, July the 28th.

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Today is a special council meeting

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to discuss the official plan,

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and we'll be largely relying on

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our consultants and our planning staff

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to walk council through

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because of course this
is going to be the future

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of land planning and development

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for the city of Niagara Falls.

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So welcome, everybody.

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First order of business is
the adoption of the minutes

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from our July 14th meeting.

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A motion by Councilor Lococo,
second by Councilor Kerrio.

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All those in favor.

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That's unanimous.

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Thank you for that.

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Not sure why it's written
twice on the agenda here,

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but okay.

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Just a little link, okay.

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Disclosures of a pecuniary interest.

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Do we have any conflicts of counsel?

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Okay, seeing none,

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we'll now open up our
statutory public meeting

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with Our Niagara Falls Plan,

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so I'm going to start by...

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Who am I introducing?

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I'm going to go to our
general manager of planning.

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Okay, there we go.

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Now I have my sheet.

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I'm going to go to our clerk,

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and I'm going to ask
her to please introduce

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the next item on the agenda.

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- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

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The next item on the agenda

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is a statutory meeting for
the Our Niagara Falls Plan,

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the city's new official plan.

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This special meeting of
council is being held

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under Section 263 of the Planning Act.

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The city has engaged
The Planning Partnership

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to assist with the preparation
of the new official plan.

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The consultants will be providing

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an overview of the draft
Our Niagara Falls Plan

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at today's meeting.

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Notice was given in accordance

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with the Planning Act
on July the 8th, 2026.

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The purpose of this public meeting

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is to hear comments and
concerns from the public.

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Modifications to the draft
official plan may occur

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as a result of commentary
provided at this meeting.

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Staff will present any changes
in the final staff report

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and final draft of the
city's official plan,

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which is intended to
be presented to council

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for adoption at the
August 11th, 2026 meeting.

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The adoptive plan will then be forwarded

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to the province for final approval.

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The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and...

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Pardon me.

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The Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and Housing

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is the approval authority for
the city's new official plan,

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pursuant to Section 17,
bracket, 36.5, end bracket,

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of the Planning Act.

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The minister's decision is final,

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and there is no appeal in respect

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to the minister's decision.

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- Thank you, Madam Clerk.

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I'm going to call on Kailen Goerz,

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senior manager of long
range planning initiatives

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from our planning building
and development department

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who will introduce the consultants

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from our Planning Partnership.

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The floor is yours.

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- Good evening, mayor
and members of council.

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We're excited to be here this evening

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to present to you the draft
Our Niagara Falls Plan.

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The city has been working

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with The Planning Partnership
and Nethery Planning

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in the development of
this new official plan

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over the past two years.

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Today I have here with me
Donna Hinde and Ron Palmer

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from The Planning Partnership

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and Joe Nethery from Nethery Planning.

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Donna and Joe are going to provide

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an overview of the draft
Our Niagara Falls Plan

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and will be available for
questions after the presentation.

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Thank you.

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- [Jim] Welcome.

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- Thank you very much, mayor
and members of council.

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I'd like to go to the next slide

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and begin with the land acknowledgement.

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Am I clicking? Okay.

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There we go.

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With the aim of educating our community

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and acknowledging the many land treaties

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that overlay the city of Niagara
Falls and Niagara region,

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we acknowledge and thank
the indigenous peoples

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who were stewards of this
land for millennia before us.

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A quick overview of the project status.

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We are here in phase five

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presenting the official plan.

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We had our statutory open
house a week and a half ago

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and we are here tonight
at the public meeting.

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We are reviewing the inputs

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that we've received to the official plan

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over the last several weeks.

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We will be preparing
the final official plan.

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We're here tonight at council.

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And then as was mentioned previously,

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it goes to the province for approval.

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A quick snapshot on the engagement.

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You told us right from the
beginning of our project

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that you wanted all of the work

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to be embedded in engagement.

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So we have worked through
every phase of the exercise

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reaching out to the community
through public open houses

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with one-on-one conversations,
with an online survey.

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We've had pop-up events.

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We've worked in partnership
with our city staff team

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to make sure we were reaching out

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to as many people as we could.

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We worked with a terrific group

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of young people from the city

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who helped us in the
earlier phases reach out

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to connect with the elementary schools

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and the folks and the kids at high school.

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We've had many meetings
with our city staff team,

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with a technical advisory team.

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The city has done a terrific job

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keeping the online project-specific page

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populated with the
team's work in progress.

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So we are happy that we've tried to

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engage the community at
every step of the way.

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The official plan is structured
primarily in two parts.

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The part one, vision
statement, key directions,

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some general citywide policies.

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Part two contains the site
and area-specific policies.

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There are schedules or maps at the end

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that we're going to be talking
to in this presentation,

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and then a few appendices.

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So we'll walk through each
section of the document,

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high level.

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The first section includes
the vision statement.

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We've talked about the vision statement

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a few times before council.

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Niagara Falls, a natural wonder,

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anchor for a thriving,
resilient, and connected city,

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community of beautiful and
culturally rich neighborhoods

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connected to each other,

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linked to the jewels in the city's crown.

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The beauty of the falls,
the Niagara Parkway,

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and the city's parks,
trails, and natural areas.

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That vision is underpinned
by six key directions

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that speak specifically to housing,

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planning for a growing city,

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building an attractive and cultural city,

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speaks to multimodal transportation

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about responding to a changing climate

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and fostering sustainability
and resiliency

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and promoting a strong
and healthy economy.

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The plan is guided by a planning horizon

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given to us by the provincial
planning statement in 2024,

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so it sets the horizon to 2051.

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I'm going to turn it over
to my colleague, Joe,

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who's going to walk
through the second section

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of the official plan.

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- Thank you, Donna. Good afternoon.

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Your Worship, Members of council,

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great to be back before you.

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Outstanding.

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So the second section

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on managing population
and employment growth,

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there is an expectation
under provincial policy

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that a municipality's official plan

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is based on some minimum targets

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with respect to population
growth going forward.

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There are a couple of choices
as to how that can work

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with the recommendation that would be

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in Our Niagara Falls Plan

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is using the numbers from the
Niagara region official plan

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which have gone through a
provincial approval process

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and vetting exercise,

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which is entirely consistent

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with the provincial planning
statement from 2024.

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This includes planning for
a population of 141,650

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in terms of residents,

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58,110 jobs in the city as well.

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We know and you know
through previous exercises

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and master planning exercises

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that have come through
you about staff's work

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with respect to land capacities
and land availability

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that is already approved
and in your system.

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It remains our opinion
and embedded in the draft,

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Our Niagara Falls Plan,

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that there is existing approved lands.

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Still have to go through the
downstream processes, mind you,

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to accommodate a potential
population of 180,000 and up,

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just approaching 74,000 jobs as well.

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That's a particular
theme that you will hear

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throughout our presentation

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and staff's responses to questions as well

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going through this today.

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How that works from a growth
management perspective

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is making some assumptions
and setting some targets

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with respect to how much
intensification is appropriate,

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where it is appropriate,

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what minimum density targets

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in particularly key strategic growth areas

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where redevelopment is
primarily targeted to occur

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helps to deliver on that vision as well.

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In what we used to call greenfield lands,

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and we now call designated growth areas,

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a number of which were approved

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through the region's official
plan work a few years ago.

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We set similar density
targets as well for how much

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and a similar target on
employment lands as well

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in order to help underpin and understand

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where those numbers and figures come from.

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They also remain minimum
targets which we use as supports

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for planning for infrastructure,

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community service needs,
and what have you.

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And that minimum is enshrined
in provincial policy,

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and all municipalities are expected to,

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I'll say, do their part in that regard.

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How that works from a
geographic perspective

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on the understanding that these
maps are all viewable online

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and scalable on on your home computers

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is by defining a community structure.

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This takes transect-oriented
approach with highest densities

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in particularly important centers

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and core areas in the city.

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A number of these
permissions already exist

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in these locations.

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And this is where these
form those core areas,

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those centers and those corridors

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where redevelopment is intended

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to be focused and centralized.

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Otherwise, within the city structure,

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we also have are proposing neighborhoods.

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This occupies the majority of the city's

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geographic urban area today,

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which is the primary home for low density

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and ground-oriented
residential development

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with sprinkles of higher
density throughout that as well.

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We also identify employment areas

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and both of these in a built up area

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and designated growth area,

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the former greenfield or new
development context as well.

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Outside of the settlement area itself,

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a reminder that Niagara Falls does host

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a significant rural and
countryside area as well.

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The majority of those lands

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within the rural and agricultural area

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are prime agricultural lands

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with particular protections
in provincial policy

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that we'll go into a
little bit more detail on

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in a few slides.

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And interspersed with it
throughout this as well

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is the greenlands system,

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the core of our natural heritage system,

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and other open spaces that together form

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a very important part for
supporting resiliency,

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adapting to a changing
climate, biodiversity,

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and a number of very important critical

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and environmental goals as well.

266
00:34:40,380 --> 00:34:42,810
The identification of the
settlement area boundary,

267
00:34:42,810 --> 00:34:46,020
subject to some technical
refinement through this exercise

268
00:34:46,020 --> 00:34:50,310
is based on the 2022
regional official plan work.

269
00:34:50,310 --> 00:34:53,010
Veterans planning discussions in the city

270
00:34:53,010 --> 00:34:55,380
will recall that the region did expand

271
00:34:55,380 --> 00:34:57,750
the settlement area through that process,

272
00:34:57,750 --> 00:34:59,820
and we're continuing that work through

273
00:34:59,820 --> 00:35:01,353
in this exercise as well.

274
00:35:03,270 --> 00:35:05,220
The land needs within that help,

275
00:35:05,220 --> 00:35:07,890
or how we incorporate, plan for,

276
00:35:07,890 --> 00:35:11,250
and accommodate those plan
minimum targets of 2051,

277
00:35:11,250 --> 00:35:13,110
noting that your infrastructure exercises

278
00:35:13,110 --> 00:35:15,390
and staff's previous work suggest that

279
00:35:15,390 --> 00:35:17,040
we can actually accommodate more

280
00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:19,863
within the baseline minimum expectations.

281
00:35:21,930 --> 00:35:23,370
We also do provide for

282
00:35:23,370 --> 00:35:25,140
within the policies of the text itself,

283
00:35:25,140 --> 00:35:27,630
a recognition on how settlement area,

284
00:35:27,630 --> 00:35:29,910
boundary expansions can occur.

285
00:35:29,910 --> 00:35:33,540
A number of requests have been
made through this assignment.

286
00:35:33,540 --> 00:35:36,267
And once again, the city
has not identified a need

287
00:35:36,267 --> 00:35:38,490
and our work has neither identified

288
00:35:38,490 --> 00:35:40,320
a need for any additional lands

289
00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:42,780
to meet those minimum growth targets.

290
00:35:42,780 --> 00:35:44,820
The city has enough land to do that

291
00:35:44,820 --> 00:35:46,263
in existing state today.

292
00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:51,927
Into section three of the
first part of the official plan

293
00:35:51,927 --> 00:35:54,810
are a range of citywide policies

294
00:35:54,810 --> 00:35:58,683
largely tied to and built upon
those initial six big moves.

295
00:36:00,030 --> 00:36:02,100
These are goals, objectives, and policies

296
00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:04,560
that apply to a range of
topics and issue areas

297
00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:06,903
that cover the city in its totality.

298
00:36:08,430 --> 00:36:12,150
Under section 3.1, our housing policies

299
00:36:12,150 --> 00:36:15,150
where we are providing the policy basis

300
00:36:15,150 --> 00:36:16,650
to support a range and mix

301
00:36:16,650 --> 00:36:18,600
of housing types being encouraged,

302
00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:21,210
including ownership and
rental opportunities,

303
00:36:21,210 --> 00:36:22,800
as well as affordable, attainable,

304
00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:24,870
and additional needs housing.

305
00:36:24,870 --> 00:36:27,600
In a minor bit of
quarantining on our parts,

306
00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:31,170
noting that this team here
does official plan work

307
00:36:31,170 --> 00:36:32,550
in other municipalities.

308
00:36:32,550 --> 00:36:34,800
We note that Niagara Falls already does

309
00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:37,140
considerable and exceptional
work with respect to

310
00:36:37,140 --> 00:36:38,793
securing affordable housing.

311
00:36:39,720 --> 00:36:40,980
And we're ensuring that that approach

312
00:36:40,980 --> 00:36:43,020
is enshrined and continue
forward in this approach

313
00:36:43,020 --> 00:36:44,400
and staff remain committed

314
00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:47,140
to delivering on those high
expectations in the city

315
00:36:48,330 --> 00:36:51,540
well above and beyond what others

316
00:36:51,540 --> 00:36:53,133
seem to be able to accomplish.

317
00:36:54,030 --> 00:36:55,830
And so let's give staff
a feather in the cap

318
00:36:55,830 --> 00:36:57,150
and you, council, a feather in the cap

319
00:36:57,150 --> 00:36:59,073
for that while I have the microphone.

320
00:37:00,090 --> 00:37:03,300
That 40% affordable and
attainable housing target

321
00:37:03,300 --> 00:37:04,560
is also current state

322
00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:07,860
and remains remains proposed
in this draft as well.

323
00:37:07,860 --> 00:37:10,470
And also looking to address
some contemporary issues

324
00:37:10,470 --> 00:37:12,540
with respect to demolition or conversion

325
00:37:12,540 --> 00:37:14,493
of rental housing as well.

326
00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:20,160
Under section 3.2, we introduce policies

327
00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:22,158
with respect to climate resiliency,

328
00:37:22,158 --> 00:37:24,463
noting that the city has already done

329
00:37:24,463 --> 00:37:25,980
a considerable and tremendous work

330
00:37:25,980 --> 00:37:28,080
with its climate change adaptation plan,

331
00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:30,480
which includes a number
of action items that

332
00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:32,700
were recommended for
inclusion in planning matters

333
00:37:32,700 --> 00:37:34,647
and are accommodated through this work,

334
00:37:34,647 --> 00:37:36,783
and some additional other matters as well.

335
00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:39,480
There are a variety of
means and mechanisms

336
00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:42,360
to which city municipalities can plan for

337
00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:43,890
adapting to a changing climate,

338
00:37:43,890 --> 00:37:46,530
and we are looking, contain
policies and permissions

339
00:37:46,530 --> 00:37:48,870
around compact urban development,

340
00:37:48,870 --> 00:37:51,660
the protection and enhancing
of the natural heritage system,

341
00:37:51,660 --> 00:37:53,370
providing for mobility choice,

342
00:37:53,370 --> 00:37:54,570
and incorporating the findings

343
00:37:54,570 --> 00:37:56,940
of your recently approved
transportation master plan

344
00:37:56,940 --> 00:37:59,940
and trails and active
transportation master plans,

345
00:37:59,940 --> 00:38:02,580
and doing what we can to
encourage green infrastructure,

346
00:38:02,580 --> 00:38:07,410
tree canopy protection
and compensation as well,

347
00:38:07,410 --> 00:38:09,960
though those may be in
different policies, not 3.2.

348
00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:12,720
The urban forest and management plan work

349
00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:15,270
is reflected in this draft as well,

350
00:38:15,270 --> 00:38:18,420
maintaining the city's current
30% tree canopy coverage

351
00:38:18,420 --> 00:38:21,840
and setting a target to
increase that to 35% later on

352
00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:24,600
with that compensation support as well.

353
00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,300
We provide policies around air
quality and renewable energy,

354
00:38:27,300 --> 00:38:28,800
which includes supporting

355
00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:30,990
carbon sequestration where possible,

356
00:38:30,990 --> 00:38:32,940
encouraging green vehicle parking,

357
00:38:32,940 --> 00:38:34,680
noting that the province has recently

358
00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:36,873
clipped municipal wings in this arena,

359
00:38:37,860 --> 00:38:39,660
and providing the policies around,

360
00:38:39,660 --> 00:38:40,590
appropriate policies around

361
00:38:40,590 --> 00:38:43,140
large scale renewable energy generation,

362
00:38:43,140 --> 00:38:45,210
and noting, again, municipal limitations

363
00:38:45,210 --> 00:38:48,480
on how far you can go
in Planning Act terms

364
00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:50,370
around energy and water conservation

365
00:38:50,370 --> 00:38:53,040
through construction means
and building operations,

366
00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:56,760
setting up and providing
for a basis to encourage,

367
00:38:56,760 --> 00:39:00,240
encourage similar practices
and help make it easier

368
00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:02,163
to do such work in the city.

369
00:39:03,750 --> 00:39:05,730
A number of detailed goals and objectives

370
00:39:05,730 --> 00:39:07,053
with respect to mobility.

371
00:39:08,130 --> 00:39:10,290
Again reiterating and recognizing

372
00:39:10,290 --> 00:39:13,710
your recent approvals of the
two master plans themselves.

373
00:39:13,710 --> 00:39:15,630
We establish and provide the basis, again,

374
00:39:15,630 --> 00:39:17,283
for mobility choice,

375
00:39:18,300 --> 00:39:20,940
supporting and providing the basis for

376
00:39:20,940 --> 00:39:23,520
road windings,
infrastructure requirements,

377
00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:26,310
active transportation
infrastructure requirements

378
00:39:26,310 --> 00:39:27,750
and also providing for

379
00:39:27,750 --> 00:39:29,940
complete street design policies as well,

380
00:39:29,940 --> 00:39:32,850
and the basis for transit
supportive development,

381
00:39:32,850 --> 00:39:34,530
noting again that official plans say

382
00:39:34,530 --> 00:39:36,990
and set an awful number
of goals and objectives

383
00:39:36,990 --> 00:39:39,630
that remains considerable
work to do once this is done

384
00:39:39,630 --> 00:39:42,483
to achieve and continue to
implement those objectives.

385
00:39:44,100 --> 00:39:46,770
Under section 3.4,

386
00:39:46,770 --> 00:39:49,200
under an Attractive and Cultural City.

387
00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:51,300
We do provide for a
number of design criteria

388
00:39:51,300 --> 00:39:53,640
for built foreign types, low rise,

389
00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:56,340
mid-rise, and high-rise buildings.

390
00:39:56,340 --> 00:39:58,530
Included within those
particular design policies,

391
00:39:58,530 --> 00:40:00,930
we do talk about building
placements and orientations,

392
00:40:00,930 --> 00:40:03,660
building entrances,
proximity to amenities,

393
00:40:03,660 --> 00:40:05,190
and a number of items that city staff

394
00:40:05,190 --> 00:40:06,360
are already undertaking

395
00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:09,060
and implementing through
development applications

396
00:40:09,060 --> 00:40:10,563
and that review work as well.

397
00:40:11,820 --> 00:40:14,130
We also provide for
those evaluative criteria

398
00:40:14,130 --> 00:40:17,040
within policies in order to form the basis

399
00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:20,343
for such reviews and assessments
in that downstream work.

400
00:40:21,630 --> 00:40:24,990
We provide for enabling policies
to apply crime prevention

401
00:40:24,990 --> 00:40:27,030
through environmental design as well,

402
00:40:27,030 --> 00:40:29,130
and identifying those key elements that

403
00:40:29,130 --> 00:40:31,860
we know through years of design practice

404
00:40:31,860 --> 00:40:33,930
help to provide for safe communities

405
00:40:33,930 --> 00:40:35,940
through environmental design itself.

406
00:40:35,940 --> 00:40:38,250
Clear sight lines,
appropriate landscaping,

407
00:40:38,250 --> 00:40:40,470
fencing, lighting, windows,

408
00:40:40,470 --> 00:40:42,090
and those sorts of items that

409
00:40:42,090 --> 00:40:45,153
help create those warm and
welcoming spaces for all.

410
00:40:46,830 --> 00:40:47,823
Under section 3.5,

411
00:40:49,229 --> 00:40:51,900
and at the end of this big chapter,

412
00:40:51,900 --> 00:40:53,400
we introduce our policies

413
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,860
with respect to a strong
and diversified economy,

414
00:40:55,860 --> 00:40:57,420
knowing that this has been a major theme

415
00:40:57,420 --> 00:40:58,470
throughout this assignment

416
00:40:58,470 --> 00:41:01,320
and was provided as an area
of focus for this assignment.

417
00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:05,040
We do provide and tie
back to the objectives

418
00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:06,900
that are established through the city's

419
00:41:06,900 --> 00:41:08,760
economic development strategies

420
00:41:08,760 --> 00:41:11,310
by recognizing and providing
the policy protections

421
00:41:11,310 --> 00:41:14,280
to protect employment lands going forward,

422
00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:15,540
noting that provincial policy

423
00:41:15,540 --> 00:41:17,520
has loosened the framework around

424
00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:19,890
how municipalities can or cannot,

425
00:41:19,890 --> 00:41:21,210
depending on your perspective,

426
00:41:21,210 --> 00:41:24,720
continue to protect for those
lands over the long term.

427
00:41:24,720 --> 00:41:27,090
We recognize the agricultural economy

428
00:41:27,090 --> 00:41:29,190
and provide the supporting basis for

429
00:41:29,190 --> 00:41:31,860
evaluating proposals for
agriculture-related uses

430
00:41:31,860 --> 00:41:36,660
such as grain elevators or rural
industrial food production,

431
00:41:36,660 --> 00:41:38,430
and on-farm diversified uses

432
00:41:38,430 --> 00:41:41,220
such as agritourism, on-farm tourism,

433
00:41:41,220 --> 00:41:43,290
and those range of uses all in accordance

434
00:41:43,290 --> 00:41:45,543
with provincial policy to help unlock,

435
00:41:46,590 --> 00:41:50,130
further unlock those opportunities
here in the city as well.

436
00:41:50,130 --> 00:41:51,840
Unless we forget, we have also provided

437
00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:54,360
for objectives around ecotourism

438
00:41:54,360 --> 00:41:56,730
and ensuring that the
city can look favorably

439
00:41:56,730 --> 00:41:57,900
upon those opportunities

440
00:41:57,900 --> 00:42:00,100
where they appropriately
present themselves.

441
00:42:01,290 --> 00:42:03,210
All right, we've now
made it to chapter four.

442
00:42:03,210 --> 00:42:04,350
Onward we go.

443
00:42:04,350 --> 00:42:06,450
Our general land use
policies compatibility-

444
00:42:06,450 --> 00:42:07,530
- Just before we do,

445
00:42:07,530 --> 00:42:09,030
is there any questions so far

446
00:42:09,030 --> 00:42:11,550
that you've heard on section three

447
00:42:11,550 --> 00:42:14,310
that anyone wanted to
address at this point?

448
00:42:14,310 --> 00:42:15,153
Okay, thank you.

449
00:42:16,170 --> 00:42:17,640
- Anytime, Your Worship.

450
00:42:17,640 --> 00:42:21,720
These are focus policies
targeting individual issue areas

451
00:42:21,720 --> 00:42:24,510
that will span multiple
designations or multiple scenarios

452
00:42:24,510 --> 00:42:26,640
instead of repeating them 14 times.

453
00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:27,780
A big part of streamlining

454
00:42:27,780 --> 00:42:29,130
and shortening this policy text

455
00:42:29,130 --> 00:42:31,020
is to put it all in one place

456
00:42:31,020 --> 00:42:33,063
and where those situations would apply.

457
00:42:34,020 --> 00:42:35,870
So we have two chapters, 4.1 and 4.2,

458
00:42:36,930 --> 00:42:38,790
that speak to uses that would be permitted

459
00:42:38,790 --> 00:42:40,140
in all designations.

460
00:42:40,140 --> 00:42:42,690
Really, I'll frame it as
boring and enabling stuff

461
00:42:42,690 --> 00:42:44,760
such as accessory uses if I have

462
00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:47,850
a store parking associated
with that is okay.

463
00:42:47,850 --> 00:42:51,060
Enabling permission in parks, open spaces,

464
00:42:51,060 --> 00:42:52,350
public service facilities,

465
00:42:52,350 --> 00:42:55,710
small renewable energy
systems, infrastructure.

466
00:42:55,710 --> 00:42:57,750
The city's policies with respect to

467
00:42:57,750 --> 00:43:00,540
vacation rental units are found in here,

468
00:43:00,540 --> 00:43:03,473
noting that they are
proposed to be permitted

469
00:43:03,473 --> 00:43:05,640
in a handful of higher intensity,

470
00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:08,250
higher density designations.

471
00:43:08,250 --> 00:43:10,110
And if someone is looking
to do that elsewhere,

472
00:43:10,110 --> 00:43:12,060
and a planning application
would be required

473
00:43:12,060 --> 00:43:14,580
along with the full public process.

474
00:43:14,580 --> 00:43:16,290
In some of those uses,
that would be permitted

475
00:43:16,290 --> 00:43:18,870
in multiple designations
with development criteria

476
00:43:18,870 --> 00:43:20,310
that are associated with them.

477
00:43:20,310 --> 00:43:22,020
We've done our part to try and centralize

478
00:43:22,020 --> 00:43:24,240
those criteria in this one place.

479
00:43:24,240 --> 00:43:25,470
So picking on an example,

480
00:43:25,470 --> 00:43:26,970
if somebody is looking for

481
00:43:26,970 --> 00:43:29,160
particular information
on a home occupation,

482
00:43:29,160 --> 00:43:34,020
short-term accommodation,
home industry, makerspaces,

483
00:43:34,020 --> 00:43:36,090
we find those policies
all in that one place.

484
00:43:36,090 --> 00:43:37,770
These are the criteria that matter,

485
00:43:37,770 --> 00:43:39,900
and eventually filter
their way down and through

486
00:43:39,900 --> 00:43:42,030
into various municipal bylaws,

487
00:43:42,030 --> 00:43:43,830
including but not limited to zoning.

488
00:43:45,275 --> 00:43:48,360
Under 4.3, we have a number of policies

489
00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:50,943
with respect to
compatibility of development.

490
00:43:52,980 --> 00:43:57,980
These include both industrial, commercial,

491
00:43:58,110 --> 00:44:01,050
noise-related uses adjacent to

492
00:44:01,050 --> 00:44:02,910
what we would call sensitive land uses,

493
00:44:02,910 --> 00:44:04,950
such as housing or schools or daycares,

494
00:44:04,950 --> 00:44:06,960
and how that transition
can be handled through

495
00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:10,440
various studies, setbacks, or
protections as is appropriate.

496
00:44:10,440 --> 00:44:13,710
This also includes the
further detailed series

497
00:44:13,710 --> 00:44:16,020
on urban design transition,

498
00:44:16,020 --> 00:44:19,770
and that compatibility around
height transitions as well.

499
00:44:19,770 --> 00:44:22,830
Noting Niagara Falls has a not high...

500
00:44:22,830 --> 00:44:24,960
well, that's not correct.

501
00:44:24,960 --> 00:44:27,810
Has a unique composition
of very high density,

502
00:44:27,810 --> 00:44:29,910
high tall buildings

503
00:44:29,910 --> 00:44:32,760
and adjacency to low density residential.

504
00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:34,440
The Our Niagara Falls Plan contains

505
00:44:34,440 --> 00:44:36,210
some detailed policies on how

506
00:44:36,210 --> 00:44:39,000
some of those transitions can be handled

507
00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:41,170
based on the design team's experience

508
00:44:42,240 --> 00:44:44,610
in some large urban centers.

509
00:44:44,610 --> 00:44:47,190
Generally speaking,
Our Niagara Falls Plan,

510
00:44:47,190 --> 00:44:49,710
as written, includes the
various relevant policies

511
00:44:49,710 --> 00:44:52,860
that allow staff to tie back
into provincial standards

512
00:44:52,860 --> 00:44:54,300
and provincial studies

513
00:44:54,300 --> 00:44:59,040
to review and assess the
proposals that come forward,

514
00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:01,080
with some other specific policies

515
00:45:01,080 --> 00:45:02,860
tied to some specific uses

516
00:45:03,840 --> 00:45:05,847
that have long existed in the city as well

517
00:45:05,847 --> 00:45:08,523
and the city has already
done considerable study on.

518
00:45:09,510 --> 00:45:11,820
Coming back to those design policies

519
00:45:11,820 --> 00:45:12,903
around built form,

520
00:45:16,020 --> 00:45:17,220
Our Niagara Falls Plan contains

521
00:45:17,220 --> 00:45:20,640
the detail that I've been
alluding to thus far,

522
00:45:20,640 --> 00:45:22,890
setting a standard of
three stories or less

523
00:45:22,890 --> 00:45:24,330
for those low rise buildings,

524
00:45:24,330 --> 00:45:25,770
and then a series of designations

525
00:45:25,770 --> 00:45:27,840
where they would be permitted

526
00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:30,210
following later on in
the draft plan itself,

527
00:45:30,210 --> 00:45:32,070
mid-rise of three to eight stories,

528
00:45:32,070 --> 00:45:35,790
and high-rises of 8 to 32 stories.

529
00:45:35,790 --> 00:45:38,130
There are height variations
that are also proposed

530
00:45:38,130 --> 00:45:41,740
in the section provided
certain design criteria are met

531
00:45:42,840 --> 00:45:46,110
and noting that within the
proposed entertainment district

532
00:45:46,110 --> 00:45:48,420
centered around the core existing

533
00:45:48,420 --> 00:45:50,700
tourist district area itself

534
00:45:50,700 --> 00:45:53,580
not proposing a maximum
within that district,

535
00:45:53,580 --> 00:45:55,260
noting that those design policies

536
00:45:55,260 --> 00:45:57,840
around compatible transitions of heights

537
00:45:57,840 --> 00:45:59,610
remains proposed to apply.

538
00:45:59,610 --> 00:46:00,990
Just because there is no maximum

539
00:46:00,990 --> 00:46:03,390
does not mean that anyone
can build to the moon.

540
00:46:05,460 --> 00:46:08,310
We also provide for standard
and routine policies

541
00:46:08,310 --> 00:46:11,370
with respect to contaminated
and hazardous sites as well,

542
00:46:11,370 --> 00:46:15,150
both from a manmade and a natural
environmental perspective.

543
00:46:15,150 --> 00:46:16,920
This will also include some new mapping

544
00:46:16,920 --> 00:46:19,350
that the province is now making
available in municipalities

545
00:46:19,350 --> 00:46:22,000
around the potential presence of karst

546
00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:25,200
which may not come to a surprise
of anybody who understands

547
00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:28,830
that the Niagara Escarpment
is a limestone feature,

548
00:46:28,830 --> 00:46:31,410
and obviously has some
intriguing landscape

549
00:46:31,410 --> 00:46:32,510
and parts within that.

550
00:46:34,320 --> 00:46:37,743
We now make it to section five,

551
00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:40,800
I will keep on trucking.

552
00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:42,750
These are the individual detailed

553
00:46:42,750 --> 00:46:44,853
land use designations themselves.

554
00:46:45,690 --> 00:46:46,740
I got a few slides here,

555
00:46:46,740 --> 00:46:49,083
so let's keep rolling.

556
00:46:50,130 --> 00:46:51,660
I bring you back to that first schedule

557
00:46:51,660 --> 00:46:54,003
one map that appeared on an earlier slide.

558
00:46:54,990 --> 00:46:56,760
We have a series of land use designations

559
00:46:56,760 --> 00:46:59,580
that are tied to strategic growth areas.

560
00:46:59,580 --> 00:47:01,620
This is a term tied to provincial policy.

561
00:47:01,620 --> 00:47:03,780
It's implemented through
a series of designations

562
00:47:03,780 --> 00:47:05,400
that's intended to provide for

563
00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:08,760
and encourage that redevelopment
and intensification

564
00:47:08,760 --> 00:47:11,220
of otherwise underutilized sites.

565
00:47:11,220 --> 00:47:13,080
The benefit to providing for those areas

566
00:47:13,080 --> 00:47:14,880
is signaling to the city and the region

567
00:47:14,880 --> 00:47:16,620
where it is most prudent

568
00:47:16,620 --> 00:47:19,500
to make those infrastructure
investments themselves.

569
00:47:19,500 --> 00:47:22,350
They're generally focused on
key transportation corridors

570
00:47:22,350 --> 00:47:25,293
and existing and planned
mixed-use centers that exist.

571
00:47:26,940 --> 00:47:29,290
These designations all broadly mix

572
00:47:31,029 --> 00:47:34,020
higher density residential,
commercial, and tourism uses

573
00:47:34,020 --> 00:47:38,373
in a variety of forms and
functions depending on context.

574
00:47:41,310 --> 00:47:44,640
Those series of land use
designations themselves,

575
00:47:44,640 --> 00:47:46,653
we introduce those on schedule two.

576
00:47:48,480 --> 00:47:50,250
And we introduce them on schedule two,

577
00:47:50,250 --> 00:47:52,710
and I introduce them through
these following slides.

578
00:47:52,710 --> 00:47:55,620
So within the mixed-use 1 designation,

579
00:47:55,620 --> 00:47:57,060
this is where we're looking at proposing

580
00:47:57,060 --> 00:47:59,313
low and mid-rise buildings,

581
00:48:00,570 --> 00:48:03,180
providing for residential
and related uses,

582
00:48:03,180 --> 00:48:04,410
places of worship.

583
00:48:04,410 --> 00:48:07,893
It can occur in a standalone
or a mixed-use form as well.

584
00:48:09,330 --> 00:48:12,510
That mixed-use 1 generally applying along

585
00:48:12,510 --> 00:48:17,430
some of the corridors with
shallower or narrower lots.

586
00:48:17,430 --> 00:48:19,530
Where we have deeper lots,

587
00:48:19,530 --> 00:48:21,535
we get a little more into

588
00:48:21,535 --> 00:48:23,520
the nice oven roasted salmon color,

589
00:48:23,520 --> 00:48:24,780
Lundy's Lane in particular,

590
00:48:24,780 --> 00:48:26,850
centers where we would be the...

591
00:48:26,850 --> 00:48:28,710
Our Niagara Falls Plan contemplates

592
00:48:28,710 --> 00:48:30,820
mid-rise and high-rise buildings

593
00:48:33,420 --> 00:48:34,950
that we're obviously have to focus on

594
00:48:34,950 --> 00:48:38,040
and would require compatibility
to adjacent buildings

595
00:48:38,040 --> 00:48:39,663
and land uses themselves.

596
00:48:40,740 --> 00:48:41,990
Again, looking to support

597
00:48:42,930 --> 00:48:44,460
residential uses, institutional uses,

598
00:48:44,460 --> 00:48:46,717
commercial uses as well.

599
00:48:46,717 --> 00:48:50,370
So a little taller, a little
more dense in these locations.

600
00:48:50,370 --> 00:48:53,970
We include a Queen Street
downtown mixed-use designation.

601
00:48:53,970 --> 00:48:57,060
I believe we are standing
in it in this moment.

602
00:48:57,060 --> 00:48:58,680
This would recognize the protected

603
00:48:58,680 --> 00:49:02,280
major transit station area status around

604
00:49:02,280 --> 00:49:04,470
the historic train station

605
00:49:04,470 --> 00:49:07,710
that already exists in
policy documents as well,

606
00:49:07,710 --> 00:49:10,410
or in your planning
policies today, rather.

607
00:49:10,410 --> 00:49:11,940
Supporting apartment dwellings,

608
00:49:11,940 --> 00:49:14,460
mixed-uses as well, institutional uses.

609
00:49:14,460 --> 00:49:18,000
There is a minimum density
expectation in this area

610
00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:19,560
in this designation as well,

611
00:49:19,560 --> 00:49:22,563
and we contemplate that in
mid-rise and high-rise forms.

612
00:49:23,760 --> 00:49:26,790
The entertainment district,
this would be the focus,

613
00:49:26,790 --> 00:49:28,890
the focus of the highest
intensity development

614
00:49:28,890 --> 00:49:32,580
within the city that already
exists in that form today

615
00:49:32,580 --> 00:49:34,410
and there remains additional lands

616
00:49:34,410 --> 00:49:36,543
for such development in this area.

617
00:49:38,010 --> 00:49:39,930
We are here to support the province's

618
00:49:39,930 --> 00:49:41,880
Destination Niagara Strategy

619
00:49:41,880 --> 00:49:44,703
as being a particularly
central area for this.

620
00:49:45,660 --> 00:49:46,493
We are looking...

621
00:49:46,493 --> 00:49:48,480
The proposed permissions are for mixed-use

622
00:49:48,480 --> 00:49:51,600
residential apartment
buildings above ground floor,

623
00:49:51,600 --> 00:49:54,120
but reserving those first
stories for that interactivity

624
00:49:54,120 --> 00:49:57,090
and commercial function to
support that walkability,

625
00:49:57,090 --> 00:50:01,050
that intensity of use, that
destination and center focus.

626
00:50:01,050 --> 00:50:03,210
All building forms are
proposed to be permitted,

627
00:50:03,210 --> 00:50:06,213
depending on your context and
the criteria that would apply.

628
00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:10,500
The entertainment generation
districts applies to,

629
00:50:10,500 --> 00:50:13,143
I believe, three total sites as proposed.

630
00:50:14,160 --> 00:50:15,990
The intent is for this designation

631
00:50:15,990 --> 00:50:19,230
to recognize the potential
of these lands for full day,

632
00:50:19,230 --> 00:50:21,693
year-round tourism generation.

633
00:50:22,560 --> 00:50:23,550
It remains our intent,

634
00:50:23,550 --> 00:50:26,280
and we've heard from
council both, I believe.

635
00:50:26,280 --> 00:50:27,450
Well, I believe, in your current form,

636
00:50:27,450 --> 00:50:29,820
but certainly in previous
forms with previous members,

637
00:50:29,820 --> 00:50:31,110
the importance of ensuring

638
00:50:31,110 --> 00:50:33,150
that tourism function is recommended here,

639
00:50:33,150 --> 00:50:36,360
and staff have kept us
accountable in this regard.

640
00:50:36,360 --> 00:50:38,070
We are generally looking
at permitting commercial

641
00:50:38,070 --> 00:50:39,780
and associated uses, those tourism

642
00:50:39,780 --> 00:50:41,910
supporting commercial uses as well.

643
00:50:41,910 --> 00:50:45,930
You do not see residential
uses on this as well.

644
00:50:45,930 --> 00:50:47,580
These lands are intended to follow through

645
00:50:47,580 --> 00:50:50,970
some form of a public process
in order to ultimately define

646
00:50:50,970 --> 00:50:52,830
what would be happening on those spots

647
00:50:52,830 --> 00:50:54,633
and what form does that take.

648
00:50:57,120 --> 00:51:00,990
Our last strategic growth area
designation that is proposed

649
00:51:00,990 --> 00:51:04,110
is the South Niagara Hospital District.

650
00:51:04,110 --> 00:51:06,360
Again, recognizing existing sites,

651
00:51:06,360 --> 00:51:09,510
but also with some
corridor-oriented spines off of that

652
00:51:09,510 --> 00:51:12,150
that are in existing secondary plans

653
00:51:12,150 --> 00:51:13,860
focused on the hospital.

654
00:51:13,860 --> 00:51:16,800
And generally speaking, when
a new large hospital happens,

655
00:51:16,800 --> 00:51:19,500
there is a usual follow-up
and knock-on effect

656
00:51:19,500 --> 00:51:20,910
with respect to medical offices

657
00:51:20,910 --> 00:51:22,593
in support of commercial as well.

658
00:51:23,700 --> 00:51:26,820
We are looking to propose
all those uses as well.

659
00:51:26,820 --> 00:51:28,950
It would include residential
in mixed-use forms

660
00:51:28,950 --> 00:51:30,750
on the understanding
that some of these uses

661
00:51:30,750 --> 00:51:33,570
might require further study,
further investigation,

662
00:51:33,570 --> 00:51:35,130
and potentially a trip before council

663
00:51:35,130 --> 00:51:37,623
to ultimately be permitted
in the long term.

664
00:51:38,610 --> 00:51:40,960
I'm now prepared to shift into

665
00:51:42,170 --> 00:51:45,963
the yellow section of
designations, the neighborhoods.

666
00:51:48,150 --> 00:51:50,550
- Any questions at this point of council?

667
00:51:50,550 --> 00:51:51,810
Okay. Thank you.

668
00:51:51,810 --> 00:51:53,160
- Okay.

669
00:51:53,160 --> 00:51:55,830
The single largest
designation, urban designation

670
00:51:55,830 --> 00:51:58,590
that's proposed is the
Neighborhood's Designation.

671
00:51:58,590 --> 00:51:59,730
This is about well-designed

672
00:51:59,730 --> 00:52:01,710
and attractive residential development

673
00:52:01,710 --> 00:52:05,640
that considers scale character
of existing areas as well.

674
00:52:05,640 --> 00:52:07,620
And would also likely be proposed

675
00:52:07,620 --> 00:52:11,190
to apply in those designated growth areas,

676
00:52:11,190 --> 00:52:13,653
those new communities
on the fringe as well.

677
00:52:14,935 --> 00:52:16,860
More on those in a few slides.

678
00:52:16,860 --> 00:52:19,350
We're looking at permitting
residential uses,

679
00:52:19,350 --> 00:52:22,743
related residential and community
supporting uses as well.

680
00:52:23,640 --> 00:52:24,473
I introduced the term

681
00:52:24,473 --> 00:52:26,220
neighborhood supporting uses this time,

682
00:52:26,220 --> 00:52:28,080
which can include small scale commercial

683
00:52:28,080 --> 00:52:30,240
as a particular function as well.

684
00:52:30,240 --> 00:52:33,663
And generally speaking, in low-rise forms.

685
00:52:36,210 --> 00:52:38,370
A future neighborhood
designation is proposed

686
00:52:38,370 --> 00:52:41,610
to apply where those
designated growth areas

687
00:52:41,610 --> 00:52:45,420
were approved through the
regional official plan process.

688
00:52:45,420 --> 00:52:48,300
This designation intends to apply,

689
00:52:48,300 --> 00:52:49,410
sorry, to go off the slides,

690
00:52:49,410 --> 00:52:51,360
a comprehensive planning approach

691
00:52:51,360 --> 00:52:52,470
that will help demonstrate

692
00:52:52,470 --> 00:52:54,990
how those density targets get met.

693
00:52:54,990 --> 00:52:57,000
A subsequent downstream planning approval

694
00:52:57,000 --> 00:52:57,900
is going to be required.

695
00:52:57,900 --> 00:53:00,360
And last time I checked,
city staff are facilitating

696
00:53:00,360 --> 00:53:02,880
a number of those projects at present.

697
00:53:02,880 --> 00:53:03,750
And long story short,

698
00:53:03,750 --> 00:53:05,070
planning issues on these areas

699
00:53:05,070 --> 00:53:07,080
are being handled through that assignment,

700
00:53:07,080 --> 00:53:08,973
those assignments, not this one.

701
00:53:09,990 --> 00:53:11,850
The uses are generally limited

702
00:53:11,850 --> 00:53:13,560
to what is legally established

703
00:53:13,560 --> 00:53:15,060
and what is already there,

704
00:53:15,060 --> 00:53:17,340
with the point being if somebody
wants to do something new,

705
00:53:17,340 --> 00:53:18,837
it goes through a particular process

706
00:53:18,837 --> 00:53:20,910
and the city and staff will ensure

707
00:53:20,910 --> 00:53:23,010
that various planning
interests and council interests

708
00:53:23,010 --> 00:53:24,993
are taken care of through the review.

709
00:53:27,450 --> 00:53:29,583
Into our employment districts.

710
00:53:30,630 --> 00:53:32,190
I will note at the present of this,

711
00:53:32,190 --> 00:53:33,960
this is a new framework
and a new approach.

712
00:53:33,960 --> 00:53:36,180
It differs than what the
region had identified,

713
00:53:36,180 --> 00:53:39,780
and I think represents both
the project team's opinion,

714
00:53:39,780 --> 00:53:42,450
our employment and commercial
consultant's opinions,

715
00:53:42,450 --> 00:53:44,100
and staff's review work as well

716
00:53:44,100 --> 00:53:45,390
to reflect facts on the ground

717
00:53:45,390 --> 00:53:46,953
and a new vision going forward.

718
00:53:48,330 --> 00:53:50,700
The main designation within that context

719
00:53:50,700 --> 00:53:53,460
is proposed as Flex Business District.

720
00:53:53,460 --> 00:53:55,800
It recognizes those areas that don't meet

721
00:53:55,800 --> 00:53:58,230
the definition of
traditional employment areas

722
00:53:58,230 --> 00:53:59,430
that has been introduced

723
00:54:00,474 --> 00:54:02,474
in the '24 Provincial Planning Statement

724
00:54:03,390 --> 00:54:05,790
which effectively allows the official...

725
00:54:05,790 --> 00:54:07,080
And by going in that route,

726
00:54:07,080 --> 00:54:08,520
it allows Our Niagara Falls Plan

727
00:54:08,520 --> 00:54:13,290
to propose a broad range of
job-generating land uses itself.

728
00:54:13,290 --> 00:54:15,930
It's not intended to be an employment area

729
00:54:15,930 --> 00:54:18,930
under the 2024 Provincial
Planning Statement.

730
00:54:18,930 --> 00:54:20,610
And so therefore that can include

731
00:54:20,610 --> 00:54:22,800
service commercial uses, retail uses,

732
00:54:22,800 --> 00:54:25,680
in addition to traditional
employment uses as well,

733
00:54:25,680 --> 00:54:27,360
such as factories or manufacturing,

734
00:54:27,360 --> 00:54:29,193
processing, warehousing, assembly.

735
00:54:30,210 --> 00:54:32,370
Residential is not permitted in this area,

736
00:54:32,370 --> 00:54:33,960
and the draft Our Niagara Falls Plan

737
00:54:33,960 --> 00:54:37,740
does include I'm going to
say conversion criteria,

738
00:54:37,740 --> 00:54:40,680
though I don't think conversion's
the jargon term anymore.

739
00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:42,120
If somebody is looking to introduce

740
00:54:42,120 --> 00:54:43,380
residential in those areas,

741
00:54:43,380 --> 00:54:46,440
there are specific criterion
tests that need to be assessed,

742
00:54:46,440 --> 00:54:48,900
and it affords counsel the ability

743
00:54:48,900 --> 00:54:51,873
to make a decision on the
long-term future on those sites.

744
00:54:53,520 --> 00:54:56,580
That hardcore traditional
employment area designation

745
00:54:56,580 --> 00:54:59,550
is also proposed on those sites for,

746
00:54:59,550 --> 00:55:01,350
and my jargon term for it

747
00:55:01,350 --> 00:55:04,050
is the biggest, the noisiest,
the stinkiest, the largest.

748
00:55:04,050 --> 00:55:06,120
Those traditional factory type

749
00:55:06,120 --> 00:55:08,400
and warehousing type uses as well,

750
00:55:08,400 --> 00:55:10,050
that are ultimately there,

751
00:55:10,050 --> 00:55:12,870
whose lands and adjacencies
are hoped to be protected

752
00:55:12,870 --> 00:55:14,790
from those more sensitive land uses

753
00:55:14,790 --> 00:55:16,620
such as housing or daycares

754
00:55:16,620 --> 00:55:19,410
that may result in an operational conflict

755
00:55:19,410 --> 00:55:21,903
for those larger industrial
uses going forward.

756
00:55:23,040 --> 00:55:26,040
Though that is tied to the
employment area framework

757
00:55:26,040 --> 00:55:28,740
within the 24 Provincial
Planning Statement as well,

758
00:55:28,740 --> 00:55:30,640
meaning that the list of proposed uses

759
00:55:31,490 --> 00:55:34,473
is much tighter in this
designation than others.

760
00:55:35,760 --> 00:55:40,760
I've also been asked to
take a second to focus on

761
00:55:43,815 --> 00:55:46,763
the former airport lands,
which, as council knows,

762
00:55:48,194 --> 00:55:50,850
are in the city's ownership at this time.

763
00:55:50,850 --> 00:55:54,060
So it is proposed in the
draft, Our Niagara Falls Plan,

764
00:55:54,060 --> 00:55:57,603
to show this as a potential
new employment settlement area.

765
00:55:58,470 --> 00:55:59,880
It is located within,

766
00:55:59,880 --> 00:56:04,380
and we also maintain this mapping overlay

767
00:56:04,380 --> 00:56:06,240
this future employment corridor

768
00:56:06,240 --> 00:56:09,190
that was identified by the region in 2022

769
00:56:10,144 --> 00:56:11,294
in their official plan.

770
00:56:12,270 --> 00:56:15,270
The land area of those
former airport lands

771
00:56:15,270 --> 00:56:16,810
is generally equivalent

772
00:56:18,120 --> 00:56:20,070
to the amount of land that no longer meets

773
00:56:20,070 --> 00:56:22,330
the definition of employment area

774
00:56:23,280 --> 00:56:25,020
through those designation shifts

775
00:56:25,020 --> 00:56:27,670
that I just described over
the past couple of slides.

776
00:56:29,760 --> 00:56:33,030
Those sites are shown
as flex employment area,

777
00:56:33,030 --> 00:56:36,327
and so the airport proposal
is for employment area

778
00:56:36,327 --> 00:56:37,923
and that core designation.

779
00:56:38,940 --> 00:56:40,630
So the province has requested

780
00:56:41,520 --> 00:56:44,160
in their initial comments back to staff

781
00:56:44,160 --> 00:56:45,750
for a demonstration that infrastructure

782
00:56:45,750 --> 00:56:46,950
and public service facilities

783
00:56:46,950 --> 00:56:49,500
to support that development
would be planned or available.

784
00:56:49,500 --> 00:56:50,340
That's the language that comes

785
00:56:50,340 --> 00:56:53,013
out of the 24 Provincial
Planning Statement as well,

786
00:56:54,030 --> 00:56:55,710
and obviously that the
supporting information

787
00:56:55,710 --> 00:56:58,290
regarding the need for
those lands is demonstrated.

788
00:56:58,290 --> 00:57:00,870
You've heard the number
2051 as a planning horizon

789
00:57:00,870 --> 00:57:03,840
introduced in earlier slides here.

790
00:57:03,840 --> 00:57:06,660
The city can under the provincial
planning statement plan

791
00:57:06,660 --> 00:57:08,940
beyond that time for employment areas,

792
00:57:08,940 --> 00:57:11,160
and that's going to be a
very important criterion

793
00:57:11,160 --> 00:57:12,750
for the decisions that ultimately get made

794
00:57:12,750 --> 00:57:14,640
on this site itself.

795
00:57:14,640 --> 00:57:15,473
- Can I just...

796
00:57:15,473 --> 00:57:18,330
We'll run on that site
just to address this.

797
00:57:18,330 --> 00:57:20,550
So this is of importance to the city

798
00:57:20,550 --> 00:57:24,360
because we acquired 250
acres there recently,

799
00:57:24,360 --> 00:57:27,870
and its intended use is
for employment land for

800
00:57:27,870 --> 00:57:32,870
an industrial park or a major
employer creating good jobs.

801
00:57:33,000 --> 00:57:34,530
And we don't know when that's going to be.

802
00:57:34,530 --> 00:57:36,510
I can tell you I've
spoken with the province

803
00:57:36,510 --> 00:57:39,060
many times about this specific parcel,

804
00:57:39,060 --> 00:57:40,680
and they've been saying we need to get

805
00:57:40,680 --> 00:57:43,290
at least 250 acre sites.

806
00:57:43,290 --> 00:57:45,900
So I just want to just clarify

807
00:57:45,900 --> 00:57:49,650
with the contingencies
that are listed there,

808
00:57:49,650 --> 00:57:52,440
that that's consistent with the province.

809
00:57:52,440 --> 00:57:53,820
Vic Fedeli's traveling the world

810
00:57:53,820 --> 00:57:55,890
trying to bring major employers,

811
00:57:55,890 --> 00:57:57,600
and I've spoken with him

812
00:57:57,600 --> 00:58:00,630
about us having this
parcel for exactly that.

813
00:58:00,630 --> 00:58:03,690
And if this happens,
it'd be long before 2051.

814
00:58:03,690 --> 00:58:05,940
So I just wondered if
you are able to elaborate

815
00:58:05,940 --> 00:58:08,340
just a little bit on
how something like that

816
00:58:08,340 --> 00:58:09,483
could move forward.

817
00:58:12,280 --> 00:58:13,113
- Through Your Worship,

818
00:58:13,113 --> 00:58:16,200
and where this may bed one of those areas

819
00:58:16,200 --> 00:58:18,150
where staff are able to supplement here,

820
00:58:18,150 --> 00:58:20,310
long story short, it boils down to

821
00:58:20,310 --> 00:58:22,650
the various technical
studies need to be complete

822
00:58:22,650 --> 00:58:24,660
and the relevant infrastructure
needs to be available

823
00:58:24,660 --> 00:58:25,710
to support that development.

824
00:58:25,710 --> 00:58:28,500
So there will remain work to do

825
00:58:28,500 --> 00:58:29,850
in order to fully unlock that,

826
00:58:29,850 --> 00:58:31,230
but I'm looking at Ms. Dolce,

827
00:58:31,230 --> 00:58:33,480
who probably has a really
good handle on this. Sure.

828
00:58:33,480 --> 00:58:34,313
- Thank you.

829
00:58:35,342 --> 00:58:36,540
Thank you, Your Worship

830
00:58:36,540 --> 00:58:39,420
So this area in particular,
our approach for this area,

831
00:58:39,420 --> 00:58:40,440
why we included it,

832
00:58:40,440 --> 00:58:43,172
obviously, we knew the
importance to the city.

833
00:58:43,172 --> 00:58:45,300
When we did, the
consultants and ourselves,

834
00:58:45,300 --> 00:58:48,000
we looked at the entire city

835
00:58:48,000 --> 00:58:50,880
and we moved some lands
out of employment area

836
00:58:50,880 --> 00:58:52,200
into flex business.

837
00:58:52,200 --> 00:58:56,280
So it's not necessarily long-term
protected for employment.

838
00:58:56,280 --> 00:58:58,530
We are down in terms of employment areas.

839
00:58:58,530 --> 00:59:01,170
So this area is very important to us.

840
00:59:01,170 --> 00:59:05,310
Secondly, we did come to in 2026 budget

841
00:59:05,310 --> 00:59:07,650
and ask for these studies to be done.

842
00:59:07,650 --> 00:59:09,750
So we did get the budget in 2026.

843
00:59:09,750 --> 00:59:12,270
We're starting to work towards

844
00:59:12,270 --> 00:59:13,710
undertaking those studies now.

845
00:59:13,710 --> 00:59:18,710
So I do think we will have all
the studies that they need,

846
00:59:18,870 --> 00:59:20,730
and they are mainly technical studies.

847
00:59:20,730 --> 00:59:23,313
As you heard from Mr. Nethery,

848
00:59:24,270 --> 00:59:25,950
we can plan beyond 2051.

849
00:59:25,950 --> 00:59:27,450
So that demonstration of need

850
00:59:27,450 --> 00:59:29,370
isn't there at servicing
capacity, all the other things,

851
00:59:29,370 --> 00:59:32,130
which, again, we do have flexible policies

852
00:59:32,130 --> 00:59:35,760
to allow it on full or partial
private services as well

853
00:59:35,760 --> 00:59:36,750
for the short term.

854
00:59:36,750 --> 00:59:39,960
So I think we've laid
out our case pretty well

855
00:59:39,960 --> 00:59:43,500
on the importance of it
and how we feel it meets

856
00:59:43,500 --> 00:59:46,590
in the framework we have to use.

857
00:59:46,590 --> 00:59:47,423
- Well, that's great

858
00:59:47,423 --> 00:59:49,230
because I think it's
important to the council

859
00:59:49,230 --> 00:59:51,210
that we diversify our economy,

860
00:59:51,210 --> 00:59:52,860
and here we have an opportunity to create

861
00:59:52,860 --> 00:59:56,940
more, better industrial
type manufacturing jobs

862
00:59:56,940 --> 00:59:57,990
that pay better.

863
00:59:57,990 --> 00:59:58,980
So it's important.

864
00:59:58,980 --> 01:00:00,180
We want to not just be...

865
01:00:00,180 --> 01:00:02,550
We learned the hard way from COVID,

866
01:00:02,550 --> 01:00:05,130
being dependent on tourism
jobs when the border's closed.

867
01:00:05,130 --> 01:00:06,990
It was difficult for our community.

868
01:00:06,990 --> 01:00:09,720
So we want to make sure this is
going to be for good-paying jobs.

869
01:00:09,720 --> 01:00:11,370
That's why we bought that land.

870
01:00:11,370 --> 01:00:12,780
So you're good.

871
01:00:12,780 --> 01:00:14,830
Thank you very much. You can continue on.

872
01:00:16,170 --> 01:00:18,510
- I'm now going to move
outside of the urban area,

873
01:00:18,510 --> 01:00:22,440
the settlement area to our
rural and agricultural areas

874
01:00:22,440 --> 01:00:24,870
of which we have two
designations proposed.

875
01:00:24,870 --> 01:00:27,690
Again, the majority of
lands proposed to be

876
01:00:27,690 --> 01:00:30,090
designated prime agricultural.

877
01:00:30,090 --> 01:00:32,670
This should look very
familiar to followers

878
01:00:32,670 --> 01:00:35,610
of the regional official
plan process itself.

879
01:00:35,610 --> 01:00:37,320
These are the lands that provincial data

880
01:00:37,320 --> 01:00:38,550
and provincial studies suggest

881
01:00:38,550 --> 01:00:40,980
are of the highest capability,
the highest performance,

882
01:00:40,980 --> 01:00:43,050
the highest agricultural potential.

883
01:00:43,050 --> 01:00:47,520
They are limited to farming
and associated uses.

884
01:00:47,520 --> 01:00:48,750
There are potential processes

885
01:00:48,750 --> 01:00:50,820
to introduce agriculture related uses.

886
01:00:50,820 --> 01:00:52,080
Again, the grain elevators,

887
01:00:52,080 --> 01:00:54,720
some limited food production
as well on these sites.

888
01:00:54,720 --> 01:00:56,730
There are pretty detailed
provincial guidelines

889
01:00:56,730 --> 01:00:58,260
around how all of that can work.

890
01:00:58,260 --> 01:01:00,030
And typically all of it requires

891
01:01:00,030 --> 01:01:03,030
a process and an application to unlock.

892
01:01:03,030 --> 01:01:04,530
These are intended to be farmlands,

893
01:01:04,530 --> 01:01:07,260
and Our Niagara Falls Plan
continues to protect those farm,

894
01:01:07,260 --> 01:01:09,093
to protect that for farmland.

895
01:01:09,990 --> 01:01:11,490
There are a handful of sites

896
01:01:11,490 --> 01:01:14,073
that are proposed to be designated rural.

897
01:01:15,150 --> 01:01:17,530
Again, generally, once again, a part of

898
01:01:18,690 --> 01:01:20,490
the rural and agricultural framework,

899
01:01:20,490 --> 01:01:23,220
part of an overall agri-food system,

900
01:01:23,220 --> 01:01:26,040
but those lands generally do not meet

901
01:01:26,040 --> 01:01:29,100
that higher productivity standard.

902
01:01:29,100 --> 01:01:31,050
There may be additional uses

903
01:01:31,050 --> 01:01:32,457
that are potentially
permitted in this area,

904
01:01:32,457 --> 01:01:34,530
and that is what the
OuR Niagara Falls Plan

905
01:01:34,530 --> 01:01:36,420
proposes to recognize.

906
01:01:36,420 --> 01:01:39,020
Some of that additional
flexibility on some of those

907
01:01:40,800 --> 01:01:44,610
theoretically lower productivity,
lower protected lands.

908
01:01:44,610 --> 01:01:46,160
And again, limited to...

909
01:01:47,010 --> 01:01:48,715
I was about to say two sites, I think,

910
01:01:48,715 --> 01:01:51,315
and I think one of them has
a power plant on it, so.

911
01:01:53,700 --> 01:01:55,290
Another legacy designation

912
01:01:55,290 --> 01:01:57,750
is also proposed parkway residential.

913
01:01:57,750 --> 01:01:59,070
It exists today.

914
01:01:59,070 --> 01:02:00,780
Long story short, it's about recognizing

915
01:02:00,780 --> 01:02:02,220
that ribbon residential development

916
01:02:02,220 --> 01:02:04,083
along the Niagara Parkway itself.

917
01:02:05,820 --> 01:02:07,080
I am pleased to report

918
01:02:07,080 --> 01:02:10,320
I am over two thirds of
the way through the deck.

919
01:02:10,320 --> 01:02:13,863
We move into section six on
the Greenland system itself.

920
01:02:17,100 --> 01:02:20,190
Generally, this is a designation,

921
01:02:20,190 --> 01:02:22,470
a series of designations that transcend

922
01:02:22,470 --> 01:02:24,870
the settlement area, the
urban area boundary itself.

923
01:02:24,870 --> 01:02:27,360
We have those green spaces,
those natural features.

924
01:02:27,360 --> 01:02:29,040
Within Urban Niagara Falls itself,

925
01:02:29,040 --> 01:02:30,660
we have considerable opportunities

926
01:02:30,660 --> 01:02:32,430
within Urban Niagara Falls

927
01:02:32,430 --> 01:02:33,960
for enhancement of those systems

928
01:02:33,960 --> 01:02:37,350
and providing for additional
environmental functionality

929
01:02:37,350 --> 01:02:39,420
and flexibility and resiliency,

930
01:02:39,420 --> 01:02:40,890
and also a pretty significant

931
01:02:40,890 --> 01:02:43,620
and integrated network
within the rural area

932
01:02:43,620 --> 01:02:46,053
of those key features and functions.

933
01:02:47,400 --> 01:02:50,040
In here is where you find our designation,

934
01:02:50,040 --> 01:02:53,160
our parks and open spaces designation.

935
01:02:53,160 --> 01:02:55,530
Generally speaking, it permits parks.

936
01:02:55,530 --> 01:02:57,360
Also recognizing various trails

937
01:02:57,360 --> 01:03:00,030
and linear corridors within the city,

938
01:03:00,030 --> 01:03:01,260
with the intent of providing

939
01:03:01,260 --> 01:03:03,090
parks and recreation facilities,

940
01:03:03,090 --> 01:03:06,510
and a very significant
opportunity for enhancement,

941
01:03:06,510 --> 01:03:07,890
especially under city leadership,

942
01:03:07,890 --> 01:03:09,270
as last time I checked,

943
01:03:09,270 --> 01:03:11,973
the city is the owner of
the majority of these lands.

944
01:03:12,990 --> 01:03:14,310
We are providing a designation

945
01:03:14,310 --> 01:03:16,480
that recognizes Niagara Parks lands

946
01:03:17,670 --> 01:03:20,220
as you will all know.

947
01:03:20,220 --> 01:03:21,840
The Niagara Parks Commission is subject

948
01:03:21,840 --> 01:03:24,300
to its own legislative
legislative framework.

949
01:03:24,300 --> 01:03:25,890
It has its own powers and permissions

950
01:03:25,890 --> 01:03:27,780
over what it can do with its lands.

951
01:03:27,780 --> 01:03:30,630
We've heard consistently
as a consulting entity team

952
01:03:30,630 --> 01:03:32,760
since day one on this assignment,

953
01:03:32,760 --> 01:03:34,410
that the relationship between the city

954
01:03:34,410 --> 01:03:35,910
and the NPC is strong,

955
01:03:35,910 --> 01:03:37,113
and all we're trying to do is ensure

956
01:03:37,113 --> 01:03:40,080
that that is recognized
through this designation,

957
01:03:40,080 --> 01:03:42,450
understanding their
framework, their processes,

958
01:03:42,450 --> 01:03:44,340
and the importance of that collaborative,

959
01:03:44,340 --> 01:03:46,500
that collaborative work together.

960
01:03:46,500 --> 01:03:49,230
- Just on that point, so to clarify,

961
01:03:49,230 --> 01:03:50,760
what you're saying is
the city doesn't have

962
01:03:50,760 --> 01:03:53,280
planning authority over the
Niagara Parks Commission?

963
01:03:53,280 --> 01:03:54,506
- That's correct.

964
01:03:54,506 --> 01:03:55,339
- Okay.

965
01:03:56,520 --> 01:03:58,110
- Bingo.

966
01:03:58,110 --> 01:04:01,050
Next up is a single blob designation,

967
01:04:01,050 --> 01:04:05,370
but it has some very important
segmentation within it.

968
01:04:05,370 --> 01:04:07,260
We are proposing a single designation

969
01:04:07,260 --> 01:04:11,280
for the Niagara Escarpment Plan areas.

970
01:04:11,280 --> 01:04:14,430
The policy framework is very
simple, that is proposed.

971
01:04:14,430 --> 01:04:17,610
It's that the Niagara
Escarpment Plan applies.

972
01:04:17,610 --> 01:04:19,200
So under the Niagara Escarpment Plan,

973
01:04:19,200 --> 01:04:20,307
again, a provincial plan.

974
01:04:20,307 --> 01:04:24,063
The city decisions need to
be consistent with that plan.

975
01:04:25,020 --> 01:04:27,930
In trying to keep the text
of Our Niagara Falls Plan

976
01:04:27,930 --> 01:04:30,000
short, concise, and streamlined,

977
01:04:30,000 --> 01:04:33,090
we are very simply pointing to
the importance of that plan,

978
01:04:33,090 --> 01:04:36,600
and its myriad of designations
and protections within it,

979
01:04:36,600 --> 01:04:38,640
including limited urban policies

980
01:04:38,640 --> 01:04:39,900
all the way through to potentially

981
01:04:39,900 --> 01:04:42,960
some specialty crop
identification as well.

982
01:04:42,960 --> 01:04:44,430
It looks like one color.

983
01:04:44,430 --> 01:04:49,110
It's actually a very integrated
and complex policy framework

984
01:04:49,110 --> 01:04:50,883
under provincial direction.

985
01:04:55,450 --> 01:04:58,710
We're going to include, at
this point, our schedule 3-1,

986
01:04:58,710 --> 01:05:01,143
which is the Natural
Heritage System itself.

987
01:05:02,520 --> 01:05:04,740
The Natural Heritage System
is noted in the staff report.

988
01:05:04,740 --> 01:05:06,660
This all about recognizing those linkages

989
01:05:06,660 --> 01:05:09,570
between and among significant
natural heritage features,

990
01:05:09,570 --> 01:05:11,520
and there are areas along with

991
01:05:11,520 --> 01:05:13,470
a water resource system as well,

992
01:05:13,470 --> 01:05:15,840
and an agricultural system within that.

993
01:05:15,840 --> 01:05:17,580
All of it generally working together

994
01:05:17,580 --> 01:05:20,610
to provide for that overall approach

995
01:05:20,610 --> 01:05:23,790
to environmental planning
in municipalities.

996
01:05:23,790 --> 01:05:26,880
The policies that are
developed recognizing

997
01:05:26,880 --> 01:05:28,770
a significant shift in policy

998
01:05:28,770 --> 01:05:30,780
with the removal of the growth plan

999
01:05:30,780 --> 01:05:32,490
for the Greater Golden Horseshoe

1000
01:05:32,490 --> 01:05:35,673
that provided for a provincial
natural heritage system.

1001
01:05:38,430 --> 01:05:40,370
What is shown up onto this is,

1002
01:05:40,370 --> 01:05:43,650
it has been developed for
this assignment itself.

1003
01:05:43,650 --> 01:05:45,450
The policies that are in there

1004
01:05:45,450 --> 01:05:48,300
reflect the protections with...

1005
01:05:48,300 --> 01:05:49,830
Sorry, let me restart that.

1006
01:05:49,830 --> 01:05:51,900
The policies in here
reflect the protections

1007
01:05:51,900 --> 01:05:53,460
that are identified and required

1008
01:05:53,460 --> 01:05:55,510
within the provincial planning statement.

1009
01:05:56,550 --> 01:05:58,440
It also provides for additional components

1010
01:05:58,440 --> 01:06:00,720
that allow for some flexibility and study,

1011
01:06:00,720 --> 01:06:01,920
all of which are consistent

1012
01:06:01,920 --> 01:06:03,780
with the provincial planning definition

1013
01:06:03,780 --> 01:06:05,520
of a natural heritage system

1014
01:06:05,520 --> 01:06:07,920
and a municipality's ability

1015
01:06:07,920 --> 01:06:10,713
to provide for additional
protections where necessary.

1016
01:06:11,880 --> 01:06:13,860
Development within the policies.

1017
01:06:13,860 --> 01:06:15,930
The province has noted that
natural heritage features

1018
01:06:15,930 --> 01:06:17,910
must be appropriately protected

1019
01:06:17,910 --> 01:06:20,340
in accordance with the
provincial planning statement

1020
01:06:20,340 --> 01:06:22,083
and applicable plan policies.

1021
01:06:23,790 --> 01:06:25,560
City staff will acknowledge
that those policies

1022
01:06:25,560 --> 01:06:27,210
do go above and beyond,

1023
01:06:27,210 --> 01:06:29,463
as proposed, those minimum standards.

1024
01:06:32,550 --> 01:06:34,080
The province has recommended,

1025
01:06:34,080 --> 01:06:36,000
as noted in the staff report

1026
01:06:36,000 --> 01:06:38,650
that those features could
be identified as an overlay

1027
01:06:39,540 --> 01:06:41,190
with the point being that

1028
01:06:41,190 --> 01:06:42,570
some of the agricultural work

1029
01:06:42,570 --> 01:06:44,973
would show as the primary use of land.

1030
01:06:46,890 --> 01:06:49,050
It's been the consulting
team's advice to the city

1031
01:06:49,050 --> 01:06:50,883
in finalizing this content.

1032
01:06:52,440 --> 01:06:55,440
That would provide less
protection from development

1033
01:06:55,440 --> 01:06:57,183
based on experience elsewhere.

1034
01:06:58,110 --> 01:07:01,080
So we do continue to
recommend a core designation

1035
01:07:01,080 --> 01:07:04,410
that recognizes the significant
natural heritage features

1036
01:07:04,410 --> 01:07:06,060
that have those protections

1037
01:07:06,060 --> 01:07:08,550
built into provincial policy as well,

1038
01:07:08,550 --> 01:07:10,290
noting that development
and site alteration

1039
01:07:10,290 --> 01:07:13,980
is not permitted in a number
of those features as well,

1040
01:07:13,980 --> 01:07:16,920
or will require the relevant
environmental studies

1041
01:07:16,920 --> 01:07:19,200
in order to demonstrate
no negative impacts

1042
01:07:19,200 --> 01:07:20,613
on the features themselves.

1043
01:07:24,960 --> 01:07:25,950
- [Jim] Excuse me. I'm sorry.

1044
01:07:25,950 --> 01:07:28,320
We have a question, Councilor Patel.

1045
01:07:28,320 --> 01:07:29,370
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1046
01:07:29,370 --> 01:07:30,203
I have a question.

1047
01:07:30,203 --> 01:07:31,473
When you say provincial,

1048
01:07:32,340 --> 01:07:34,628
those are basically provincial wetlands

1049
01:07:34,628 --> 01:07:37,833
that we're protecting, the
heritage of the system.

1050
01:07:37,833 --> 01:07:39,353
Are we going above and beyond?

1051
01:07:39,353 --> 01:07:43,800
Are we adding more protection
than what province requires

1052
01:07:43,800 --> 01:07:45,303
in this official plan?

1053
01:07:46,860 --> 01:07:48,699
- Through Your Worship,

1054
01:07:48,699 --> 01:07:53,678
I'm going to refer that question to staff.

1055
01:07:53,678 --> 01:07:54,916
- Ms. Goerz?

1056
01:07:54,916 --> 01:07:56,130
- Through the Mayor.

1057
01:07:56,130 --> 01:07:58,127
So we do have kind of two components

1058
01:07:58,127 --> 01:07:59,880
of the natural heritage system.

1059
01:07:59,880 --> 01:08:02,190
So the first piece is the significant

1060
01:08:02,190 --> 01:08:04,590
natural heritage features designation.

1061
01:08:04,590 --> 01:08:06,330
That reflects what's included

1062
01:08:06,330 --> 01:08:08,160
in the provincial planning statement.

1063
01:08:08,160 --> 01:08:11,913
Then we have the kind of
other component overlay,

1064
01:08:12,951 --> 01:08:13,784
and that is

1065
01:08:17,790 --> 01:08:19,920
In addition to the features identified

1066
01:08:19,920 --> 01:08:21,480
in the provincial planning statement,

1067
01:08:21,480 --> 01:08:24,720
However, the provincial
planning statement does,

1068
01:08:24,720 --> 01:08:27,360
in the definition of a
natural heritage system,

1069
01:08:27,360 --> 01:08:30,330
refer to linkages, buffers,

1070
01:08:30,330 --> 01:08:33,150
kind of other components
that can be included.

1071
01:08:33,150 --> 01:08:38,150
And then it does refer to
municipal approaches that

1072
01:08:38,640 --> 01:08:41,460
achieve or exceed the same
objectives can be applied.

1073
01:08:41,460 --> 01:08:45,750
So we have taken kind of a hybrid approach

1074
01:08:45,750 --> 01:08:47,970
between the provincial planning statement

1075
01:08:47,970 --> 01:08:50,760
and the region's official plan,

1076
01:08:50,760 --> 01:08:55,440
and have taken some of these
kind of other components

1077
01:08:55,440 --> 01:08:58,050
and provided some flexibility for them

1078
01:08:58,050 --> 01:09:00,660
to allow for compensation opportunities,

1079
01:09:00,660 --> 01:09:02,463
which wasn't previously provided.

1080
01:09:05,130 --> 01:09:05,963
- Thank you.

1081
01:09:07,500 --> 01:09:09,150
- I think that does a great job on

1082
01:09:09,150 --> 01:09:11,640
this particular slide as well.

1083
01:09:11,640 --> 01:09:12,960
85% of the way through,

1084
01:09:12,960 --> 01:09:15,060
we're almost there onto section seven

1085
01:09:15,060 --> 01:09:16,290
the necessary policies

1086
01:09:16,290 --> 01:09:17,700
with respect to transportation

1087
01:09:17,700 --> 01:09:20,580
and overall municipal infrastructure.

1088
01:09:20,580 --> 01:09:23,430
It will be important for
Our Niagara Falls Plan,

1089
01:09:23,430 --> 01:09:24,540
as in every municipality,

1090
01:09:24,540 --> 01:09:29,310
to ensure that the road network
is detailed and identified.

1091
01:09:29,310 --> 01:09:32,160
That plan itself includes
the various road allowance

1092
01:09:32,160 --> 01:09:33,840
with site triangle requirements

1093
01:09:33,840 --> 01:09:37,770
and corridor design
policies that overall guide

1094
01:09:37,770 --> 01:09:39,690
individual development
proposals themselves

1095
01:09:39,690 --> 01:09:41,517
in the city's own master planning

1096
01:09:41,517 --> 01:09:43,893
and infrastructure design exercises.

1097
01:09:45,060 --> 01:09:48,373
This schedule five on the
road network itself identifies

1098
01:09:48,373 --> 01:09:50,730
and aligns with your recently approved

1099
01:09:50,730 --> 01:09:52,560
transportation master plan.

1100
01:09:52,560 --> 01:09:55,060
And staff on the two projects

1101
01:09:56,040 --> 01:09:58,290
have been in consistent contact throughout

1102
01:09:58,290 --> 01:10:01,170
at least the work that
I'm talking about today.

1103
01:10:01,170 --> 01:10:03,630
The province has also recommended

1104
01:10:03,630 --> 01:10:07,050
the identification of
goods movement corridors

1105
01:10:07,050 --> 01:10:09,930
which is a term that does
exist in provincial policy.

1106
01:10:09,930 --> 01:10:13,320
Generally speaking,
those are your highways.

1107
01:10:13,320 --> 01:10:16,050
There are text-based recognitions
for additional corridors

1108
01:10:16,050 --> 01:10:17,730
where the movement of goods,

1109
01:10:17,730 --> 01:10:19,920
open bracket, freight, closed bracket,

1110
01:10:19,920 --> 01:10:22,420
is a particularly important
function of the route.

1111
01:10:24,240 --> 01:10:28,170
Again, pointing out that when
it comes to overall design

1112
01:10:28,170 --> 01:10:30,350
the plan for roads within this city

1113
01:10:30,350 --> 01:10:32,070
is on a modified grid pattern.

1114
01:10:32,070 --> 01:10:33,090
We generally like our grids.

1115
01:10:33,090 --> 01:10:34,590
It requires movement, flexibility.

1116
01:10:34,590 --> 01:10:36,690
We totally understand that.

1117
01:10:36,690 --> 01:10:39,600
There is a hierarchy that is
identified within the maps

1118
01:10:39,600 --> 01:10:40,710
and the policies as well,

1119
01:10:40,710 --> 01:10:43,470
all depending on the planned
function of that corridor

1120
01:10:43,470 --> 01:10:45,600
from your international grid crossings

1121
01:10:45,600 --> 01:10:47,280
all the way down through to

1122
01:10:47,280 --> 01:10:48,930
those private individual roads

1123
01:10:48,930 --> 01:10:50,610
associated with common
element development.

1124
01:10:50,610 --> 01:10:52,290
There are those few oddball lane ways

1125
01:10:52,290 --> 01:10:54,440
that do continue to
exist in the community.

1126
01:10:56,130 --> 01:10:59,250
All this to say the relevant
policies that staff require

1127
01:10:59,250 --> 01:11:01,500
to implement the
transportation master plan

1128
01:11:01,500 --> 01:11:03,120
are included in this document,

1129
01:11:03,120 --> 01:11:05,070
and we provide appropriate reference

1130
01:11:05,070 --> 01:11:07,740
and deference to the
transportation master plan.

1131
01:11:07,740 --> 01:11:10,500
So it will be assessed
through those reviews as well.

1132
01:11:10,500 --> 01:11:12,660
And these sections also do include

1133
01:11:12,660 --> 01:11:15,360
the relevant transportation
demand management policies

1134
01:11:15,360 --> 01:11:17,280
in order to unlock and future-proof

1135
01:11:17,280 --> 01:11:20,073
a variety of potential city
programs that may help to,

1136
01:11:21,336 --> 01:11:23,080
including its hierarchy around

1137
01:11:24,510 --> 01:11:27,570
spines and its various
ownership functions,

1138
01:11:27,570 --> 01:11:29,850
connectors and local routes,

1139
01:11:29,850 --> 01:11:33,510
as well as a significant
rural network itself as well,

1140
01:11:33,510 --> 01:11:35,670
and incorporating and recognizing

1141
01:11:35,670 --> 01:11:40,210
those site-specific or
area-specific plans and networks

1142
01:11:41,835 --> 01:11:44,190
that already exist in your policies.

1143
01:11:44,190 --> 01:11:46,590
Generally speaking, the
policy framework that exists,

1144
01:11:46,590 --> 01:11:48,510
and once again, providing
the appropriate deference

1145
01:11:48,510 --> 01:11:51,270
and incorporation to
that master plan itself,

1146
01:11:51,270 --> 01:11:54,180
this is all about integrating
active transportation

1147
01:11:54,180 --> 01:11:56,610
within those developments,
within the community,

1148
01:11:56,610 --> 01:12:00,330
between communities, between
adjacent communities.

1149
01:12:00,330 --> 01:12:02,930
Ensuring that the designs
of those corridors is done

1150
01:12:03,912 --> 01:12:05,040
in a safe function,

1151
01:12:05,040 --> 01:12:06,780
in a multi-use function as well

1152
01:12:06,780 --> 01:12:09,450
with a comprehensive
sidewalk network itself.

1153
01:12:09,450 --> 01:12:10,860
Noting of course that the continued

1154
01:12:10,860 --> 01:12:12,900
long-term implementation of that,

1155
01:12:12,900 --> 01:12:16,050
be it through donation,
dedication, or direct purpose,

1156
01:12:16,050 --> 01:12:19,290
remains an ongoing and always task

1157
01:12:19,290 --> 01:12:20,880
when staff are doing its work.

1158
01:12:20,880 --> 01:12:22,830
And council does its work

1159
01:12:22,830 --> 01:12:24,600
through the various review of these plans,

1160
01:12:24,600 --> 01:12:26,490
infrastructure designs, budgets,

1161
01:12:26,490 --> 01:12:28,563
and development applications themselves.

1162
01:12:30,570 --> 01:12:33,060
We also provide for, in
Our Niagara Falls Plan,

1163
01:12:33,060 --> 01:12:34,890
a fairly robust section eight

1164
01:12:34,890 --> 01:12:36,690
with respect to implementation.

1165
01:12:36,690 --> 01:12:38,250
It's generally required text

1166
01:12:38,250 --> 01:12:40,590
that implements and
unlocks a variety of tools

1167
01:12:40,590 --> 01:12:44,793
to deliver on a land use planning
vision in a municipality.

1168
01:12:45,870 --> 01:12:47,430
This includes the baseline recognition

1169
01:12:47,430 --> 01:12:48,720
of things like zoning bylaws

1170
01:12:48,720 --> 01:12:50,010
and temporary use bylaws

1171
01:12:50,010 --> 01:12:51,750
and community improvement plans,

1172
01:12:51,750 --> 01:12:53,130
but also some new,

1173
01:12:53,130 --> 01:12:54,180
I'm about to say new tools,

1174
01:12:54,180 --> 01:12:56,130
some other alternative tools

1175
01:12:56,130 --> 01:12:58,600
that can help to implement
an overall vision

1176
01:13:00,270 --> 01:13:01,340
of which I'm going to
have a little bit more

1177
01:13:01,340 --> 01:13:02,733
in a couple of slides.

1178
01:13:05,550 --> 01:13:08,550
One of those items is a
comprehensive development plan.

1179
01:13:08,550 --> 01:13:10,293
These would be areas where,

1180
01:13:12,450 --> 01:13:16,080
in a few particular
areas, generally speaking,

1181
01:13:16,080 --> 01:13:17,850
that is a single document that provides

1182
01:13:17,850 --> 01:13:20,520
for an overall vision
spanning multiple properties

1183
01:13:20,520 --> 01:13:21,993
or multiple geographies.

1184
01:13:23,250 --> 01:13:25,980
When it comes to a settlement
area boundary expansion,

1185
01:13:25,980 --> 01:13:28,930
the threshold that is
proposed is 50 hectares

1186
01:13:29,850 --> 01:13:32,550
with the point being that
slightly increased standards

1187
01:13:34,650 --> 01:13:37,110
would help account for
non-developable lands

1188
01:13:37,110 --> 01:13:39,720
and will allow for some
additional municipal flexibility

1189
01:13:39,720 --> 01:13:42,120
and discretion in terms
of applying that tool

1190
01:13:42,120 --> 01:13:43,860
should those proposals come forward

1191
01:13:43,860 --> 01:13:46,233
as is landowners right now in Ontario.

1192
01:13:48,600 --> 01:13:50,583
Notwithstanding that threshold itself,

1193
01:13:51,482 --> 01:13:52,320
it will still be...

1194
01:13:52,320 --> 01:13:54,240
Even with that, it is
anticipated and proposed

1195
01:13:54,240 --> 01:13:56,550
to be required for all boundary expansions

1196
01:13:56,550 --> 01:13:58,530
to ensure that we're providing for that,

1197
01:13:58,530 --> 01:14:00,990
the city is providing
for that compatibility

1198
01:14:00,990 --> 01:14:03,873
and land use permissions
and built form itself.

1199
01:14:05,190 --> 01:14:07,320
We do also provide for
a baseline recognition

1200
01:14:07,320 --> 01:14:09,900
of secondary plans themselves.

1201
01:14:09,900 --> 01:14:12,960
I have a little bit more on
that in a couple of slides.

1202
01:14:12,960 --> 01:14:13,920
We are also providing

1203
01:14:13,920 --> 01:14:16,260
for a comprehensive
development plan functionality

1204
01:14:16,260 --> 01:14:18,090
within the settlement area itself

1205
01:14:18,090 --> 01:14:20,520
proposed on select sites only

1206
01:14:20,520 --> 01:14:22,590
where we have parcel fragmentation today.

1207
01:14:22,590 --> 01:14:24,420
And if redevelopment was to occur,

1208
01:14:24,420 --> 01:14:26,130
there should be increased consideration

1209
01:14:26,130 --> 01:14:27,780
of what's happening on the lots next door

1210
01:14:27,780 --> 01:14:30,450
to ensure that the whole of its totality

1211
01:14:30,450 --> 01:14:31,710
can eventually be redeveloped

1212
01:14:31,710 --> 01:14:33,780
and not necessarily free somebody out

1213
01:14:33,780 --> 01:14:36,000
in an inefficient fashion,

1214
01:14:36,000 --> 01:14:38,950
which would run counter to
provincial interests and policy.

1215
01:14:45,570 --> 01:14:48,240
One of the changes that
is in this draft from,

1216
01:14:48,240 --> 01:14:50,850
that's evolved throughout the
draft as well is a recognition

1217
01:14:50,850 --> 01:14:54,030
to allow some existing land
uses within those areas

1218
01:14:54,030 --> 01:14:55,593
for that tool that is proposed.

1219
01:14:58,320 --> 01:15:00,810
I'm sorry. I misspoke.

1220
01:15:00,810 --> 01:15:02,700
So we've actually received a request

1221
01:15:02,700 --> 01:15:04,680
to allow for some existing uses

1222
01:15:04,680 --> 01:15:06,657
within those particular areas themselves.

1223
01:15:06,657 --> 01:15:08,370
And the recommendation from staff

1224
01:15:08,370 --> 01:15:10,680
is to not support that request

1225
01:15:10,680 --> 01:15:12,060
noting that there would need to be

1226
01:15:12,060 --> 01:15:13,530
some very clear expectations

1227
01:15:13,530 --> 01:15:15,600
around what that scale of
expansion could look like

1228
01:15:15,600 --> 01:15:17,593
and wanting to provide some

1229
01:15:17,593 --> 01:15:19,110
very direct clarity and certainty

1230
01:15:19,110 --> 01:15:20,790
with the process going forward,

1231
01:15:20,790 --> 01:15:22,590
which is for a comprehensive vision

1232
01:15:22,590 --> 01:15:24,963
for those sites in those areas.

1233
01:15:27,900 --> 01:15:30,030
We were anticipating some questions today

1234
01:15:30,030 --> 01:15:31,860
with respect to a study requirements

1235
01:15:31,860 --> 01:15:33,660
for complete applications.

1236
01:15:33,660 --> 01:15:34,923
We note that through Bill 98,

1237
01:15:34,923 --> 01:15:37,140
that the province is proposing

1238
01:15:37,140 --> 01:15:39,330
some changes that would standardize

1239
01:15:39,330 --> 01:15:41,250
the request for what could be requested

1240
01:15:41,250 --> 01:15:45,390
as part of complete
applications in the province.

1241
01:15:45,390 --> 01:15:48,813
We continue to wait upon what
that happens to look like.

1242
01:15:50,490 --> 01:15:52,410
There are some current local requirements

1243
01:15:52,410 --> 01:15:53,670
that don't appear captured

1244
01:15:53,670 --> 01:15:55,440
in the draft consultation materials

1245
01:15:55,440 --> 01:15:56,850
that have been released by the province,

1246
01:15:56,850 --> 01:15:59,640
and I trust that staff is
doing what they need to do

1247
01:15:59,640 --> 01:16:01,680
both here and in other municipalities

1248
01:16:01,680 --> 01:16:02,850
to ensure that that feedback

1249
01:16:02,850 --> 01:16:05,610
is being reflected in the provincial work.

1250
01:16:05,610 --> 01:16:08,790
Because that work is not yet finalized,

1251
01:16:08,790 --> 01:16:10,230
it will be very important that

1252
01:16:10,230 --> 01:16:12,150
Our Niagara Falls Plan includes

1253
01:16:12,150 --> 01:16:13,983
policy direction in this regard.

1254
01:16:15,000 --> 01:16:18,690
The provincial expectation is
that it doesn't add new items.

1255
01:16:18,690 --> 01:16:21,030
And in receiving provincial comments,

1256
01:16:21,030 --> 01:16:23,100
they did ask for a couple of new items.

1257
01:16:23,100 --> 01:16:26,280
So, on one hand, don't do new stuff.

1258
01:16:26,280 --> 01:16:29,130
On the other hand, we think
they should do two new things.

1259
01:16:29,130 --> 01:16:29,963
Don't worry about it.

1260
01:16:29,963 --> 01:16:30,870
Staff and the consulting team

1261
01:16:30,870 --> 01:16:33,192
will take care of navigating that

1262
01:16:33,192 --> 01:16:34,863
through the finalization process.

1263
01:16:36,000 --> 01:16:38,280
So that brings us to the
end of the first part

1264
01:16:38,280 --> 01:16:39,923
of Our Niagara Falls Plan.

1265
01:16:39,923 --> 01:16:41,760
There is a second part that is proposed,

1266
01:16:41,760 --> 01:16:44,010
which would contain the detailed policies

1267
01:16:44,010 --> 01:16:47,730
for specific areas or on
a site-specific basis.

1268
01:16:47,730 --> 01:16:50,100
Despite any and all land use planner's

1269
01:16:50,100 --> 01:16:51,540
best attempt to try and get rid of

1270
01:16:51,540 --> 01:16:53,460
as much of that old stuff as is possible,

1271
01:16:53,460 --> 01:16:55,920
sometimes it's just not entirely the case

1272
01:16:55,920 --> 01:16:56,753
that it can be done.

1273
01:16:56,753 --> 01:16:59,040
And so schedule four consolidates

1274
01:16:59,040 --> 01:17:00,840
all of those individual areas

1275
01:17:00,840 --> 01:17:04,143
into a single location
for ease of reference,

1276
01:17:05,490 --> 01:17:07,590
of which we have a few recognitions.

1277
01:17:07,590 --> 01:17:12,480
One of those remains the
existing secondary plans,

1278
01:17:12,480 --> 01:17:15,303
which are proposed to be
rebranded as area plans.

1279
01:17:16,590 --> 01:17:18,930
The general summary is
that if those policies

1280
01:17:18,930 --> 01:17:20,580
within the existing secondary plans

1281
01:17:20,580 --> 01:17:22,200
are already captured or otherwise

1282
01:17:22,200 --> 01:17:24,975
better reflected in the
main heft of part one

1283
01:17:24,975 --> 01:17:27,030
that I've already gone through
in this presentation today,

1284
01:17:27,030 --> 01:17:30,660
it doesn't need to be repeated
in this second part itself.

1285
01:17:30,660 --> 01:17:33,060
The end result is that
the extent of the text

1286
01:17:33,060 --> 01:17:34,500
that's necessary to continue

1287
01:17:34,500 --> 01:17:36,990
to implement existing secondary plans

1288
01:17:36,990 --> 01:17:38,190
can become a lot smaller

1289
01:17:38,190 --> 01:17:40,860
as staff can rely on
the main official plan

1290
01:17:40,860 --> 01:17:44,133
to provide the overall policy
analysis and heft there.

1291
01:17:45,780 --> 01:17:47,940
Some of those existing,

1292
01:17:47,940 --> 01:17:50,640
those community development plan areas

1293
01:17:50,640 --> 01:17:53,730
that I spoke about in an urban
context are shown in green,

1294
01:17:53,730 --> 01:17:56,553
and they are identified
in the text as well.

1295
01:17:57,450 --> 01:17:59,190
The individual one-offs

1296
01:17:59,190 --> 01:18:00,510
on those site-specific basis

1297
01:18:00,510 --> 01:18:02,370
are identified by an individual number

1298
01:18:02,370 --> 01:18:05,850
and are captured in a part
within the main policy

1299
01:18:05,850 --> 01:18:08,760
within the main text of part two itself

1300
01:18:08,760 --> 01:18:10,560
noting that we're able to streamline away

1301
01:18:10,560 --> 01:18:12,960
a number of those site
specific policies today

1302
01:18:12,960 --> 01:18:14,903
because the developments
have already been built

1303
01:18:14,903 --> 01:18:16,440
and are otherwise captured

1304
01:18:16,440 --> 01:18:19,350
and reflected through
existing permissions.

1305
01:18:19,350 --> 01:18:21,420
With respect to ministerial zoning orders,

1306
01:18:21,420 --> 01:18:24,060
we merely recognize and
acknowledge their existence.

1307
01:18:24,060 --> 01:18:25,950
Those provincial approvals
that have been granted

1308
01:18:25,950 --> 01:18:28,923
are outside of the city's
purview at this time.

1309
01:18:32,299 --> 01:18:33,300
And there is not much that we can do

1310
01:18:33,300 --> 01:18:36,180
about the existence of
those provincial approvals,

1311
01:18:36,180 --> 01:18:38,340
noting that the city was
also active participants

1312
01:18:38,340 --> 01:18:40,383
in the process for both of those.

1313
01:18:42,600 --> 01:18:44,400
We also provide for a home in this section

1314
01:18:44,400 --> 01:18:45,960
for future secondary plans

1315
01:18:45,960 --> 01:18:48,450
and reiterating one of
my points earlier on.

1316
01:18:48,450 --> 01:18:51,210
Those separate processes
and land use planning issues

1317
01:18:51,210 --> 01:18:55,440
with respect to those process,
those geographic areas

1318
01:18:55,440 --> 01:18:57,960
are being handled through
those processes themselves

1319
01:18:57,960 --> 01:19:00,420
and will come before council for decisions

1320
01:19:00,420 --> 01:19:02,570
through those project
workflows themselves.

1321
01:19:04,650 --> 01:19:07,020
No official plan would be complete without

1322
01:19:07,020 --> 01:19:09,150
a series of maps,

1323
01:19:09,150 --> 01:19:12,360
and we also have some
appendices tied to them as well.

1324
01:19:12,360 --> 01:19:17,010
A schedule fancy talk
for map or detailed text.

1325
01:19:17,010 --> 01:19:18,630
Those are statutory elements.

1326
01:19:18,630 --> 01:19:19,620
They are operative.

1327
01:19:19,620 --> 01:19:21,340
They're heavily relied upon

1328
01:19:22,230 --> 01:19:25,620
in order to provide for
the interpretive route to,

1329
01:19:25,620 --> 01:19:28,530
the interpretive route to
implement Our Niagara Falls Plan

1330
01:19:28,530 --> 01:19:31,710
and the current city official
plan for that matter.

1331
01:19:31,710 --> 01:19:34,050
I believe almost every
single one of those maps

1332
01:19:34,050 --> 01:19:36,483
found their way into the slide deck today.

1333
01:19:37,590 --> 01:19:40,290
And we also can propose
including some appendices

1334
01:19:40,290 --> 01:19:43,650
which are designed to be
non-statutory elements

1335
01:19:43,650 --> 01:19:46,530
that provides for some
flexibility downstream

1336
01:19:46,530 --> 01:19:48,810
for providing updates and edits.

1337
01:19:48,810 --> 01:19:50,220
They are generally here to support

1338
01:19:50,220 --> 01:19:52,050
or explain the intent of policies

1339
01:19:52,050 --> 01:19:53,880
with some additional criteria,

1340
01:19:53,880 --> 01:19:56,250
those additional criteria
that may come forward.

1341
01:19:56,250 --> 01:19:59,100
This includes definitions,

1342
01:19:59,100 --> 01:20:01,350
the location of natural hazard themselves,

1343
01:20:01,350 --> 01:20:02,760
the criteria that are associated

1344
01:20:02,760 --> 01:20:04,500
with the natural heritage features,

1345
01:20:04,500 --> 01:20:06,330
a cultural heritage resources map,

1346
01:20:06,330 --> 01:20:08,370
design guidelines from a variety

1347
01:20:08,370 --> 01:20:10,650
of existing geographic areas,

1348
01:20:10,650 --> 01:20:12,510
proposed infrastructure capacity,

1349
01:20:12,510 --> 01:20:13,740
allocation protocol,

1350
01:20:13,740 --> 01:20:16,020
and an illustration of the application

1351
01:20:16,020 --> 01:20:18,513
of building height
policies across the city.

1352
01:20:19,980 --> 01:20:22,710
And we did it, 61 of 61.

1353
01:20:22,710 --> 01:20:24,460
So in terms of next steps

1354
01:20:25,740 --> 01:20:29,640
in completing the official
plan project itself,

1355
01:20:29,640 --> 01:20:31,260
you've heard from staff that it

1356
01:20:31,260 --> 01:20:32,760
remains the intent to bring forward

1357
01:20:32,760 --> 01:20:35,973
a recommendation report
to an August 11th meeting.

1358
01:20:37,200 --> 01:20:39,990
The recommendation would be
for council to adopt that plan

1359
01:20:39,990 --> 01:20:43,260
and some various incidentals
associated with it.

1360
01:20:43,260 --> 01:20:45,030
What happens there is

1361
01:20:45,030 --> 01:20:47,940
a little bit of back of house
paperwork and administration

1362
01:20:47,940 --> 01:20:49,740
that are done by staff
and the consulting team

1363
01:20:49,740 --> 01:20:52,467
to bundle up the Our Niagara Falls Plan

1364
01:20:52,467 --> 01:20:56,703
and the project record off to
the province for its approval.

1365
01:20:58,548 --> 01:21:01,320
As noted in the
introduction by Ms. Corbett,

1366
01:21:01,320 --> 01:21:03,060
one of the changes in
provincial legislation

1367
01:21:03,060 --> 01:21:04,680
is that our Niagara Falls Plan

1368
01:21:04,680 --> 01:21:07,320
will go to the province for its approval.

1369
01:21:07,320 --> 01:21:10,380
It does not go to the region
of Niagara any longer.

1370
01:21:10,380 --> 01:21:12,603
They do not have planning
responsibilities.

1371
01:21:13,590 --> 01:21:15,390
Upon that provincial approval,

1372
01:21:15,390 --> 01:21:17,430
the existing city official plan

1373
01:21:17,430 --> 01:21:19,200
and the regional plan as it exists

1374
01:21:19,200 --> 01:21:20,550
and applies within the city of Niagara,

1375
01:21:20,550 --> 01:21:22,320
would it be officially rescinded?

1376
01:21:22,320 --> 01:21:25,380
And there is one official
plan going forward.

1377
01:21:25,380 --> 01:21:28,983
So thank you for letting me
walk you through this document.

1378
01:21:29,970 --> 01:21:31,740
I turn it back to Your Worship

1379
01:21:31,740 --> 01:21:33,660
for any questions you
may have of the team.

1380
01:21:33,660 --> 01:21:35,280
- Thank you, Mr. Nethery, appreciate that.

1381
01:21:35,280 --> 01:21:37,720
So I've got Councilor
Lococo then Pietrangelo

1382
01:21:39,030 --> 01:21:39,900
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1383
01:21:39,900 --> 01:21:41,050
Thank you, Mr. Nethery.

1384
01:21:42,240 --> 01:21:45,720
I do have some questions based
on the actual official plan.

1385
01:21:45,720 --> 01:21:48,420
I prepared that before this
presentation was put on,

1386
01:21:48,420 --> 01:21:50,673
so I have some very specific questions.

1387
01:21:51,600 --> 01:21:54,030
Regarding the phasing
in the official plan,

1388
01:21:54,030 --> 01:21:56,490
it says that there's a time limit

1389
01:21:56,490 --> 01:21:58,290
for approvals that the city

1390
01:21:58,290 --> 01:22:00,750
can manage our infrastructure allocation.

1391
01:22:00,750 --> 01:22:01,980
I have spoke with staff,

1392
01:22:01,980 --> 01:22:03,823
but these are some comments that

1393
01:22:03,823 --> 01:22:05,880
I would like put in the public meeting

1394
01:22:05,880 --> 01:22:07,740
because people are asking about them.

1395
01:22:07,740 --> 01:22:10,020
So if a developer is not on track

1396
01:22:10,020 --> 01:22:12,720
and the city removes the allocation

1397
01:22:12,720 --> 01:22:15,570
for the infrastructure that we
were going to work with them,

1398
01:22:15,570 --> 01:22:19,050
is there any liability towards the city

1399
01:22:19,050 --> 01:22:20,530
or is there any

1400
01:22:23,310 --> 01:22:26,760
effect on the budget that
might affect the taxpayers

1401
01:22:26,760 --> 01:22:30,363
if we are allowed to remove
infrastructure allocation?

1402
01:22:31,440 --> 01:22:32,273
- So I don't know.

1403
01:22:32,273 --> 01:22:33,320
We'll go to Ms. Dolch.

1404
01:22:34,410 --> 01:22:35,640
- Thank you, Your Worship.

1405
01:22:35,640 --> 01:22:38,730
So the infrastructure allocation

1406
01:22:38,730 --> 01:22:41,070
there's obviously a specific policy.

1407
01:22:41,070 --> 01:22:43,020
And it provides general guidance

1408
01:22:43,020 --> 01:22:46,140
if you're out of phase
or things like that.

1409
01:22:46,140 --> 01:22:48,270
And the reason we do that is because,

1410
01:22:48,270 --> 01:22:50,130
obviously, as we prepare

1411
01:22:50,130 --> 01:22:52,200
our development charge background study

1412
01:22:52,200 --> 01:22:54,750
and all the other things that feed into

1413
01:22:54,750 --> 01:22:57,090
how we're going to proceed with servicing,

1414
01:22:57,090 --> 01:22:58,830
it kind of lays out the path

1415
01:22:58,830 --> 01:23:00,480
and where we're going to go next.

1416
01:23:00,480 --> 01:23:03,543
And we want to make sure with
this allocation policy that,

1417
01:23:05,370 --> 01:23:08,970
if there's some commitment or,
sorry, in the phasing policy,

1418
01:23:08,970 --> 01:23:12,120
if there's some commitment for phasing,

1419
01:23:12,120 --> 01:23:13,080
we want to understand.

1420
01:23:13,080 --> 01:23:14,970
It's based on the DC schedule.

1421
01:23:14,970 --> 01:23:19,440
We can modify and Mr.
Nickel can attest this.

1422
01:23:19,440 --> 01:23:21,480
Projects move around all the time,

1423
01:23:21,480 --> 01:23:24,390
depending on who's coming
in, what's happening,

1424
01:23:24,390 --> 01:23:26,100
who comes first, who comes second.

1425
01:23:26,100 --> 01:23:28,020
But we always have to
keep in mind that budget.

1426
01:23:28,020 --> 01:23:29,910
So I don't think there's any liability.

1427
01:23:29,910 --> 01:23:32,070
It's just making sure that

1428
01:23:32,070 --> 01:23:33,750
if you're going to go out of phase,

1429
01:23:33,750 --> 01:23:34,830
how's it going to be done?

1430
01:23:34,830 --> 01:23:36,030
Who's going to fund it?

1431
01:23:36,030 --> 01:23:37,080
Where's the money coming from?

1432
01:23:37,080 --> 01:23:39,510
All those things that we need to look for

1433
01:23:39,510 --> 01:23:41,100
have to be considered.

1434
01:23:41,100 --> 01:23:42,050
- Great. Thank you.

1435
01:23:43,110 --> 01:23:44,640
A lot of people are concerned

1436
01:23:44,640 --> 01:23:46,650
where vacation rental units are.

1437
01:23:46,650 --> 01:23:49,440
In the past, we've had them
in commercial designations.

1438
01:23:49,440 --> 01:23:51,060
And now under this official plan,

1439
01:23:51,060 --> 01:23:53,010
they've been moved to mixed-use 2,

1440
01:23:53,010 --> 01:23:54,220
Queen Street downtown mixed-use

1441
01:23:54,220 --> 01:23:57,180
in an entertainment district.

1442
01:23:57,180 --> 01:23:59,970
I have talked with staff
about providing a map,

1443
01:23:59,970 --> 01:24:02,460
what commercial designation was before,

1444
01:24:02,460 --> 01:24:04,860
and what the three new designations are.

1445
01:24:04,860 --> 01:24:07,200
People are wondering if
there's more opportunities

1446
01:24:07,200 --> 01:24:08,610
for vacation rentals.

1447
01:24:08,610 --> 01:24:11,790
So if we can have that at
our next meeting or before,

1448
01:24:11,790 --> 01:24:14,220
that would be very much appreciated.

1449
01:24:14,220 --> 01:24:15,060
- [Jim] Did you want to deal with that?

1450
01:24:15,060 --> 01:24:15,930
Yeah.

1451
01:24:15,930 --> 01:24:17,033
- Thank you, Your Worship.

1452
01:24:17,033 --> 01:24:18,660
Yes, we can work on that.

1453
01:24:18,660 --> 01:24:20,190
It takes us a little bit of time.

1454
01:24:20,190 --> 01:24:22,590
We do have, just for people's awareness,

1455
01:24:22,590 --> 01:24:25,710
on our website, on our Let's Talk page,

1456
01:24:25,710 --> 01:24:26,670
the slider tool,

1457
01:24:26,670 --> 01:24:30,150
which shows you what it was
before and what it is now.

1458
01:24:30,150 --> 01:24:32,460
So a great example is the mixed-use 2.

1459
01:24:32,460 --> 01:24:36,630
There is more mixed-use 2
on our new official plan

1460
01:24:36,630 --> 01:24:39,900
versus what was in
tourist commercial before.

1461
01:24:39,900 --> 01:24:42,120
They may have been residential
before, now mixed-use 2.

1462
01:24:42,120 --> 01:24:47,120
So you'll see some additional
lands added for VRUs for sure.

1463
01:24:47,610 --> 01:24:49,617
- That might be good for
some people who want VRUs,

1464
01:24:49,617 --> 01:24:50,970
and that might not be good

1465
01:24:50,970 --> 01:24:53,130
for people who don't
want the VRUs next door.

1466
01:24:53,130 --> 01:24:53,963
Thank you.

1467
01:24:56,370 --> 01:24:59,070
In the housing, it talks about innovative

1468
01:24:59,070 --> 01:25:00,630
housing types and tenures,

1469
01:25:00,630 --> 01:25:03,840
co-housing, communal
housing, life lease housing.

1470
01:25:03,840 --> 01:25:07,410
Would this include things like
container homes, tiny homes?

1471
01:25:07,410 --> 01:25:10,410
And could you please
explain what co-housing is

1472
01:25:10,410 --> 01:25:12,180
and what plans do we have for this?

1473
01:25:12,180 --> 01:25:13,800
I've already talked to Ms. Dolch about it,

1474
01:25:13,800 --> 01:25:16,743
but I don't know who would
like to speak to this.

1475
01:25:19,860 --> 01:25:21,213
- Giving Joe a break.

1476
01:25:22,500 --> 01:25:24,810
I'll take this one on a little bit.

1477
01:25:24,810 --> 01:25:27,240
Innovative forms of housing are

1478
01:25:27,240 --> 01:25:30,120
focused kind of mostly on tenure,

1479
01:25:30,120 --> 01:25:32,250
how people live together.

1480
01:25:32,250 --> 01:25:34,530
Co-housing is a good example

1481
01:25:34,530 --> 01:25:36,480
where a group of people get together

1482
01:25:36,480 --> 01:25:39,570
and perhaps buy a big house

1483
01:25:39,570 --> 01:25:42,540
and decide to live communally together

1484
01:25:42,540 --> 01:25:44,680
without any legal separation

1485
01:25:46,110 --> 01:25:49,770
in between the individual living spaces.

1486
01:25:49,770 --> 01:25:51,153
That's what co-housing is.

1487
01:25:52,410 --> 01:25:55,170
Most of the other ones are
difficult mostly because

1488
01:25:55,170 --> 01:26:00,170
they're not recognized yet
by the federal government as

1489
01:26:00,780 --> 01:26:03,270
something that they can borrow against.

1490
01:26:03,270 --> 01:26:05,970
So it's a bit complicated.

1491
01:26:05,970 --> 01:26:10,970
In terms of other forms of
housing, container housings,

1492
01:26:11,850 --> 01:26:14,853
that would require a
specific statement, I think.

1493
01:26:16,350 --> 01:26:19,080
Because a form of housing
can have an impact

1494
01:26:19,080 --> 01:26:21,450
on the neighborhood within which it is.

1495
01:26:21,450 --> 01:26:24,810
Tiny housing, which is an interesting one.

1496
01:26:24,810 --> 01:26:28,883
In my opinion, there's nothing
that precludes it today.

1497
01:26:31,470 --> 01:26:34,353
It's just a house that is small.

1498
01:26:35,490 --> 01:26:38,160
So it's very interesting
to start thinking about

1499
01:26:38,160 --> 01:26:41,850
quonset huts and containers and so on.

1500
01:26:41,850 --> 01:26:43,923
Those are built forms that are different.

1501
01:26:45,540 --> 01:26:48,180
Whether the house is big
or small doesn't matter.

1502
01:26:48,180 --> 01:26:49,860
And then the tenure of the housing,

1503
01:26:49,860 --> 01:26:52,590
how people choose to share the cost

1504
01:26:52,590 --> 01:26:56,220
or how the building is subdivided,

1505
01:26:56,220 --> 01:26:58,650
that's a whole other conversation.

1506
01:26:58,650 --> 01:27:03,120
But in general, the municipality
should not be too concerned

1507
01:27:03,120 --> 01:27:06,870
about various tenure arrangements

1508
01:27:06,870 --> 01:27:10,623
because we're focused on
compatibility with built form.

1509
01:27:11,878 --> 01:27:12,711
- Okay.
- Does that help?

1510
01:27:12,711 --> 01:27:14,850
- It does, and it leads
into my next question.

1511
01:27:14,850 --> 01:27:17,183
So maybe if you'd stay
there through the Mayor.

1512
01:27:18,360 --> 01:27:19,530
Talking about co-housing,

1513
01:27:19,530 --> 01:27:21,300
I've heard the term co-sharing,

1514
01:27:21,300 --> 01:27:22,470
so I think it's the same thing.

1515
01:27:22,470 --> 01:27:24,990
It's something that we need to look at.

1516
01:27:24,990 --> 01:27:27,990
In the plan, it talks about
additional need housing,

1517
01:27:27,990 --> 01:27:29,880
and it really drew my attention

1518
01:27:29,880 --> 01:27:32,100
because it says small
scale, eight beds or less,

1519
01:27:32,100 --> 01:27:34,320
or large scales, eight plus beds.

1520
01:27:34,320 --> 01:27:35,580
And I was thinking about

1521
01:27:35,580 --> 01:27:38,490
a home with eight beds and division.

1522
01:27:38,490 --> 01:27:39,990
And when I spoke to Ms. Dolch,

1523
01:27:39,990 --> 01:27:41,160
that's not really what it is.

1524
01:27:41,160 --> 01:27:42,420
It's long-term care homes.

1525
01:27:42,420 --> 01:27:44,220
It's residential, group homes,

1526
01:27:44,220 --> 01:27:47,280
respite cares, emergency
housing, all of that.

1527
01:27:47,280 --> 01:27:49,440
The concern though, here in Niagara Falls,

1528
01:27:49,440 --> 01:27:51,870
what we've had happen quite often

1529
01:27:51,870 --> 01:27:54,330
is we might have 12, 15 people

1530
01:27:54,330 --> 01:27:57,030
living in one single detached home.

1531
01:27:57,030 --> 01:27:59,550
And you talked about community housing.

1532
01:27:59,550 --> 01:28:02,280
How does that relate
to maybe the challenges

1533
01:28:02,280 --> 01:28:06,090
that we're having now with
multiple people living in a home

1534
01:28:06,090 --> 01:28:07,860
that's maybe there's some fire safety,

1535
01:28:07,860 --> 01:28:10,260
there's some health concerns,
there's garbage concerns,

1536
01:28:10,260 --> 01:28:11,760
there's parking concerns.

1537
01:28:11,760 --> 01:28:14,340
Will that be addressed at that time?

1538
01:28:14,340 --> 01:28:16,680
Because the community housing...

1539
01:28:16,680 --> 01:28:19,590
I know we need housing and I
know we need different forms,

1540
01:28:19,590 --> 01:28:21,990
but maybe we also need some licensing

1541
01:28:21,990 --> 01:28:25,200
or safety checks and that sort of thing.

1542
01:28:25,200 --> 01:28:26,250
- Through you, Mr. Mayor,

1543
01:28:26,250 --> 01:28:28,470
I'll start and you can finish.

1544
01:28:28,470 --> 01:28:31,380
Additional needs housing is a defined term

1545
01:28:31,380 --> 01:28:32,730
from the province.

1546
01:28:32,730 --> 01:28:35,100
And Ms. Dolch is correct.

1547
01:28:35,100 --> 01:28:39,700
It is usually aged care

1548
01:28:41,130 --> 01:28:44,820
and those kinds of
institutional forms of housing

1549
01:28:44,820 --> 01:28:47,560
that are intended to
help people find housing

1550
01:28:48,750 --> 01:28:51,453
that meets their needs, additional needs.

1551
01:28:52,740 --> 01:28:54,120
I would suggest you have a look at

1552
01:28:54,120 --> 01:28:56,100
the definition in the
provincial planning statement.

1553
01:28:56,100 --> 01:28:58,020
That would be very helpful.

1554
01:28:58,020 --> 01:29:00,090
I've never written an official plan

1555
01:29:00,090 --> 01:29:02,520
where the list of additional needs housing

1556
01:29:02,520 --> 01:29:05,340
captures everything that people think

1557
01:29:05,340 --> 01:29:06,740
is additional needs housing.

1558
01:29:08,070 --> 01:29:11,193
Nonetheless, we make efforts to do so.

1559
01:29:12,360 --> 01:29:15,810
In terms of the communal living,

1560
01:29:15,810 --> 01:29:19,860
it's very difficult in the planning world

1561
01:29:19,860 --> 01:29:22,713
to regulate the occupancy of a house.

1562
01:29:23,580 --> 01:29:25,593
It would be seen as discriminatory.

1563
01:29:26,700 --> 01:29:30,750
We can't regulate the
number of people in a house,

1564
01:29:30,750 --> 01:29:32,790
how they're related or not.

1565
01:29:32,790 --> 01:29:34,650
Those are not planning matters.

1566
01:29:34,650 --> 01:29:37,560
However, there are many instances,

1567
01:29:37,560 --> 01:29:41,100
and it does go a bit
to municipal licensing,

1568
01:29:41,100 --> 01:29:44,430
where it's simply not safe.

1569
01:29:44,430 --> 01:29:47,400
Fire code, building code issues,

1570
01:29:47,400 --> 01:29:51,840
where there are too many people
living in too small a space,

1571
01:29:51,840 --> 01:29:54,723
including people living in a garage.

1572
01:29:56,070 --> 01:30:01,070
This has come up a fair bit in
college and University towns

1573
01:30:02,130 --> 01:30:04,720
where landlords are putting

1574
01:30:05,730 --> 01:30:09,000
12 people in a three-bedroom house.

1575
01:30:09,000 --> 01:30:11,050
That is better dealt with through

1576
01:30:12,150 --> 01:30:14,730
in one place in Kitchener, Waterloo.

1577
01:30:14,730 --> 01:30:19,730
We looked at a SWAT team of
building code, fire code,

1578
01:30:20,370 --> 01:30:23,820
and municipal planning
together to try and make sure

1579
01:30:23,820 --> 01:30:27,420
that the housing arrangements are safe,

1580
01:30:27,420 --> 01:30:30,300
and that is a licensing approach

1581
01:30:30,300 --> 01:30:35,300
where the landlords would
have to agree to be licensed

1582
01:30:35,940 --> 01:30:37,800
with the intent that we would hope

1583
01:30:37,800 --> 01:30:40,890
that they would be ethical and concerned

1584
01:30:40,890 --> 01:30:43,860
about the health and
safety of their residents.

1585
01:30:43,860 --> 01:30:46,410
I don't know what you do in Niagara Falls,

1586
01:30:46,410 --> 01:30:49,680
but, again, a complicated question

1587
01:30:49,680 --> 01:30:51,933
with a lot of different approaches.

1588
01:30:54,801 --> 01:30:55,634
Okay. Thank you.
- Ms. Dolch,

1589
01:30:55,634 --> 01:30:56,880
did you want to add to that at all?

1590
01:30:57,960 --> 01:30:58,793
- I'll just add brief...

1591
01:30:58,793 --> 01:31:00,570
Thank you, Your Worship.
I'll just add briefly then.

1592
01:31:00,570 --> 01:31:03,960
Obviously, the problems we're having now,

1593
01:31:03,960 --> 01:31:06,423
we'll look at that through
the licensing program.

1594
01:31:07,410 --> 01:31:10,170
And what we'll do is
obviously we have AMP systems

1595
01:31:10,170 --> 01:31:11,850
and other things we can start to look at

1596
01:31:11,850 --> 01:31:13,290
for fining and other things

1597
01:31:13,290 --> 01:31:14,790
to make sure we get some compliance,

1598
01:31:14,790 --> 01:31:17,700
similar to what we've
done with the VRU program.

1599
01:31:17,700 --> 01:31:21,060
And that's been a really big
success with Mr. Gallagher.

1600
01:31:21,060 --> 01:31:23,310
So I think that's something
we'll start to look at

1601
01:31:23,310 --> 01:31:24,143
in the new year.

1602
01:31:24,143 --> 01:31:27,630
And I know I will bring you
back something in the new year

1603
01:31:27,630 --> 01:31:29,310
on lodging houses.

1604
01:31:29,310 --> 01:31:30,143
- Great. Thank you.

1605
01:31:30,143 --> 01:31:31,260
I know there's a lot of terms out there,

1606
01:31:31,260 --> 01:31:33,570
rooming houses, boarding
houses, lodging houses,

1607
01:31:33,570 --> 01:31:34,770
and we've had complaints,

1608
01:31:34,770 --> 01:31:37,590
and what we have now
sometimes doesn't address it.

1609
01:31:37,590 --> 01:31:40,620
So I think it's a good
opportunity to move forward.

1610
01:31:40,620 --> 01:31:43,020
In the plan, it talks
about inclusionary zoning

1611
01:31:43,020 --> 01:31:45,330
in major transit areas.

1612
01:31:45,330 --> 01:31:47,850
Have we considered inclusionary zoning

1613
01:31:47,850 --> 01:31:50,313
in the downtown major transit area?

1614
01:31:52,860 --> 01:31:54,160
- Thank you, Your Worship.

1615
01:31:55,020 --> 01:31:58,860
So in this policy, in our
policies in the official plan,

1616
01:31:58,860 --> 01:32:02,040
we've left it pretty vague in
terms of inclusionary zoning.

1617
01:32:02,040 --> 01:32:03,990
We want to just make
sure we can consider it

1618
01:32:03,990 --> 01:32:06,540
should council wish to
do so in the future.

1619
01:32:06,540 --> 01:32:09,030
So it's kind of in there as a placeholder,

1620
01:32:09,030 --> 01:32:11,490
but it would be separate
study to look at that.

1621
01:32:11,490 --> 01:32:13,350
Come back to council for consideration

1622
01:32:13,350 --> 01:32:15,540
if that's something
council would like to do.

1623
01:32:15,540 --> 01:32:16,860
- Great. Thank you.

1624
01:32:16,860 --> 01:32:18,960
Just a few more questions.

1625
01:32:18,960 --> 01:32:21,090
The next one is about parking policies.

1626
01:32:21,090 --> 01:32:22,760
I know, in part of it,

1627
01:32:22,760 --> 01:32:25,350
it says that there's no
minimum parking requirements

1628
01:32:25,350 --> 01:32:26,580
for motor vehicles.

1629
01:32:26,580 --> 01:32:29,670
And the concern is that
this is not necessarily

1630
01:32:29,670 --> 01:32:31,470
the reality for a lot of people.

1631
01:32:31,470 --> 01:32:32,880
Niagara Falls is very large.

1632
01:32:32,880 --> 01:32:34,890
It's hard to get around on public transit

1633
01:32:34,890 --> 01:32:37,833
or bicycles or motorized vehicles.

1634
01:32:39,990 --> 01:32:44,430
The zoning will establish minimum
bicycle and micromobility.

1635
01:32:44,430 --> 01:32:45,930
Is that an e-scooter?

1636
01:32:45,930 --> 01:32:47,553
What is micro-mobility?

1637
01:32:49,371 --> 01:32:51,210
- [Jim] Ms. Dolch.

1638
01:32:51,210 --> 01:32:52,560
- Thank you, Your Worship.

1639
01:32:52,560 --> 01:32:54,150
I'll take this one.

1640
01:32:54,150 --> 01:32:56,520
So yeah, it can be all of those,

1641
01:32:56,520 --> 01:33:00,213
like an e-scooter, an e-bike,
micro-mobility type of device.

1642
01:33:01,710 --> 01:33:04,200
So in terms of the policies,

1643
01:33:04,200 --> 01:33:05,370
the parking policies though,

1644
01:33:05,370 --> 01:33:06,840
those are provincially regulated.

1645
01:33:06,840 --> 01:33:10,542
So we can't require parking

1646
01:33:10,542 --> 01:33:15,150
in the PTMSA, the transit station area.

1647
01:33:17,730 --> 01:33:21,780
Obviously, all we can do is
kind of monitor the situation,

1648
01:33:21,780 --> 01:33:25,590
but most developers do
their market research.

1649
01:33:25,590 --> 01:33:26,460
As I explained to you yesterday,

1650
01:33:26,460 --> 01:33:28,200
they do their market research to see

1651
01:33:28,200 --> 01:33:29,550
what they're going to need for parking

1652
01:33:29,550 --> 01:33:33,090
because if the end user needs the parking,

1653
01:33:33,090 --> 01:33:35,820
they will demand it as part of a sale.

1654
01:33:35,820 --> 01:33:38,190
So a lot of them do still provide parking.

1655
01:33:38,190 --> 01:33:39,990
A great example is our
Park Street project.

1656
01:33:39,990 --> 01:33:41,250
They don't have to provide parking,

1657
01:33:41,250 --> 01:33:43,080
but they are because they know the market

1658
01:33:43,080 --> 01:33:44,820
is there to provide that parking.

1659
01:33:44,820 --> 01:33:47,040
Maybe not what we would have expected

1660
01:33:47,040 --> 01:33:48,540
in other areas of the city,

1661
01:33:48,540 --> 01:33:50,640
but they do know that
parking will be required.

1662
01:33:50,640 --> 01:33:53,070
So I think all we can do is monitor,

1663
01:33:53,070 --> 01:33:55,500
see the situation unfold.

1664
01:33:55,500 --> 01:33:56,370
- Okay, thank you.

1665
01:33:56,370 --> 01:33:59,370
I know it's a provincial regulation

1666
01:33:59,370 --> 01:34:00,990
that it's minimized.

1667
01:34:00,990 --> 01:34:03,030
But some of the challenges
that we're seeing right now

1668
01:34:03,030 --> 01:34:06,780
over the last week, it's been
on the news about e-scooters

1669
01:34:06,780 --> 01:34:10,290
and people without insurance,
and safety, and helmets,

1670
01:34:10,290 --> 01:34:14,610
and the chaos on sidewalks, on streets.

1671
01:34:14,610 --> 01:34:17,310
So I'm just concerned that
if we don't have the parking

1672
01:34:17,310 --> 01:34:19,380
and we look towards e-scooters,

1673
01:34:19,380 --> 01:34:22,410
and that's a provincially
regulated thing as well,

1674
01:34:22,410 --> 01:34:24,120
how are we going to work through that?

1675
01:34:24,120 --> 01:34:25,653
So I just want to put that out there that

1676
01:34:25,653 --> 01:34:29,070
that could be a challenge 'cause
it's a challenge right now.

1677
01:34:29,070 --> 01:34:31,230
The other thing on parking
I wanted to talk about,

1678
01:34:31,230 --> 01:34:32,410
it talks in here

1679
01:34:34,470 --> 01:34:37,080
if there's no minimum
parking on Queen Street,

1680
01:34:37,080 --> 01:34:40,620
will the city be responsible
to provide a parking structure,

1681
01:34:40,620 --> 01:34:42,370
and will that be on the taxpayers

1682
01:34:44,369 --> 01:34:47,995
to provide that parking structure?

1683
01:34:47,995 --> 01:34:49,200
- I don't know if Mr. Burgess,

1684
01:34:49,200 --> 01:34:50,940
if you wanted to address the,
or did you want to do it?

1685
01:34:50,940 --> 01:34:51,773
Okay.

1686
01:34:51,773 --> 01:34:52,850
Okay, we'll go to Ms. Dolch.

1687
01:34:54,090 --> 01:34:54,960
- Thank you, Your Worship.

1688
01:34:54,960 --> 01:34:57,300
So I'll start, and if Mr.
Burgess wants to jump in,

1689
01:34:57,300 --> 01:35:00,630
but again, there's no
minimum parking requirements.

1690
01:35:00,630 --> 01:35:01,980
We'll watch it unfold,

1691
01:35:01,980 --> 01:35:06,240
obviously, if there's a
parking demand issue long term,

1692
01:35:06,240 --> 01:35:07,500
but we do have to remember,

1693
01:35:07,500 --> 01:35:09,210
we do have the GO Station here.

1694
01:35:09,210 --> 01:35:10,590
Hopefully we're going to get better.

1695
01:35:10,590 --> 01:35:13,390
You see the transportation
planning system that

1696
01:35:14,460 --> 01:35:16,170
both Municipal Works has been working on,

1697
01:35:16,170 --> 01:35:18,170
active transportation, all those things.

1698
01:35:19,350 --> 01:35:22,320
In a lot of municipalities,
maybe not Niagara Falls yet,

1699
01:35:22,320 --> 01:35:23,520
but in a lot of municipalities

1700
01:35:23,520 --> 01:35:25,140
in the states and other places,

1701
01:35:25,140 --> 01:35:27,540
they're actually getting
rid of a lot of parking now,

1702
01:35:27,540 --> 01:35:30,270
and it's going to more curbside.

1703
01:35:30,270 --> 01:35:31,920
So there's a lot of interest in curbside

1704
01:35:31,920 --> 01:35:34,200
because of Ubers, Lyfts,
all the other things

1705
01:35:34,200 --> 01:35:36,570
that people are now getting around with.

1706
01:35:36,570 --> 01:35:39,420
So I think we'll watch it unfold.

1707
01:35:39,420 --> 01:35:41,160
If obviously there's a demand,

1708
01:35:41,160 --> 01:35:44,130
there may come a request
to do something like that

1709
01:35:44,130 --> 01:35:46,920
or add additional surface
parking in the city,

1710
01:35:46,920 --> 01:35:48,540
but I really don't think
it'll come to that.

1711
01:35:48,540 --> 01:35:52,890
A lot of the younger people
don't necessarily want to drive.

1712
01:35:52,890 --> 01:35:54,030
They actually want to use Uber.

1713
01:35:54,030 --> 01:35:56,190
They can't afford the
insurance nor the car.

1714
01:35:56,190 --> 01:35:59,100
So I think we just need to
watch it unfold and see,

1715
01:35:59,100 --> 01:36:02,910
but I'm not convinced that
we would have to build

1716
01:36:02,910 --> 01:36:04,290
something at this point in time.

1717
01:36:04,290 --> 01:36:05,430
- Okay. Thank you.

1718
01:36:05,430 --> 01:36:07,170
In addition to that, it did say that

1719
01:36:07,170 --> 01:36:09,480
there's payment in lieu for a developer.

1720
01:36:09,480 --> 01:36:11,010
If there's an exemption of parking,

1721
01:36:11,010 --> 01:36:15,210
we can give them an exemption
and the money that we get.

1722
01:36:15,210 --> 01:36:17,820
What kind of money are we
talking about for that exemption?

1723
01:36:17,820 --> 01:36:20,970
Would that money be used to
provide a parking structure

1724
01:36:20,970 --> 01:36:22,520
or where does that money go to?

1725
01:36:24,000 --> 01:36:24,990
- Thank you, Your Worship.

1726
01:36:24,990 --> 01:36:28,650
So that's just a policy that's
something we can consider

1727
01:36:28,650 --> 01:36:30,480
in terms of a payment in cash-in-lieu.

1728
01:36:30,480 --> 01:36:31,890
And so we can consider that.

1729
01:36:31,890 --> 01:36:34,320
So a lot of times what'll happen is we'll

1730
01:36:34,320 --> 01:36:36,780
give a value in that policy of how much

1731
01:36:36,780 --> 01:36:40,830
for a parking spot would be
in lieu of a parking spot.

1732
01:36:40,830 --> 01:36:43,500
And then it would go into a bank of funds

1733
01:36:43,500 --> 01:36:45,810
that eventually we would
either acquire land

1734
01:36:45,810 --> 01:36:47,400
to build the surface parking

1735
01:36:47,400 --> 01:36:49,200
or a parking structure
or things like that,

1736
01:36:49,200 --> 01:36:51,690
but it would accumulate.

1737
01:36:51,690 --> 01:36:53,460
And usually it's based on the standard,

1738
01:36:53,460 --> 01:36:54,630
and they may reduce it a bit,

1739
01:36:54,630 --> 01:36:57,660
and then they pay for so
many spots in cash-in-lieu.

1740
01:36:57,660 --> 01:36:59,910
It happens in a number of
municipalities across Ontario.

1741
01:36:59,910 --> 01:37:01,230
- Thank you.

1742
01:37:01,230 --> 01:37:04,380
On page 304 and 305, there's the maps

1743
01:37:04,380 --> 01:37:08,280
for the riverfront in the Grand Niagara.

1744
01:37:08,280 --> 01:37:10,350
There's two sections there about

1745
01:37:10,350 --> 01:37:13,500
woodland removal and wetland removal,

1746
01:37:13,500 --> 01:37:14,400
and I'm just wondering

1747
01:37:14,400 --> 01:37:16,560
why they're specifically on those maps.

1748
01:37:16,560 --> 01:37:18,810
I know they're specialized areas,

1749
01:37:18,810 --> 01:37:22,860
but why are they on there
if we've already approved it

1750
01:37:22,860 --> 01:37:24,000
or is that something that has to

1751
01:37:24,000 --> 01:37:25,680
come back about the removal?

1752
01:37:25,680 --> 01:37:26,853
How is that working?

1753
01:37:28,017 --> 01:37:29,820
- Dolch?
- Thank you, Your Worship.

1754
01:37:29,820 --> 01:37:32,820
So this was carried over
right from the riverfront

1755
01:37:32,820 --> 01:37:33,990
secondary plan policy.

1756
01:37:33,990 --> 01:37:35,640
So we haven't changed a thing.

1757
01:37:35,640 --> 01:37:37,473
We've left everything the way it is.

1758
01:37:38,395 --> 01:37:40,380
Those removals do have caveats to them

1759
01:37:40,380 --> 01:37:41,910
if you actually look at the policies.

1760
01:37:41,910 --> 01:37:42,990
So the policies do say

1761
01:37:42,990 --> 01:37:45,120
there's further study and work to be done.

1762
01:37:45,120 --> 01:37:46,680
So that's why the map is there.

1763
01:37:46,680 --> 01:37:48,360
So we've kept everything the same.

1764
01:37:48,360 --> 01:37:49,830
The policies are still the same.

1765
01:37:49,830 --> 01:37:51,570
So, so they do still have to do

1766
01:37:51,570 --> 01:37:53,760
additional work for those removals.

1767
01:37:53,760 --> 01:37:56,610
- Final question, and then
I'll have some comments later.

1768
01:37:58,080 --> 01:38:00,150
So Bill 98, we touched on it a little bit,

1769
01:38:00,150 --> 01:38:02,850
but my understanding of bill 98 is,

1770
01:38:02,850 --> 01:38:05,450
as of January 1st, 2028,

1771
01:38:05,450 --> 01:38:07,020
29 large municipalities

1772
01:38:07,020 --> 01:38:09,420
are going to have
standardized official plans.

1773
01:38:09,420 --> 01:38:10,800
And then after that,

1774
01:38:10,800 --> 01:38:13,860
all of the other 444 municipalities

1775
01:38:13,860 --> 01:38:17,610
will have standardized
ones on January 1st, 2029.

1776
01:38:17,610 --> 01:38:19,380
The province is saying
it's supposed to make it

1777
01:38:19,380 --> 01:38:22,530
simpler and easier, more
consistent, more permissive.

1778
01:38:22,530 --> 01:38:24,780
The goal is to encourage housing

1779
01:38:24,780 --> 01:38:29,280
and to reduce the process
of delays in approval.

1780
01:38:29,280 --> 01:38:32,490
I have concerns about this
cookie cutter approach.

1781
01:38:32,490 --> 01:38:34,500
Mississauga has a very different character

1782
01:38:34,500 --> 01:38:35,760
than Niagara Falls does

1783
01:38:35,760 --> 01:38:38,940
than maybe a 10,000 resident city.

1784
01:38:38,940 --> 01:38:42,540
So we have different goals and land uses,

1785
01:38:42,540 --> 01:38:43,373
different commercial.

1786
01:38:43,373 --> 01:38:44,520
We have tourism.

1787
01:38:44,520 --> 01:38:49,520
If we go to a standardized
policy on January 1st of 2028,

1788
01:38:49,680 --> 01:38:51,537
what does that do to all of the work

1789
01:38:51,537 --> 01:38:54,960
and the policies that are in this plan?

1790
01:38:54,960 --> 01:38:56,487
How standardized is it going to be

1791
01:38:56,487 --> 01:38:57,813
and how different will it be

1792
01:38:57,813 --> 01:38:59,980
than the one we're about to approve?

1793
01:39:00,895 --> 01:39:02,010
- [Jim] Ms. Dolch.

1794
01:39:02,010 --> 01:39:02,843
- Thank you, Your Worship.

1795
01:39:02,843 --> 01:39:05,135
So we did look at that

1796
01:39:05,135 --> 01:39:07,762
and the consultants did consider that.

1797
01:39:07,762 --> 01:39:10,320
We considered whether or not
we start to go down that path.

1798
01:39:10,320 --> 01:39:12,840
We talked to the province, but
again, it's not yet approved.

1799
01:39:12,840 --> 01:39:14,070
So we don't want to.

1800
01:39:14,070 --> 01:39:16,740
We didn't want to go
down that path too early,

1801
01:39:16,740 --> 01:39:20,040
and it not be approved the
way it's been proposed.

1802
01:39:20,040 --> 01:39:22,020
So we're going to have to do some work

1803
01:39:22,020 --> 01:39:23,670
after this official plan's approved,

1804
01:39:23,670 --> 01:39:26,580
if it does get approved,
obviously, before that time.

1805
01:39:26,580 --> 01:39:30,900
In terms of our commenting
to the province on the bill,

1806
01:39:30,900 --> 01:39:33,150
we did raise concerns about the tourism

1807
01:39:33,150 --> 01:39:34,740
'cause we are unique,

1808
01:39:34,740 --> 01:39:37,080
especially we have an
entertainment district.

1809
01:39:37,080 --> 01:39:37,913
They won't have that.

1810
01:39:37,913 --> 01:39:38,910
They'll just have commercial.

1811
01:39:38,910 --> 01:39:42,000
So we wanted to kind
of have them recognize

1812
01:39:42,000 --> 01:39:44,520
that we do have certain tourism districts.

1813
01:39:44,520 --> 01:39:46,590
Whether or not they make
that change, I don't know.

1814
01:39:46,590 --> 01:39:48,567
So all we can do is wait
and see what comes out

1815
01:39:48,567 --> 01:39:50,460
and what the province approves in the end,

1816
01:39:50,460 --> 01:39:52,160
and then we'll have to follow suit

1817
01:39:53,160 --> 01:39:55,110
to adhere to that and make some changes

1818
01:39:55,110 --> 01:39:56,790
once that's approved.

1819
01:39:56,790 --> 01:39:59,700
- Will there be a lot of changes
based on what you've heard

1820
01:39:59,700 --> 01:40:01,833
compared to what we have now in this one?

1821
01:40:03,660 --> 01:40:05,610
- Through the Worship,
through the council.

1822
01:40:05,610 --> 01:40:08,940
I think there'll be some work, definitely,

1823
01:40:08,940 --> 01:40:10,833
but I think we can make it work.

1824
01:40:11,850 --> 01:40:13,560
And I think Joe wants
to speak to it as well.

1825
01:40:13,560 --> 01:40:14,583
Mr. Nethery, sorry.

1826
01:40:16,200 --> 01:40:17,310
- That's all right.

1827
01:40:17,310 --> 01:40:18,610
Through you, Your Worship.

1828
01:40:20,550 --> 01:40:22,440
This is the decision, the recommendation

1829
01:40:22,440 --> 01:40:23,700
that staff and the project team

1830
01:40:23,700 --> 01:40:26,010
are making for this assignment.

1831
01:40:26,010 --> 01:40:28,140
There are other municipalities
that are undertaking

1832
01:40:28,140 --> 01:40:29,550
official plan reviews right now,

1833
01:40:29,550 --> 01:40:33,570
and they are moving toward the
provincial standard layout.

1834
01:40:33,570 --> 01:40:37,380
And I don't want to mislead
or kid ourselves here.

1835
01:40:37,380 --> 01:40:39,570
The province is going
to go in that direction.

1836
01:40:39,570 --> 01:40:40,860
We don't know what it looks like.

1837
01:40:40,860 --> 01:40:41,910
It will happen,

1838
01:40:41,910 --> 01:40:43,230
and there will be an expectation

1839
01:40:43,230 --> 01:40:45,093
that all municipalities follow.

1840
01:40:47,310 --> 01:40:50,280
On those other projects
that I'm working on,

1841
01:40:50,280 --> 01:40:53,370
the work that was undertaken
is a reordering exercise.

1842
01:40:53,370 --> 01:40:57,063
So rather than policy 4.3 being where the,

1843
01:40:57,902 --> 01:41:00,360
or 4.5 is where our
brownfield policies are,

1844
01:41:00,360 --> 01:41:03,903
it finds its way into 7.2
or something like that.

1845
01:41:05,160 --> 01:41:08,160
So I would submit the baseline
expectation would likely be

1846
01:41:08,160 --> 01:41:10,233
a reshuffling at that point.

1847
01:41:11,220 --> 01:41:12,570
You don't have to worry about that again

1848
01:41:12,570 --> 01:41:14,460
according to the regulation.

1849
01:41:14,460 --> 01:41:16,920
We're looking at 2028 as being the point

1850
01:41:16,920 --> 01:41:19,137
where the next exercise
would have to consider that.

1851
01:41:19,137 --> 01:41:22,800
And 20 bucks says that there
would probably be appetite

1852
01:41:22,800 --> 01:41:26,160
on staff's part to look at
a particular policy issue

1853
01:41:26,160 --> 01:41:28,470
or something else at that point.

1854
01:41:28,470 --> 01:41:30,840
All things that you can deal
with at the next review.

1855
01:41:30,840 --> 01:41:33,660
The baseline, reordering.

1856
01:41:33,660 --> 01:41:34,493
- Thank you very much,

1857
01:41:34,493 --> 01:41:36,360
and I'll have some comments later on.

1858
01:41:36,360 --> 01:41:39,540
- Okay, Councilor
Pietrangelo, then Nieuwesteeg.

1859
01:41:39,540 --> 01:41:40,380
- Yeah, thanks, Your Worship.

1860
01:41:40,380 --> 01:41:42,990
I just wanted to make a
comment in terms of next steps.

1861
01:41:42,990 --> 01:41:44,340
I know I talked to yourself.

1862
01:41:44,340 --> 01:41:47,520
I talked to Ms. Dolch as
well before the meeting.

1863
01:41:47,520 --> 01:41:48,960
I'll just speak for myself personally.

1864
01:41:48,960 --> 01:41:51,810
I think I would benefit from
an extra session with staff.

1865
01:41:52,650 --> 01:41:54,030
In camera would be great

1866
01:41:54,030 --> 01:41:55,950
if we could organize something like that.

1867
01:41:55,950 --> 01:41:58,710
And if other council members
want to join as well,

1868
01:41:58,710 --> 01:42:01,980
I just think that it would
be nice to see both plans,

1869
01:42:01,980 --> 01:42:04,560
like the official plan
that we have in place now,

1870
01:42:04,560 --> 01:42:06,210
and the new official plan

1871
01:42:06,210 --> 01:42:07,890
and kind of compare them side by side,

1872
01:42:07,890 --> 01:42:10,260
understand the fundamentals of the old one

1873
01:42:10,260 --> 01:42:12,450
as opposed to the
fundamentals of this one.

1874
01:42:12,450 --> 01:42:13,890
There's a lot of reading that's here.

1875
01:42:13,890 --> 01:42:16,500
I mean, our plan is over 450 pages.

1876
01:42:16,500 --> 01:42:19,170
The comments were 450 pages or more.

1877
01:42:19,170 --> 01:42:20,850
So it's a lot for us to digest.

1878
01:42:20,850 --> 01:42:23,010
I think it would be good to
have a session with staff

1879
01:42:23,010 --> 01:42:24,900
and the consultants as well.

1880
01:42:24,900 --> 01:42:27,420
And I'm not sure when you can schedule it.

1881
01:42:27,420 --> 01:42:31,050
I don't want to really
make that target disappear.

1882
01:42:31,050 --> 01:42:33,660
I know staff have that
big target of August 11th.

1883
01:42:33,660 --> 01:42:34,620
They got to get this done.

1884
01:42:34,620 --> 01:42:37,620
So if it's sometime in
between now and then,

1885
01:42:37,620 --> 01:42:38,760
that would be great, Your Worship.

1886
01:42:38,760 --> 01:42:40,140
I'll make myself available.

1887
01:42:40,140 --> 01:42:41,530
- So we can address that.

1888
01:42:41,530 --> 01:42:44,043
We're looking tentatively at a week today.

1889
01:42:45,330 --> 01:42:47,820
Next Tuesday, that would
be the fourth, I believe.

1890
01:42:47,820 --> 01:42:51,690
And it would be from
three o'clock, was it?

1891
01:42:51,690 --> 01:42:53,133
- [Speaker] May we suggested 2:00 to 5:00.

1892
01:42:53,133 --> 01:42:54,200
- 2:00 till 5:00.

1893
01:42:54,200 --> 01:42:56,100
It was suggested two till five.

1894
01:42:56,100 --> 01:42:58,140
- Perfect.
- Does that work?

1895
01:42:58,140 --> 01:43:00,630
- Ms. Clerk are we going
to need to make a motion

1896
01:43:00,630 --> 01:43:02,850
to do just that?

1897
01:43:02,850 --> 01:43:03,683
- Yes.

1898
01:43:03,683 --> 01:43:06,443
- Okay, so we'll do that at a
later point, like after this.

1899
01:43:07,350 --> 01:43:08,670
Yes.

1900
01:43:08,670 --> 01:43:09,990
Lead us.

1901
01:43:09,990 --> 01:43:11,040
- Lead us.

1902
01:43:11,040 --> 01:43:12,330
Through you, Mr. Mayor,

1903
01:43:12,330 --> 01:43:16,320
a resolution from what I
understand from this discussion

1904
01:43:16,320 --> 01:43:19,230
is that there's a request
from Councilor Pietrangelo

1905
01:43:19,230 --> 01:43:22,500
to have further education to be held

1906
01:43:22,500 --> 01:43:24,960
in camera from what I gather.

1907
01:43:24,960 --> 01:43:27,090
A resolution can be formatted, presented

1908
01:43:27,090 --> 01:43:30,090
as we don't have necessarily
one completed at this time.

1909
01:43:30,090 --> 01:43:31,515
But perhaps once we're done,

1910
01:43:31,515 --> 01:43:35,160
the public, the public
meeting, we can add that.

1911
01:43:35,160 --> 01:43:37,410
We'll do a procedural,

1912
01:43:37,410 --> 01:43:39,600
waiving of the procedural
bylaw to have that added

1913
01:43:39,600 --> 01:43:41,190
and go through those steps.

1914
01:43:41,190 --> 01:43:43,260
- Good, so we'll do that
after the public meeting

1915
01:43:43,260 --> 01:43:44,790
that we're currently doing.

1916
01:43:44,790 --> 01:43:47,493
Perfect, any questions specific to the OP?

1917
01:43:48,342 --> 01:43:50,643
Okay. Councillor Nieuwesteeg.

1918
01:43:51,720 --> 01:43:52,890
- Thank you, Your Mayor.

1919
01:43:52,890 --> 01:43:56,160
And actually, I'd like to agree
with Councillor Pietrangelo.

1920
01:43:56,160 --> 01:43:58,620
This is such an important
piece for our city.

1921
01:43:58,620 --> 01:44:00,180
It's a visioning strategy.

1922
01:44:00,180 --> 01:44:02,850
It's how we live and what our
city's going to look like.

1923
01:44:02,850 --> 01:44:06,540
So I think as much time
as we can spend on it

1924
01:44:06,540 --> 01:44:08,070
is very prudent.

1925
01:44:08,070 --> 01:44:09,900
I as well have a few questions.

1926
01:44:09,900 --> 01:44:12,300
So I'm not sure where I start,

1927
01:44:12,300 --> 01:44:14,280
but I do want to say thank
you very much to staff

1928
01:44:14,280 --> 01:44:16,353
for this amazing amount of work.

1929
01:44:17,220 --> 01:44:20,010
Everything is so connected, so considered.

1930
01:44:20,010 --> 01:44:24,090
It's really an impressive document.

1931
01:44:24,090 --> 01:44:27,363
My first question relates
to growth and cost.

1932
01:44:28,350 --> 01:44:31,860
We're estimating a significant
amount of growth by 2051,

1933
01:44:31,860 --> 01:44:34,920
roughly an additional
50,000 people, 20,000 homes,

1934
01:44:34,920 --> 01:44:38,520
I think 17, 18,000 new jobs.

1935
01:44:38,520 --> 01:44:43,110
What is the estimated total
cost that the city will

1936
01:44:43,110 --> 01:44:44,790
have to accommodate for this growth?

1937
01:44:44,790 --> 01:44:46,140
We'll need to invest in new roads

1938
01:44:46,140 --> 01:44:48,690
and everything that was explained today.

1939
01:44:48,690 --> 01:44:51,930
Water, wastewater, transit,
transportation master plan.

1940
01:44:51,930 --> 01:44:55,440
In other words is there a breakeven point

1941
01:44:55,440 --> 01:44:59,310
where cost and growth kind
of where we end up saying

1942
01:44:59,310 --> 01:45:01,320
growth is just going to
cost us way too much,

1943
01:45:01,320 --> 01:45:02,610
we can't afford the growth,

1944
01:45:02,610 --> 01:45:06,270
or growth will help us
maintain everything?

1945
01:45:06,270 --> 01:45:08,820
I don't know the answer to that question.

1946
01:45:08,820 --> 01:45:10,447
But if you're in business,
you're always saying,

1947
01:45:10,447 --> 01:45:12,210
"Well, how much do you invest

1948
01:45:12,210 --> 01:45:15,630
to make your breakeven and do well?"

1949
01:45:15,630 --> 01:45:19,860
Or does too much growth
end up disabling everyone?

1950
01:45:19,860 --> 01:45:21,960
- [Jim] So will growth pay for the growth?

1951
01:45:23,520 --> 01:45:25,050
- Or really a cost of growth, yes.

1952
01:45:25,050 --> 01:45:26,460
- Yes.

1953
01:45:26,460 --> 01:45:27,570
Thank you, Your Worship.

1954
01:45:27,570 --> 01:45:32,570
So, I guess, I can only answer it depends.

1955
01:45:33,150 --> 01:45:36,060
So in some scenarios, obviously,

1956
01:45:36,060 --> 01:45:38,160
our development charges are built

1957
01:45:38,160 --> 01:45:39,900
for growth pays for growth, right?

1958
01:45:39,900 --> 01:45:42,660
In terms of certain
projects that we allocate

1959
01:45:42,660 --> 01:45:44,823
usually are growth related projects.

1960
01:45:45,840 --> 01:45:48,750
So we try to have growth pay for growth.

1961
01:45:48,750 --> 01:45:50,463
But your larger question is,

1962
01:45:51,510 --> 01:45:55,440
does that growth ultimately break even

1963
01:45:55,440 --> 01:45:57,330
on what we're going to get in?

1964
01:45:57,330 --> 01:45:58,740
It depends on the growth.

1965
01:45:58,740 --> 01:46:01,590
So as you can see with
our new official plan,

1966
01:46:01,590 --> 01:46:04,500
we have areas of strategic growth.

1967
01:46:04,500 --> 01:46:07,770
We have areas of intensification.

1968
01:46:07,770 --> 01:46:10,230
And the reason we went with that path

1969
01:46:10,230 --> 01:46:13,173
is because those areas, if you intensify,

1970
01:46:14,040 --> 01:46:16,140
if you increase density,

1971
01:46:16,140 --> 01:46:19,170
all those things start to
help the city's bottom line

1972
01:46:19,170 --> 01:46:22,410
because we're adding more
people on less servicing.

1973
01:46:22,410 --> 01:46:24,903
If we continue to sprawl, obviously,

1974
01:46:26,310 --> 01:46:27,870
you will see an impact

1975
01:46:27,870 --> 01:46:30,270
in terms of the balance being outweighed.

1976
01:46:30,270 --> 01:46:32,640
So it's not to say though
we never want to see

1977
01:46:32,640 --> 01:46:35,100
another single detached
dwelling or anything like that.

1978
01:46:35,100 --> 01:46:38,040
It needs to be balanced in order to offset

1979
01:46:38,040 --> 01:46:39,660
those that you subsidize,

1980
01:46:39,660 --> 01:46:41,160
for example, a cul-de-sac,

1981
01:46:41,160 --> 01:46:43,620
and those that don't need the subsidy

1982
01:46:43,620 --> 01:46:45,030
like a larger apartment, right?

1983
01:46:45,030 --> 01:46:48,360
Because what they pay in taxes

1984
01:46:48,360 --> 01:46:50,493
and all the other things are being,

1985
01:46:51,330 --> 01:46:54,330
there's more of them to pay
for a very small piece of pipe.

1986
01:46:54,330 --> 01:46:55,800
So that's why I'm saying growth,

1987
01:46:55,800 --> 01:46:57,630
it doesn't necessarily
always pay for growth,

1988
01:46:57,630 --> 01:47:00,660
and I think Ron would
like to speak as well.

1989
01:47:00,660 --> 01:47:03,180
- Yes, through you, Mr.-
- Palmer.

1990
01:47:03,180 --> 01:47:05,010
- Absolutely correct.

1991
01:47:05,010 --> 01:47:09,870
The philosophy of growth
management in Ontario

1992
01:47:09,870 --> 01:47:12,600
is that growth pays for growth.

1993
01:47:12,600 --> 01:47:16,320
We're given a number of
mechanisms to do that,

1994
01:47:16,320 --> 01:47:18,660
and the first one is the official plan.

1995
01:47:18,660 --> 01:47:22,800
The official plan sets the expectation

1996
01:47:22,800 --> 01:47:25,680
of how much growth will happen

1997
01:47:25,680 --> 01:47:29,580
and generally where and what kind.

1998
01:47:29,580 --> 01:47:33,030
So that's an important first step.

1999
01:47:33,030 --> 01:47:35,910
Then the municipality needs to consider

2000
01:47:35,910 --> 01:47:37,260
how are we going to pay for the...

2001
01:47:37,260 --> 01:47:39,480
What infrastructure do we need

2002
01:47:39,480 --> 01:47:42,300
and how is that going to be paid for?

2003
01:47:42,300 --> 01:47:45,600
And that results in a development charge.

2004
01:47:45,600 --> 01:47:48,060
And the idea is that
the development charge

2005
01:47:48,060 --> 01:47:52,920
pays for the major
infrastructure requirements

2006
01:47:52,920 --> 01:47:57,273
of all of that growth
probably phased over time.

2007
01:47:58,200 --> 01:48:01,890
Municipality also has a
couple of other mechanisms

2008
01:48:01,890 --> 01:48:05,070
that are part of growth management.

2009
01:48:05,070 --> 01:48:07,350
The first one is the
parkland dedication bylaw,

2010
01:48:07,350 --> 01:48:12,040
which is intended to generate
the necessary parkland

2011
01:48:12,930 --> 01:48:15,513
that will service new development.

2012
01:48:17,100 --> 01:48:20,520
And thirdly, the
community benefits charge,

2013
01:48:20,520 --> 01:48:25,080
which is intended to talk
about how community facilities

2014
01:48:25,080 --> 01:48:30,080
and other elements of what
makes a municipality great

2015
01:48:30,720 --> 01:48:32,790
will be paid for.

2016
01:48:32,790 --> 01:48:37,260
All of those things working
together are intended to ensure

2017
01:48:37,260 --> 01:48:39,977
that growth pays for growth.

2018
01:48:39,977 --> 01:48:42,630
- And to that point,
through you, Mr. Mayor,

2019
01:48:42,630 --> 01:48:44,640
at that point, so it
comes to a point where

2020
01:48:44,640 --> 01:48:46,590
we're expecting developers
to pay for this.

2021
01:48:46,590 --> 01:48:47,640
And yet at the same time,

2022
01:48:47,640 --> 01:48:50,760
we have this 40% mandate of

2023
01:48:50,760 --> 01:48:52,800
having affordable and attainable housing.

2024
01:48:52,800 --> 01:48:55,230
Do you see a point where it's going to get

2025
01:48:55,230 --> 01:48:57,300
that we're not going
to see the development

2026
01:48:57,300 --> 01:49:00,070
and we're not going to
reach this growth of

2027
01:49:01,440 --> 01:49:04,560
141,000 by the year 2051?

2028
01:49:04,560 --> 01:49:05,970
Because it's a balancing act here,

2029
01:49:05,970 --> 01:49:08,160
especially when there's such...

2030
01:49:08,160 --> 01:49:12,760
Unless there's some miracle
to always fund these

2031
01:49:15,270 --> 01:49:18,960
40% attainable and affordable dwellings.

2032
01:49:18,960 --> 01:49:21,603
- Through Mr. Mayor, excellent question.

2033
01:49:24,550 --> 01:49:27,240
What is the impact of development charges,

2034
01:49:27,240 --> 01:49:28,590
parkland dedication,

2035
01:49:28,590 --> 01:49:30,480
and community benefits charges

2036
01:49:30,480 --> 01:49:33,120
on the objective of achieving

2037
01:49:33,120 --> 01:49:34,820
attainable and affordable housing?

2038
01:49:36,660 --> 01:49:40,290
I don't think that the
numbers stop development.

2039
01:49:40,290 --> 01:49:43,950
If there is demand,
development will happen.

2040
01:49:43,950 --> 01:49:47,940
That will go up and down
over the next 25 years,

2041
01:49:47,940 --> 01:49:51,060
but I don't think it would
ever stop development.

2042
01:49:51,060 --> 01:49:56,060
The desire to achieve 40%
attainable and affordable

2043
01:49:56,850 --> 01:50:00,070
may require the municipality consider

2044
01:50:01,680 --> 01:50:04,410
adjustments to development charges,

2045
01:50:04,410 --> 01:50:07,500
parkland dedication, community benefits

2046
01:50:07,500 --> 01:50:10,470
much like the federal government has done

2047
01:50:10,470 --> 01:50:15,150
in terms of providing some
relief to development charges.

2048
01:50:15,150 --> 01:50:16,860
So it's a big package.

2049
01:50:16,860 --> 01:50:20,733
The word you said that is the
most important is balance.

2050
01:50:22,020 --> 01:50:25,660
And you will have the
opportunity to consider balance

2051
01:50:27,300 --> 01:50:30,810
all the way through your
development approval processes.

2052
01:50:30,810 --> 01:50:34,740
And remember, the official
plan is not the end of the day.

2053
01:50:34,740 --> 01:50:39,360
There's still multiple approval
processes to go through

2054
01:50:39,360 --> 01:50:40,800
and a lot of work to do.

2055
01:50:40,800 --> 01:50:43,800
Some of it needs to be
done by the municipality,

2056
01:50:43,800 --> 01:50:45,120
and some of it needs to be done

2057
01:50:45,120 --> 01:50:47,250
by the development community.

2058
01:50:47,250 --> 01:50:49,530
We don't have every
answer to every question.

2059
01:50:49,530 --> 01:50:50,363
- I understand that.

2060
01:50:50,363 --> 01:50:52,290
And to your point, again,
through you, Mr. Mayor,

2061
01:50:52,290 --> 01:50:54,870
when you speak of a demand,
the simple economics 101 is

2062
01:50:54,870 --> 01:50:57,990
economic supply, and that dictates price.

2063
01:50:57,990 --> 01:51:01,560
But when we're pulling in
here and reducing the cost,

2064
01:51:01,560 --> 01:51:04,110
then, to me, the fear is the taxpayer's

2065
01:51:04,110 --> 01:51:07,800
going to have to subsidize
a lot of this extra cost.

2066
01:51:07,800 --> 01:51:08,633
So that was my...

2067
01:51:08,633 --> 01:51:11,580
Coming back to my question
about growth and costs,

2068
01:51:11,580 --> 01:51:12,600
how much...

2069
01:51:12,600 --> 01:51:14,040
Will it get to a point where

2070
01:51:14,040 --> 01:51:16,290
the residents will have
to be paying so much that

2071
01:51:16,290 --> 01:51:18,090
they can't afford to do it?

2072
01:51:18,090 --> 01:51:19,200
- Through you, Mr. Mayor,

2073
01:51:19,200 --> 01:51:22,323
that is a decision that
council would have to make.

2074
01:51:23,400 --> 01:51:26,640
I personally don't see it as a necessity

2075
01:51:26,640 --> 01:51:29,460
that the existing tax base

2076
01:51:29,460 --> 01:51:31,953
would be subsidizing housing.

2077
01:51:33,720 --> 01:51:38,310
However there's certain
flexibility within the numbers

2078
01:51:38,310 --> 01:51:41,280
for you to make prudent decisions

2079
01:51:41,280 --> 01:51:44,160
about how development will pay for itself.

2080
01:51:44,160 --> 01:51:46,335
- It's going to be very
important going forward.

2081
01:51:46,335 --> 01:51:47,280
- Absolutely.
- I do have another question

2082
01:51:47,280 --> 01:51:48,840
regarding the infrastructure.

2083
01:51:48,840 --> 01:51:50,340
And how does this plan ensure that

2084
01:51:50,340 --> 01:51:53,880
infrastructure capacity
keeps pace with growth

2085
01:51:53,880 --> 01:51:55,500
rather than approving growth first

2086
01:51:55,500 --> 01:51:58,650
and then trying to catch
up with infrastructure?

2087
01:51:58,650 --> 01:52:00,840
- Through you, Mr. Mayor and Ms. Dolch.

2088
01:52:00,840 --> 01:52:03,963
I'll start, you can finish for me.

2089
01:52:05,070 --> 01:52:08,640
It's a requirement that new development

2090
01:52:08,640 --> 01:52:10,260
has to have infrastructure.

2091
01:52:10,260 --> 01:52:14,580
In fact, you can't have
growth without infrastructure.

2092
01:52:14,580 --> 01:52:15,570
- Exactly.

2093
01:52:15,570 --> 01:52:19,260
- So they are fundamentally linked.

2094
01:52:19,260 --> 01:52:22,773
No investment in
infrastructure, no growth.

2095
01:52:24,300 --> 01:52:25,830
That's the simplest answer.

2096
01:52:25,830 --> 01:52:28,173
Perhaps you have a more nuanced one.

2097
01:52:29,340 --> 01:52:30,173
- Thank you, Your Worship.

2098
01:52:30,173 --> 01:52:32,940
And that's why we do our secondary plans

2099
01:52:32,940 --> 01:52:35,130
and all the documents that we do do.

2100
01:52:35,130 --> 01:52:38,490
Once the settlement area
expands, we look at growth.

2101
01:52:38,490 --> 01:52:40,770
We look at what servicing
we have to provide

2102
01:52:40,770 --> 01:52:41,790
to service those areas.

2103
01:52:41,790 --> 01:52:44,130
We look at all those things to make sure,

2104
01:52:44,130 --> 01:52:46,050
when we do those expansion areas,

2105
01:52:46,050 --> 01:52:47,640
we can actually service them.

2106
01:52:47,640 --> 01:52:48,480
We know the cost.

2107
01:52:48,480 --> 01:52:50,580
We know everything that's going into them.

2108
01:52:51,480 --> 01:52:55,710
And it helps keep us
informed as we go ahead.

2109
01:52:55,710 --> 01:52:58,410
Again, you're never going to
stop growth from expanding.

2110
01:52:58,410 --> 01:53:00,930
It's just how you expand again.

2111
01:53:00,930 --> 01:53:02,520
And one other point I did want to make

2112
01:53:02,520 --> 01:53:04,503
about the 40% and the attainable,

2113
01:53:06,150 --> 01:53:09,120
that policy there, we
have brought forward to,

2114
01:53:09,120 --> 01:53:11,610
and you'll see it again on August 11th,

2115
01:53:11,610 --> 01:53:15,540
is the Affordable Housing
Community Improvement Plan.

2116
01:53:15,540 --> 01:53:18,120
So although we're asking for 40%,

2117
01:53:18,120 --> 01:53:21,120
we are trying to incentivize a little bit

2118
01:53:21,120 --> 01:53:22,980
in order to get that
'cause we want to make sure

2119
01:53:22,980 --> 01:53:25,410
there's houses for all,
not just some, right?

2120
01:53:25,410 --> 01:53:27,240
So we do want to make sure.

2121
01:53:27,240 --> 01:53:31,410
And that target has been
working really well to date.

2122
01:53:31,410 --> 01:53:36,090
So I know we've been doing
a lot of work on policies,

2123
01:53:36,090 --> 01:53:38,400
and I know there was some comments saying

2124
01:53:38,400 --> 01:53:39,990
they'd like to understand our policies

2125
01:53:39,990 --> 01:53:41,130
a little better on that.

2126
01:53:41,130 --> 01:53:44,434
So we'll do some work
prior to August 11th.

2127
01:53:44,434 --> 01:53:47,220
- Okay, I have another question here.

2128
01:53:47,220 --> 01:53:49,890
It's basically growth and our tourism.

2129
01:53:49,890 --> 01:53:51,390
So how does this plan balance the needs

2130
01:53:51,390 --> 01:53:52,410
of our year-round residents

2131
01:53:52,410 --> 01:53:54,210
with the needs of our tourist economy,

2132
01:53:54,210 --> 01:53:56,640
particularly in the entertainment district

2133
01:53:56,640 --> 01:53:59,430
and other areas where visitor activity

2134
01:53:59,430 --> 01:54:00,870
can have significant impact?

2135
01:54:00,870 --> 01:54:03,090
So, right now, we're looking
at a population growth.

2136
01:54:03,090 --> 01:54:04,680
So we're taking what we've always had,

2137
01:54:04,680 --> 01:54:08,370
like this, traditionally,
a 76, 80,000 population.

2138
01:54:08,370 --> 01:54:10,800
I know we've expanded
in the last little bit.

2139
01:54:10,800 --> 01:54:12,257
Going to 141,000.

2140
01:54:12,257 --> 01:54:13,380
And at the same time,

2141
01:54:13,380 --> 01:54:14,880
we have Destination Niagara Strategy

2142
01:54:14,880 --> 01:54:16,350
where we're looking at bringing

2143
01:54:16,350 --> 01:54:19,230
many more millions here at the same time.

2144
01:54:19,230 --> 01:54:21,120
So we've heard internationally,

2145
01:54:21,120 --> 01:54:22,470
you hear all these other countries

2146
01:54:22,470 --> 01:54:26,100
like Japan canceling their spring blossom

2147
01:54:26,100 --> 01:54:29,400
because the public has gotten
angry with the tourists.

2148
01:54:29,400 --> 01:54:31,350
Alaska's done it, Spain.

2149
01:54:31,350 --> 01:54:32,910
My concern is if we have...

2150
01:54:32,910 --> 01:54:37,710
We need to be able to
blend the two in harmony

2151
01:54:37,710 --> 01:54:39,960
because the last thing
we want is the residents,

2152
01:54:39,960 --> 01:54:42,120
where if we don't have that balance,

2153
01:54:42,120 --> 01:54:43,980
them revolting like these other places

2154
01:54:43,980 --> 01:54:45,150
and not wanting the tourists

2155
01:54:45,150 --> 01:54:46,767
when that is our number one industry

2156
01:54:46,767 --> 01:54:48,660
and we need to protect that.

2157
01:54:48,660 --> 01:54:49,493
So.

2158
01:54:51,870 --> 01:54:52,891
- Thank you, Your Worship.

2159
01:54:52,891 --> 01:54:54,570
And I am going to look to
our consultants as well

2160
01:54:54,570 --> 01:54:57,840
'cause I know during the
initial public consultations

2161
01:54:57,840 --> 01:54:59,700
and things like that,
they heard very strongly

2162
01:54:59,700 --> 01:55:01,850
that the residents also
wanted to be heard.

2163
01:55:02,940 --> 01:55:05,220
Although the tourists are important,

2164
01:55:05,220 --> 01:55:09,180
that they wanted to make sure
they had a place in this plan.

2165
01:55:09,180 --> 01:55:12,030
So they took extra care to
make sure that happened.

2166
01:55:12,030 --> 01:55:14,520
So I don't know if you want to
say anything further on that

2167
01:55:14,520 --> 01:55:15,900
or I can keep elaborating,

2168
01:55:15,900 --> 01:55:19,640
but I know you guys did a
lot of work on that front.

2169
01:55:19,640 --> 01:55:21,240
- Allow me to take a shot

2170
01:55:21,240 --> 01:55:23,670
and invite supplemental, Your Worship,

2171
01:55:23,670 --> 01:55:25,860
and through you to the councilor.

2172
01:55:25,860 --> 01:55:29,079
Ms. Dolch does remind us all of

2173
01:55:29,079 --> 01:55:33,360
that very important
engagement point at outset.

2174
01:55:33,360 --> 01:55:38,223
And was about ensuring that
the voice of residents,

2175
01:55:39,570 --> 01:55:41,070
of current other businesses of tourism

2176
01:55:41,070 --> 01:55:43,800
are also represented through this project

2177
01:55:43,800 --> 01:55:44,823
and this assignment.

2178
01:55:45,720 --> 01:55:48,360
I submit to you that
the draft is prepared.

2179
01:55:48,360 --> 01:55:52,020
Does a pretty halfway
decent job of ensuring

2180
01:55:52,020 --> 01:55:54,810
that there is land that is protected for,

2181
01:55:54,810 --> 01:55:57,090
I'll call them non-tourist businesses,

2182
01:55:57,090 --> 01:55:59,190
and baseline factories,
and items like this

2183
01:55:59,190 --> 01:56:00,240
with the city already doing

2184
01:56:00,240 --> 01:56:01,710
a considerable amount of work

2185
01:56:01,710 --> 01:56:05,370
outside of this process
in that regard as well.

2186
01:56:05,370 --> 01:56:08,700
When it comes to planning
for residential population,

2187
01:56:08,700 --> 01:56:12,210
the employment, sorry,
the entertainment district

2188
01:56:12,210 --> 01:56:15,060
the mixed-use quarters
all provide a function

2189
01:56:15,060 --> 01:56:17,457
in terms of delivering
some of that housing

2190
01:56:17,457 --> 01:56:19,590
and the potential to support that.

2191
01:56:19,590 --> 01:56:22,560
Noting some very different
policies in different areas

2192
01:56:22,560 --> 01:56:24,540
based on plan function.

2193
01:56:24,540 --> 01:56:27,660
Recall my point about
ground floor commercial

2194
01:56:27,660 --> 01:56:28,740
in the entertainment district

2195
01:56:28,740 --> 01:56:30,270
to provide for the interactivity,

2196
01:56:30,270 --> 01:56:32,763
the mixing and the moving of those spaces.

2197
01:56:34,290 --> 01:56:37,740
We continue to reserve lands
including larger holdings

2198
01:56:37,740 --> 01:56:41,190
within the city for
entertainment generation

2199
01:56:41,190 --> 01:56:43,950
and protecting for a long-term tourism

2200
01:56:43,950 --> 01:56:46,590
generating a point there.

2201
01:56:46,590 --> 01:56:47,670
Because if we didn't do that,

2202
01:56:47,670 --> 01:56:50,673
Ms. Dolch would be very furious
with us as a project team.

2203
01:56:51,570 --> 01:56:53,970
So there's a lot of ways that,

2204
01:56:53,970 --> 01:56:57,450
how do both get balanced
and measured out in this

2205
01:56:57,450 --> 01:56:59,160
versus other projects where

2206
01:56:59,160 --> 01:57:01,590
there may not necessarily
be a tourism industry

2207
01:57:01,590 --> 01:57:04,057
where we don't provide for
land use policies that say,

2208
01:57:04,057 --> 01:57:07,110
"Well, we want to put a
tourism generator here."

2209
01:57:07,110 --> 01:57:08,790
That's a pretty unique focus

2210
01:57:08,790 --> 01:57:10,380
and specific element in this plan

2211
01:57:10,380 --> 01:57:11,676
that you don't see elsewhere,

2212
01:57:11,676 --> 01:57:13,950
and I think it's a pretty important...

2213
01:57:13,950 --> 01:57:15,870
As the outsider coming on in here,

2214
01:57:15,870 --> 01:57:17,820
that's a pretty important differentiator

2215
01:57:17,820 --> 01:57:19,910
and means to ensure that
the tourism function

2216
01:57:19,910 --> 01:57:21,646
is being protected.

2217
01:57:21,646 --> 01:57:23,777
I hope that helps answer the question.

2218
01:57:23,777 --> 01:57:24,777
- Thank you.

2219
01:57:26,790 --> 01:57:28,890
- Just some specific examples.

2220
01:57:28,890 --> 01:57:30,090
I'll just give you some.

2221
01:57:31,830 --> 01:57:33,390
we looked at the trail connection.

2222
01:57:33,390 --> 01:57:34,320
So there was a...

2223
01:57:34,320 --> 01:57:37,000
We had a large discussion early on about

2224
01:57:38,310 --> 01:57:40,330
a lot of residents don't necessarily

2225
01:57:41,340 --> 01:57:43,500
go to the tourist area 'cause it's hard,

2226
01:57:43,500 --> 01:57:45,150
not hard to get to, but
they don't want to park,

2227
01:57:45,150 --> 01:57:46,140
they don't want the aggravation.

2228
01:57:46,140 --> 01:57:49,440
So we wanted to make sure the
connections started to happen

2229
01:57:49,440 --> 01:57:51,960
so that the residents had
an easy ability to get there

2230
01:57:51,960 --> 01:57:53,610
through active transportation
or other means.

2231
01:57:53,610 --> 01:57:55,290
So, again, we worked very closely

2232
01:57:55,290 --> 01:57:58,440
with municipal works on that as well.

2233
01:57:58,440 --> 01:58:03,440
And again, the transition between
the entertainment district

2234
01:58:04,110 --> 01:58:05,430
the consultants took extra care

2235
01:58:05,430 --> 01:58:07,350
to make sure there's some compatibility

2236
01:58:07,350 --> 01:58:08,850
because, again, we have residents

2237
01:58:08,850 --> 01:58:10,920
right up against the
entertainment district.

2238
01:58:10,920 --> 01:58:14,070
So in the plan, there's a lot
of policies on compatibility

2239
01:58:14,070 --> 01:58:17,160
and all those things to make
sure that that interface

2240
01:58:17,160 --> 01:58:19,860
is treated appropriately,
just so that we...

2241
01:58:19,860 --> 01:58:22,230
So they took a number of
concerns that the residents had

2242
01:58:22,230 --> 01:58:23,940
and built that into the plan.

2243
01:58:23,940 --> 01:58:24,773
- That's really good.

2244
01:58:24,773 --> 01:58:26,807
I'm very glad that you
paid attention to that

2245
01:58:26,807 --> 01:58:28,770
'cause it is a key thing.

2246
01:58:28,770 --> 01:58:30,090
And another question.

2247
01:58:30,090 --> 01:58:32,580
This is a 25 year horizon plan.

2248
01:58:32,580 --> 01:58:34,830
And in your document, you
said, every five years,

2249
01:58:34,830 --> 01:58:36,120
you will be reviewing it.

2250
01:58:36,120 --> 01:58:38,430
What are the key performance measurements

2251
01:58:38,430 --> 01:58:40,500
that you've indicated to say

2252
01:58:40,500 --> 01:58:42,600
whether it's working or whether we need to

2253
01:58:42,600 --> 01:58:44,613
take a look and review it again?

2254
01:58:47,640 --> 01:58:49,290
- So, thank you, Your Worship.

2255
01:58:49,290 --> 01:58:50,123
Through you to the councilor.

2256
01:58:50,123 --> 01:58:51,900
So there's a number of

2257
01:58:51,900 --> 01:58:54,360
metrics you'll see throughout the plan,

2258
01:58:54,360 --> 01:58:56,820
and some of them are already
been approved by council.

2259
01:58:56,820 --> 01:59:00,810
For example, the Woodland Management Plan.

2260
01:59:00,810 --> 01:59:02,460
Again, there's a metric in there.

2261
01:59:02,460 --> 01:59:07,080
You want to see a tree
canopy of 35% by 2051.

2262
01:59:07,080 --> 01:59:10,380
So we want to make sure that
those things are working.

2263
01:59:10,380 --> 01:59:13,110
So we'll have to obviously work as well

2264
01:59:13,110 --> 01:59:16,110
with municipal works on
determining, is that working?

2265
01:59:16,110 --> 01:59:17,340
Are we losing canopy?

2266
01:59:17,340 --> 01:59:18,690
Are we gaining canopy?

2267
01:59:18,690 --> 01:59:20,490
That's one example.

2268
01:59:20,490 --> 01:59:22,290
We also want to make sure we're getting

2269
01:59:22,290 --> 01:59:23,940
the active transportation connections,

2270
01:59:23,940 --> 01:59:25,800
again, working with municipal works,

2271
01:59:25,800 --> 01:59:28,620
because it's an important
function of any city

2272
01:59:28,620 --> 01:59:30,150
to make sure people can get around,

2273
01:59:30,150 --> 01:59:32,583
not just by cars, but by every mode.

2274
01:59:33,540 --> 01:59:36,030
So those are some of the
things we're looking at.

2275
01:59:36,030 --> 01:59:41,030
In terms of growth, urban design
is a big one for me anyway.

2276
01:59:41,370 --> 01:59:45,240
I want to make sure that when
you look at Niagara Falls,

2277
01:59:45,240 --> 01:59:47,820
and as it grows over the next five years,

2278
01:59:47,820 --> 01:59:49,170
are we getting the developments

2279
01:59:49,170 --> 01:59:52,650
we want to see as a city that works?

2280
01:59:52,650 --> 01:59:54,663
And that people can be proud of and say,

2281
01:59:56,220 --> 01:59:57,990
even though it's a little more intensive

2282
01:59:57,990 --> 01:59:59,940
than what we're used to, does it work?

2283
01:59:59,940 --> 02:00:01,500
And is it functioning appropriately?

2284
02:00:01,500 --> 02:00:02,550
Are we getting good design?

2285
02:00:02,550 --> 02:00:04,530
Are we getting things that make people

2286
02:00:04,530 --> 02:00:05,430
want to come and live here?

2287
02:00:05,430 --> 02:00:07,680
So I think those are a lot of our metrics

2288
02:00:07,680 --> 02:00:09,600
that we're going to be balancing

2289
02:00:09,600 --> 02:00:11,880
as we go to the five-year review.

2290
02:00:11,880 --> 02:00:13,050
How are they working?

2291
02:00:13,050 --> 02:00:14,250
Are they working?

2292
02:00:14,250 --> 02:00:17,430
We could get some pushback

2293
02:00:17,430 --> 02:00:20,610
as provincial legislation
changes on different things.

2294
02:00:20,610 --> 02:00:22,500
Urban design is one of them that we

2295
02:00:22,500 --> 02:00:24,600
are losing more and
more control over time.

2296
02:00:24,600 --> 02:00:28,590
But hopefully, we do have
a good working relationship

2297
02:00:28,590 --> 02:00:30,300
with a lot of builders
and developers here.

2298
02:00:30,300 --> 02:00:33,690
So I do think they take that
seriously, and try to show you,

2299
02:00:33,690 --> 02:00:35,340
obviously, when you see the nice designs

2300
02:00:35,340 --> 02:00:36,300
that they come in with.

2301
02:00:36,300 --> 02:00:37,830
- Yeah, very impressive.

2302
02:00:37,830 --> 02:00:38,790
- If those get built,

2303
02:00:38,790 --> 02:00:41,670
I think people could be proud of the city.

2304
02:00:41,670 --> 02:00:42,503
- So then in the next...

2305
02:00:42,503 --> 02:00:43,590
So in five years from now,

2306
02:00:43,590 --> 02:00:44,820
there would be report to council

2307
02:00:44,820 --> 02:00:46,620
without the highlight saying,

2308
02:00:46,620 --> 02:00:50,670
for example, the tree canopy,
we want to increase it to 25%.

2309
02:00:50,670 --> 02:00:52,680
This is how we're achieving this goal.

2310
02:00:52,680 --> 02:00:53,730
This is how it is.

2311
02:00:53,730 --> 02:00:56,250
Or, our population
growth is not on target.

2312
02:00:56,250 --> 02:01:00,090
We need to start realigning things.

2313
02:01:00,090 --> 02:01:02,640
So we can expect something
like that in a five,

2314
02:01:02,640 --> 02:01:05,600
or council of the day can
expect something like that

2315
02:01:05,600 --> 02:01:06,753
in five years.

2316
02:01:07,680 --> 02:01:08,670
Thank you, Your Worship. Yes.

2317
02:01:08,670 --> 02:01:09,600
And you're going to see.

2318
02:01:09,600 --> 02:01:11,460
You're going to see
different things come in.

2319
02:01:11,460 --> 02:01:14,430
We have urban boundary
expansion policies in this plan,

2320
02:01:14,430 --> 02:01:16,020
so you might start to see

2321
02:01:16,020 --> 02:01:18,480
people requesting urban
boundary expansions.

2322
02:01:18,480 --> 02:01:20,100
We could see that they demonstrate

2323
02:01:20,100 --> 02:01:22,500
there's need three years from now.

2324
02:01:22,500 --> 02:01:24,390
They might say, "Hey, we need more land,

2325
02:01:24,390 --> 02:01:25,800
and we've done our numbers."

2326
02:01:25,800 --> 02:01:27,090
So you're going to see all of that.

2327
02:01:27,090 --> 02:01:27,930
Those are the metrics,

2328
02:01:27,930 --> 02:01:29,460
but in the end, in the five-year review,

2329
02:01:29,460 --> 02:01:30,900
we are going to look at those numbers.

2330
02:01:30,900 --> 02:01:32,430
Are they still realistic?

2331
02:01:32,430 --> 02:01:33,750
Do we need to add more land?

2332
02:01:33,750 --> 02:01:34,710
Do we not need to have them?

2333
02:01:34,710 --> 02:01:36,750
So all those things, all those metrics,

2334
02:01:36,750 --> 02:01:39,150
our goal in the end in this plan,

2335
02:01:39,150 --> 02:01:42,630
and you don't see it here
because it's textual still,

2336
02:01:42,630 --> 02:01:45,270
But there are going to
be some metric boxes

2337
02:01:45,270 --> 02:01:47,310
and things on the side.

2338
02:01:47,310 --> 02:01:49,950
It's just, again, we have to
make everything AODA-compliant.

2339
02:01:49,950 --> 02:01:52,593
So until the final, final is done,

2340
02:01:54,180 --> 02:01:56,670
you won't see that until the very end

2341
02:01:56,670 --> 02:01:58,680
once the province approves everything.

2342
02:01:58,680 --> 02:01:59,610
- One final question.

2343
02:01:59,610 --> 02:02:03,600
So as you've changed some
designations, is there...

2344
02:02:03,600 --> 02:02:05,487
And I don't know how that lines up.

2345
02:02:05,487 --> 02:02:07,080
But if I was a resident all of a sudden,

2346
02:02:07,080 --> 02:02:11,010
I went from rural to agriculture,

2347
02:02:11,010 --> 02:02:13,680
or in anything where
there's significant changes,

2348
02:02:13,680 --> 02:02:15,517
are we notifying the residents that,

2349
02:02:15,517 --> 02:02:19,050
"Hey, your zoning has been changed.

2350
02:02:19,050 --> 02:02:20,400
This can affect you."

2351
02:02:20,400 --> 02:02:21,990
or are we just relying on them

2352
02:02:21,990 --> 02:02:24,690
to find us through the website,

2353
02:02:24,690 --> 02:02:26,433
the official plan, and come here?

2354
02:02:27,420 --> 02:02:28,380
- Thank you, Your Worship.

2355
02:02:28,380 --> 02:02:30,360
So I know there's a bit of confusion

2356
02:02:30,360 --> 02:02:32,010
between zoning and official plan.

2357
02:02:32,010 --> 02:02:33,780
So we're just designating, not zoning.

2358
02:02:33,780 --> 02:02:35,640
Zoning's with the zoning bylaw,

2359
02:02:35,640 --> 02:02:36,810
but I do it all the time too.

2360
02:02:36,810 --> 02:02:38,820
I always say zoning
and I mean designation.

2361
02:02:38,820 --> 02:02:39,993
- I mean, yes.
- Yeah.

2362
02:02:41,010 --> 02:02:42,183
But yes.

2363
02:02:44,014 --> 02:02:45,660
So under the Planning Act, we do just...

2364
02:02:45,660 --> 02:02:47,460
Because it's such a large document,

2365
02:02:47,460 --> 02:02:50,040
we can't notify everyone in the city,

2366
02:02:50,040 --> 02:02:54,390
but we have done an
extensive public process.

2367
02:02:54,390 --> 02:02:56,280
This has been going on almost two years

2368
02:02:56,280 --> 02:02:58,320
or more than two years now.

2369
02:02:58,320 --> 02:03:01,110
So, we hope that most
people have paid attention.

2370
02:03:01,110 --> 02:03:02,490
We've tried.

2371
02:03:02,490 --> 02:03:05,010
There's been pop-ups.
They've gone to markets.

2372
02:03:05,010 --> 02:03:08,160
So we've tried to get
out as much as we can

2373
02:03:08,160 --> 02:03:11,670
to the general population as best we can.

2374
02:03:11,670 --> 02:03:14,550
So we don't notify individually though.

2375
02:03:14,550 --> 02:03:15,383
- Okay. Very good.

2376
02:03:15,383 --> 02:03:16,590
Thank you.

2377
02:03:16,590 --> 02:03:18,040
- Thank you. Councilor Patel.

2378
02:03:19,290 --> 02:03:20,400
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2379
02:03:20,400 --> 02:03:24,450
Through you, Mr. Mayor, to
maybe Ms. Dolch actually.

2380
02:03:24,450 --> 02:03:27,990
The entertainment district
comes on Victoria Avenue.

2381
02:03:27,990 --> 02:03:29,880
Why not extend it to Queen Street?

2382
02:03:29,880 --> 02:03:32,580
Was there a reason why we
didn't include Queen Street

2383
02:03:32,580 --> 02:03:34,560
in Entertainment District?

2384
02:03:34,560 --> 02:03:35,940
There are lots of restaurants

2385
02:03:35,940 --> 02:03:38,160
and there are lots of entertainment venues

2386
02:03:38,160 --> 02:03:39,710
right here on the Queen Street.

2387
02:03:40,890 --> 02:03:41,723
- Thank you, Your Worship.

2388
02:03:41,723 --> 02:03:44,260
And if the consultants
want to jump in or...

2389
02:03:44,260 --> 02:03:46,900
But I do know we had a long discussion on

2390
02:03:48,090 --> 02:03:50,370
where that entertainment district stopped.

2391
02:03:50,370 --> 02:03:55,370
We did kind of originally
have along that corridor

2392
02:03:57,720 --> 02:03:59,670
a little bit of a different connection.

2393
02:03:59,670 --> 02:04:03,777
Now it's mixed-use 2 up
Victoria all the way through.

2394
02:04:03,777 --> 02:04:06,240
And mixed-use 2 does still permit height

2395
02:04:06,240 --> 02:04:07,110
and all the other things,

2396
02:04:07,110 --> 02:04:08,730
and still permits a lot of the provisions

2397
02:04:08,730 --> 02:04:10,140
that are in the entertainment district.

2398
02:04:10,140 --> 02:04:11,970
It just has a cap on height.

2399
02:04:11,970 --> 02:04:12,960
So we're trying to keep...

2400
02:04:12,960 --> 02:04:16,020
The entertainment district
has a no height limit.

2401
02:04:16,020 --> 02:04:17,884
Mixed-use 2.

2402
02:04:17,884 --> 02:04:18,717
And Kailen's going to correct me,

2403
02:04:18,717 --> 02:04:20,670
is it 32 stories?

2404
02:04:20,670 --> 02:04:22,650
High-rise, mixed-use 2.

2405
02:04:22,650 --> 02:04:25,110
So they can go up to 32 stories.

2406
02:04:25,110 --> 02:04:27,720
The permissions are
generally very similar,

2407
02:04:27,720 --> 02:04:30,660
except for, obviously, we
didn't want to see casinos

2408
02:04:30,660 --> 02:04:34,500
and other things maybe on
Victoria coming all the way up,

2409
02:04:34,500 --> 02:04:35,850
because, again, we're trying to limit

2410
02:04:35,850 --> 02:04:37,860
to the tourist core area.

2411
02:04:37,860 --> 02:04:40,590
That was just our decision
making thought at that time.

2412
02:04:40,590 --> 02:04:41,880
I don't know if Your Honor had anything.

2413
02:04:41,880 --> 02:04:44,717
- Just briefly, through Mr. Mayor.

2414
02:04:46,572 --> 02:04:48,227
When you look at Niagara Falls,

2415
02:04:48,227 --> 02:04:50,580
and you look at the downtown,

2416
02:04:50,580 --> 02:04:52,620
and then the entertainment district,

2417
02:04:52,620 --> 02:04:55,860
in between those two is a neighborhood.

2418
02:04:55,860 --> 02:04:58,900
So our objective is to

2419
02:05:01,170 --> 02:05:06,170
promote the significant
success of the downtown

2420
02:05:07,170 --> 02:05:09,660
and the entertainment district,

2421
02:05:09,660 --> 02:05:12,450
which is the focus of tourism

2422
02:05:12,450 --> 02:05:17,450
while still protecting the
sanctity of that interstitial,

2423
02:05:19,230 --> 02:05:22,140
low-rise residential neighborhood.

2424
02:05:22,140 --> 02:05:24,540
That's a pretty important element.

2425
02:05:24,540 --> 02:05:29,250
That could change over time
if there's a desire to do so.

2426
02:05:29,250 --> 02:05:33,420
We did not hear that desire at this time,

2427
02:05:33,420 --> 02:05:38,420
but it's understandable that
30, 40, 50 years from now,

2428
02:05:39,120 --> 02:05:42,870
they could grow naturally together,

2429
02:05:42,870 --> 02:05:44,920
but they're not quite ready for that yet.

2430
02:05:46,278 --> 02:05:47,310
- Thank you.

2431
02:05:47,310 --> 02:05:49,443
Another question, through you, Mr. Mayor.

2432
02:05:50,610 --> 02:05:53,430
In a presentation, it
said rooftop gardens,

2433
02:05:53,430 --> 02:05:57,060
private and communal outdoor
patios, decks and gardens.

2434
02:05:57,060 --> 02:06:01,710
So will that be just the
encouragement for the developers

2435
02:06:01,710 --> 02:06:04,860
or will that be part of
the policy going forward

2436
02:06:04,860 --> 02:06:06,017
that we want to see?

2437
02:06:08,850 --> 02:06:09,870
- Thank you, Your Worship.

2438
02:06:09,870 --> 02:06:12,240
So, again, it's part of
the policy we want to see.

2439
02:06:12,240 --> 02:06:14,910
We want to encourage all those things.

2440
02:06:14,910 --> 02:06:16,170
Obviously rooftop gardens.

2441
02:06:16,170 --> 02:06:17,750
We do have provisions right now

2442
02:06:17,750 --> 02:06:19,430
in our zoning bylaw for amenity space,

2443
02:06:19,430 --> 02:06:21,810
so a lot of times you will
see those rooftop gardens

2444
02:06:21,810 --> 02:06:23,460
because they can't
provide it on the ground.

2445
02:06:23,460 --> 02:06:26,130
But things we want still in this plan

2446
02:06:26,130 --> 02:06:29,580
is encourage and support
those things going forward.

2447
02:06:29,580 --> 02:06:31,470
- It could become policy
in the future maybe?

2448
02:06:31,470 --> 02:06:32,303
- Yeah.

2449
02:06:33,390 --> 02:06:34,500
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2450
02:06:34,500 --> 02:06:36,998
I have a question about
the industrial land.

2451
02:06:36,998 --> 02:06:38,430
And I'm going to start
by I always say that

2452
02:06:38,430 --> 02:06:39,900
you need a job to buy a house,

2453
02:06:39,900 --> 02:06:42,150
not a house to get a job, right?

2454
02:06:42,150 --> 02:06:43,950
In last four years as a councilor,

2455
02:06:43,950 --> 02:06:46,170
we have seen multiple application where

2456
02:06:46,170 --> 02:06:49,740
we always see issues between
industry and residential,

2457
02:06:49,740 --> 02:06:52,340
maybe the residential
encouragement on the industry.

2458
02:06:53,777 --> 02:06:57,270
We make a decision
application by application.

2459
02:06:57,270 --> 02:06:59,670
Is there opportunity in our official plan

2460
02:06:59,670 --> 02:07:03,210
to strengthen that policy framework

2461
02:07:03,210 --> 02:07:07,350
to give a greater protection
of those industries

2462
02:07:07,350 --> 02:07:11,733
and the business that create
the job and implement this.

2463
02:07:13,920 --> 02:07:16,500
- Thank you, Your Worship,
through you to the councilor.

2464
02:07:16,500 --> 02:07:18,900
So we did do a little bit of that.

2465
02:07:18,900 --> 02:07:20,580
In the industrial area,

2466
02:07:20,580 --> 02:07:23,850
we did require 300 meter separation.

2467
02:07:23,850 --> 02:07:24,900
In the policies right now,

2468
02:07:24,900 --> 02:07:26,640
we asked for a 300 meter separation

2469
02:07:26,640 --> 02:07:29,100
between that and a sensitive land use.

2470
02:07:29,100 --> 02:07:32,340
So we have tried to go a bit beyond

2471
02:07:32,340 --> 02:07:34,860
what the D6 requirement would be.

2472
02:07:34,860 --> 02:07:37,770
So it's for any industrial
besides sensitive.

2473
02:07:37,770 --> 02:07:39,750
So we have done that.

2474
02:07:39,750 --> 02:07:41,710
The standard practice normally

2475
02:07:42,825 --> 02:07:44,940
is your D6 guidelines by the province,

2476
02:07:44,940 --> 02:07:47,580
and that's your class
one is 20 meter distance,

2477
02:07:47,580 --> 02:07:48,750
class two, 70,

2478
02:07:48,750 --> 02:07:50,250
and class three, 300.

2479
02:07:50,250 --> 02:07:52,260
Those are the minimum
separation distances.

2480
02:07:52,260 --> 02:07:55,890
So we've kind of gone to
the more extreme case,

2481
02:07:55,890 --> 02:07:57,630
just given our experience

2482
02:07:57,630 --> 02:07:59,480
in the city of Niagara Falls to date.

2483
02:08:00,690 --> 02:08:03,000
I will advise that we did
hear from the comment.

2484
02:08:03,000 --> 02:08:04,440
You'll see the comments from the province

2485
02:08:04,440 --> 02:08:05,880
saying that that should be removed.

2486
02:08:05,880 --> 02:08:08,910
So we took it under consideration

2487
02:08:08,910 --> 02:08:11,730
because of all the
concerns raised by council

2488
02:08:11,730 --> 02:08:15,030
and wanted to make that
change in this policy.

2489
02:08:15,030 --> 02:08:15,863
- Thank you.

2490
02:08:16,980 --> 02:08:17,813
- Okay, thank you.

2491
02:08:17,813 --> 02:08:19,503
Any other questions of council?

2492
02:08:20,670 --> 02:08:21,503
Okay.

2493
02:08:21,503 --> 02:08:22,860
Then I have one question.

2494
02:08:22,860 --> 02:08:23,910
I don't know if this is directed

2495
02:08:23,910 --> 02:08:26,700
to our consultants or to our staff.

2496
02:08:26,700 --> 02:08:28,983
It's in regard to the tree canopy.

2497
02:08:30,030 --> 02:08:33,780
So in the report, it said that
we've got a 30% tree canopy,

2498
02:08:33,780 --> 02:08:36,330
and we're looking to go to 35.

2499
02:08:36,330 --> 02:08:37,320
So I don't know who would I...

2500
02:08:37,320 --> 02:08:38,690
Do I direct this to our...

2501
02:08:39,870 --> 02:08:42,173
Nobody's rushing to stand
up, so I'm assuming that...

2502
02:08:42,173 --> 02:08:43,006
Okay.

2503
02:08:43,006 --> 02:08:46,320
So let me just ask this question before...

2504
02:08:46,320 --> 02:08:48,540
So the question is,

2505
02:08:48,540 --> 02:08:51,990
where did that number come from, the 35?

2506
02:08:51,990 --> 02:08:54,180
We're currently, as I understand it,

2507
02:08:54,180 --> 02:08:57,360
the third best tree canopy in the region,

2508
02:08:57,360 --> 02:08:59,010
only behind Fort Erie and Pelham.

2509
02:08:59,910 --> 02:09:01,140
St. Catharines and Welland,

2510
02:09:01,140 --> 02:09:04,173
the only other two major
urban centers, sit at 22.

2511
02:09:05,010 --> 02:09:07,530
So, we are sitting at 30.

2512
02:09:07,530 --> 02:09:08,370
We're already doing...

2513
02:09:08,370 --> 02:09:09,720
Where did 35 come from?

2514
02:09:09,720 --> 02:09:10,920
I just wonder where that number.

2515
02:09:10,920 --> 02:09:12,780
Yep, thank you.
- Thank you, Your Worship.

2516
02:09:12,780 --> 02:09:15,210
So the Urban Forestry Management Plan

2517
02:09:15,210 --> 02:09:17,880
that was approved a little while ago

2518
02:09:17,880 --> 02:09:21,210
had identified that we
have the 30% canopy,

2519
02:09:21,210 --> 02:09:26,210
but that we wanted a
target of 35% in 2051.

2520
02:09:26,310 --> 02:09:27,414
So that's where it came from.

2521
02:09:27,414 --> 02:09:28,890
- So it came from the report?

2522
02:09:28,890 --> 02:09:31,203
- No, the Urban Forestry Management Plan.

2523
02:09:32,130 --> 02:09:32,963
I can't remember.

2524
02:09:32,963 --> 02:09:34,170
Erik, I can't remember when.

2525
02:09:34,170 --> 02:09:35,610
It came to council a little while ago.

2526
02:09:35,610 --> 02:09:36,780
I don't know the exact date,

2527
02:09:36,780 --> 02:09:38,531
but I can probably get that for you.

2528
02:09:38,531 --> 02:09:39,600
- [Erik] Yeah, four weeks ago.

2529
02:09:39,600 --> 02:09:40,933
- Yeah, three, four maybe.

2530
02:09:40,933 --> 02:09:43,337
- Okay, so I just wondered
where the number came from.

2531
02:09:43,337 --> 02:09:44,617
I mean, did they just...

2532
02:09:44,617 --> 02:09:46,710
I know they had it then,
but where did it come from?

2533
02:09:46,710 --> 02:09:48,600
Is this a random number
we just picked at target?

2534
02:09:48,600 --> 02:09:50,940
I just wondered, was there
some science behind this

2535
02:09:50,940 --> 02:09:53,343
or is this just a wishlist?

2536
02:09:54,300 --> 02:09:55,133
- Thank you, Your Worship.

2537
02:09:55,133 --> 02:09:57,480
I may have to wait for Mr.
Nickel to get back on that

2538
02:09:57,480 --> 02:10:00,630
because it was through the
Urban Forestry Management Plan.

2539
02:10:00,630 --> 02:10:02,940
Obviously, while we undertook this work,

2540
02:10:02,940 --> 02:10:05,550
we had a lot of those drafts
as we worked through them.

2541
02:10:05,550 --> 02:10:08,850
So we built in all the
plans and all the documents

2542
02:10:08,850 --> 02:10:11,760
that were kind of underway
into the policies.

2543
02:10:11,760 --> 02:10:12,870
- In fairness to Mr. Nickel,

2544
02:10:12,870 --> 02:10:14,130
it was his birthday yesterday,

2545
02:10:14,130 --> 02:10:16,203
so he may be a little bit rough today.

2546
02:10:17,100 --> 02:10:18,560
Okay, so now...

2547
02:10:19,500 --> 02:10:20,940
Yes, Councilor Patel.

2548
02:10:20,940 --> 02:10:21,810
- That point, Mr. Mayor,

2549
02:10:21,810 --> 02:10:23,310
I just want to add something.

2550
02:10:23,310 --> 02:10:25,803
I was at the airport a couple
days ago for a meeting,

2551
02:10:25,803 --> 02:10:29,160
and there was a lady there waiting to

2552
02:10:29,160 --> 02:10:31,950
catch the landline for the Air Canada.

2553
02:10:31,950 --> 02:10:34,920
And we started talking and
she was from California.

2554
02:10:34,920 --> 02:10:37,050
And she was going to catch her flight

2555
02:10:37,050 --> 02:10:38,580
for Air Canada in Toronto.

2556
02:10:38,580 --> 02:10:43,580
And she told me that she
does this Miyawaki forest.

2557
02:10:44,460 --> 02:10:47,643
It's a forest that grows
in very small area.

2558
02:10:47,643 --> 02:10:49,620
It's some unique technique they use

2559
02:10:49,620 --> 02:10:51,060
that they plant so many trees

2560
02:10:51,060 --> 02:10:53,610
and within maybe a three meter,

2561
02:10:53,610 --> 02:10:55,530
and it becomes a small forest.

2562
02:10:55,530 --> 02:10:57,540
And I think Lincoln has
some project like that.

2563
02:10:57,540 --> 02:10:59,340
They got some grant to
do, something like that.

2564
02:10:59,340 --> 02:11:00,870
Maybe I think we can look into that

2565
02:11:00,870 --> 02:11:02,970
maybe to increase over canopy.

2566
02:11:02,970 --> 02:11:03,803
It was interesting.

2567
02:11:03,803 --> 02:11:06,960
She was very excited to
tell me about her project.

2568
02:11:06,960 --> 02:11:09,120
She's a teacher in California,

2569
02:11:09,120 --> 02:11:12,870
and she grew this forest
in abandoned parking lot

2570
02:11:12,870 --> 02:11:15,210
and they just took all the tarmac off

2571
02:11:15,210 --> 02:11:16,200
and they made a forest.

2572
02:11:16,200 --> 02:11:17,250
And so it was pretty interesting.

2573
02:11:17,250 --> 02:11:19,197
She was showing me pictures.

2574
02:11:19,197 --> 02:11:20,287
I just wanted to add that because I,

2575
02:11:20,287 --> 02:11:22,380
something I learned new from

2576
02:11:22,380 --> 02:11:23,640
just have a conversation with someone.

2577
02:11:23,640 --> 02:11:24,852
- Thank you. Thank you for that.

2578
02:11:24,852 --> 02:11:26,773
Councilor Lococo.

2579
02:11:26,773 --> 02:11:28,020
- I was going to bring
this in my comments,

2580
02:11:28,020 --> 02:11:30,240
but it's specifically
about the tree canopy.

2581
02:11:30,240 --> 02:11:32,460
I know we talk in our plan about replacing

2582
02:11:32,460 --> 02:11:35,880
two to one and even three
to one in other woodlands.

2583
02:11:35,880 --> 02:11:38,490
There's a difference
between replacing a tree,

2584
02:11:38,490 --> 02:11:39,600
like a little sapling,

2585
02:11:39,600 --> 02:11:44,070
in comparison to a 70-year-old
tree that has a huge canopy.

2586
02:11:44,070 --> 02:11:46,410
We can't just look at the numbers of trees

2587
02:11:46,410 --> 02:11:47,640
that we're replacing.

2588
02:11:47,640 --> 02:11:49,170
We need to look at the canopy

2589
02:11:49,170 --> 02:11:50,600
because what the canopy is,

2590
02:11:50,600 --> 02:11:53,250
is if I'm a tree and
my canopy goes to here

2591
02:11:53,250 --> 02:11:55,950
and Councillor Baldinelli's
canopy touches,

2592
02:11:55,950 --> 02:11:57,570
that's what the canopy is.

2593
02:11:57,570 --> 02:11:59,370
If you remove that tree,

2594
02:11:59,370 --> 02:12:02,160
say Councillor Baldinelli is now removed

2595
02:12:02,160 --> 02:12:04,050
and now Councilor Patel is a tree,

2596
02:12:04,050 --> 02:12:05,820
we don't have a canopy anymore.

2597
02:12:05,820 --> 02:12:07,560
We just have a little stick tree.

2598
02:12:07,560 --> 02:12:11,880
So it's not just about the
replacement number of trees.

2599
02:12:11,880 --> 02:12:13,500
It's about the actual canopy.

2600
02:12:13,500 --> 02:12:15,690
So we have to keep that in mind.

2601
02:12:15,690 --> 02:12:19,290
- Yeah, I know, but that doesn't
address what I was asking.

2602
02:12:19,290 --> 02:12:21,030
I know what a canopy is,

2603
02:12:21,030 --> 02:12:24,360
but also smaller trees grow
quicker than bigger trees.

2604
02:12:24,360 --> 02:12:26,490
And the only thing we can control is...

2605
02:12:26,490 --> 02:12:28,230
What are you pointing at?

2606
02:12:28,230 --> 02:12:29,760
Okay. We'll get to him.

2607
02:12:29,760 --> 02:12:30,610
We'll get to him.

2608
02:12:32,736 --> 02:12:33,569
The point being though,

2609
02:12:33,569 --> 02:12:35,010
we're not going to plant the mature trees.

2610
02:12:35,010 --> 02:12:37,860
We're planting saplings,
which grow into big trees.

2611
02:12:37,860 --> 02:12:40,200
So our policy, this says here two to one.

2612
02:12:40,200 --> 02:12:42,450
And this was one of the
other questions I had.

2613
02:12:42,450 --> 02:12:46,320
And for me, this is very
important because some trees die,

2614
02:12:46,320 --> 02:12:47,280
some trees are diseased,

2615
02:12:47,280 --> 02:12:48,780
some trees are in the wrong places.

2616
02:12:48,780 --> 02:12:49,800
You have to replace them.

2617
02:12:49,800 --> 02:12:51,267
So how are you going to do that?

2618
02:12:51,267 --> 02:12:54,060
And the easiest, simplest
way is you plant more trees.

2619
02:12:54,060 --> 02:12:57,150
And to me, you replace a
tree, replace it with three.

2620
02:12:57,150 --> 02:12:59,040
That's what I thought
we've been going along,

2621
02:12:59,040 --> 02:12:59,873
and that's what I say

2622
02:12:59,873 --> 02:13:01,380
when I go to all the schools to the kids,

2623
02:13:01,380 --> 02:13:03,930
and I'm surprised to
see two to one in here.

2624
02:13:03,930 --> 02:13:06,060
So I just wondered if we
can get that addressed on

2625
02:13:06,060 --> 02:13:08,357
where that number came from
to help with our canopy.

2626
02:13:08,357 --> 02:13:09,650
'Cause the only way we're going to do it

2627
02:13:09,650 --> 02:13:11,163
is we plant more trees.

2628
02:13:12,270 --> 02:13:13,103
- Thank you, Your Worship.

2629
02:13:13,103 --> 02:13:14,220
So we have a bit of a...

2630
02:13:14,220 --> 02:13:17,580
So the two to one scenario came.

2631
02:13:17,580 --> 02:13:21,030
It was previously a direction

2632
02:13:21,030 --> 02:13:24,540
or a request by Councilor
Pietrangelo and Councillor Strange

2633
02:13:24,540 --> 02:13:27,240
for any development
site to kind of replace

2634
02:13:27,240 --> 02:13:29,880
any trees at a two-to-one ratio.

2635
02:13:29,880 --> 02:13:33,000
So that's how we started
with these policies.

2636
02:13:33,000 --> 02:13:35,700
Then we also had other woodlands.

2637
02:13:35,700 --> 02:13:38,370
Other woodlands are something,

2638
02:13:38,370 --> 02:13:39,990
a larger woodland.

2639
02:13:39,990 --> 02:13:41,340
And they're protected right now

2640
02:13:41,340 --> 02:13:42,780
by the region's policy plan

2641
02:13:42,780 --> 02:13:44,820
saying you can't really
go into other woodlands.

2642
02:13:44,820 --> 02:13:46,120
They're kind of protected.

2643
02:13:47,280 --> 02:13:49,740
There's some wiggle room with that,

2644
02:13:49,740 --> 02:13:51,990
but compensation really
isn't on the table.

2645
02:13:51,990 --> 02:13:54,990
So with this plan, we tried
to find middle ground.

2646
02:13:54,990 --> 02:13:57,790
We knew that there was
concern out there about

2647
02:13:59,910 --> 02:14:02,790
the policies of the region
that we're being too strict.

2648
02:14:02,790 --> 02:14:04,560
So we wanted to kind of
find a middle ground.

2649
02:14:04,560 --> 02:14:06,390
So we went with a three to one

2650
02:14:06,390 --> 02:14:07,860
because you had two to one on the other.

2651
02:14:07,860 --> 02:14:09,780
Now these are a little
more significant woodlots.

2652
02:14:09,780 --> 02:14:12,780
We went to a three to one for replacement.

2653
02:14:12,780 --> 02:14:15,990
The preference here is that
you try to do it on site,

2654
02:14:15,990 --> 02:14:17,730
but if you can't, you can go elsewhere

2655
02:14:17,730 --> 02:14:19,023
'cause, again, we want to make sure

2656
02:14:19,023 --> 02:14:21,900
that we protect the longer tree canopy.

2657
02:14:21,900 --> 02:14:23,700
And if it is going to be lost,

2658
02:14:23,700 --> 02:14:25,350
we want to make sure we protect it.

2659
02:14:26,190 --> 02:14:31,190
As you heard earlier, it is
beyond provincial policy,

2660
02:14:31,350 --> 02:14:33,510
but we want to make sure
we have the tree canopy,

2661
02:14:33,510 --> 02:14:36,630
and your goal of kind of 35%.

2662
02:14:36,630 --> 02:14:38,820
And that's why even with other wetlands,

2663
02:14:38,820 --> 02:14:41,730
we go to a five-to-one category.

2664
02:14:41,730 --> 02:14:45,090
So we progressively increased it

2665
02:14:45,090 --> 02:14:46,530
from that two-to-one scenario

2666
02:14:46,530 --> 02:14:48,210
that was recommended originally.

2667
02:14:48,210 --> 02:14:49,470
That's where the numbers came from.

2668
02:14:49,470 --> 02:14:50,940
- Thank You. Thank you.

2669
02:14:50,940 --> 02:14:52,530
Mr. Burgess, you wanted to weigh in?

2670
02:14:52,530 --> 02:14:54,420
- Yeah, just specifically
to your question, Mayor,

2671
02:14:54,420 --> 02:14:57,060
and when Mr. Nickel comes back.

2672
02:14:57,060 --> 02:14:59,910
There are benchmarks that

2673
02:14:59,910 --> 02:15:01,470
like US Forestry Services

2674
02:15:01,470 --> 02:15:04,167
and other scientific people on that,

2675
02:15:04,167 --> 02:15:05,970
and they set different benchmarks.

2676
02:15:05,970 --> 02:15:07,220
It depends whether you're

2677
02:15:09,330 --> 02:15:11,070
deemed to be in a grassland environment,

2678
02:15:11,070 --> 02:15:15,840
a desert environment, or a
temperate forest environment.

2679
02:15:15,840 --> 02:15:17,520
And in the US and a lot of major cities,

2680
02:15:17,520 --> 02:15:19,560
you'll see the benchmark is at 40%,

2681
02:15:19,560 --> 02:15:22,620
unless you're in the desert,
then it's at 20 to 25%.

2682
02:15:22,620 --> 02:15:24,480
So there is benchmarking that

2683
02:15:24,480 --> 02:15:27,690
that 35% analysis came up with

2684
02:15:27,690 --> 02:15:32,223
because of our urban and
rural split in the area.

2685
02:15:33,064 --> 02:15:36,750
But Mr. Nickel and our forestry team

2686
02:15:36,750 --> 02:15:38,520
could probably give you
a bit more information

2687
02:15:38,520 --> 02:15:40,740
on how that 35% benchmark was set.

2688
02:15:40,740 --> 02:15:43,740
But there are standards
out there in North America

2689
02:15:43,740 --> 02:15:47,583
for tree canopy coverage for
urban and non-urban centers.

2690
02:15:48,435 --> 02:15:50,310
- Thank you. Thank you.

2691
02:15:50,310 --> 02:15:51,720
Councilor Strange.

2692
02:15:51,720 --> 02:15:52,710
- Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2693
02:15:52,710 --> 02:15:54,900
And talking about the urban canopy,

2694
02:15:54,900 --> 02:15:56,340
and we always like to give kudos

2695
02:15:56,340 --> 02:15:58,260
to our Environmental Action Committee,

2696
02:15:58,260 --> 02:16:00,120
because, currently, right now,

2697
02:16:00,120 --> 02:16:03,930
we are planting 500 trees per year,

2698
02:16:03,930 --> 02:16:07,650
and we've been doing, I think,
the last four years already.

2699
02:16:07,650 --> 02:16:11,250
So if you add those amount of
trees, which could be more,

2700
02:16:11,250 --> 02:16:13,590
by the time we get to 2031,

2701
02:16:13,590 --> 02:16:17,160
we're going to have 12,500 trees planted.

2702
02:16:17,160 --> 02:16:19,710
And I don't know if there's
anyone in this room,

2703
02:16:19,710 --> 02:16:21,480
including Jason, I could do the math,

2704
02:16:21,480 --> 02:16:24,090
what that would do to our urban canopy

2705
02:16:24,090 --> 02:16:26,520
because it would be huge.

2706
02:16:26,520 --> 02:16:27,600
I don't think any other city

2707
02:16:27,600 --> 02:16:29,790
is doing that in Canada besides us.

2708
02:16:29,790 --> 02:16:30,750
So kudos to us,

2709
02:16:30,750 --> 02:16:33,090
and we've got Lesley Laan over there

2710
02:16:33,090 --> 02:16:34,620
on Environmental Action Committee.

2711
02:16:34,620 --> 02:16:37,740
So we've been doing
quite a bit towards that

2712
02:16:37,740 --> 02:16:38,910
and hitting that market.

2713
02:16:38,910 --> 02:16:40,680
- Very Good, very good.

2714
02:16:40,680 --> 02:16:41,790
Councilor Pietrangelo.

2715
02:16:41,790 --> 02:16:42,738
- Yeah. Thanks, Your Worship.

2716
02:16:42,738 --> 02:16:44,040
I just wanted to comment on one thing

2717
02:16:44,040 --> 02:16:46,410
that Ms. Dolch was talking about
with the two-to-one policy.

2718
02:16:46,410 --> 02:16:47,741
The other item that we brought up,

2719
02:16:47,741 --> 02:16:50,070
and I know it's going to come
back in the zoning bylaw,

2720
02:16:50,070 --> 02:16:53,640
was apartments because right
now residential units, I think,

2721
02:16:53,640 --> 02:16:56,640
for every one residential
unit that gets built,

2722
02:16:56,640 --> 02:16:58,620
there's one tree that's required.

2723
02:16:58,620 --> 02:17:01,470
So the developer has to put
that in front of the house.

2724
02:17:01,470 --> 02:17:03,750
And if there isn't room
to put that tree there,

2725
02:17:03,750 --> 02:17:06,600
then they pay the city
X amount of dollars,

2726
02:17:06,600 --> 02:17:09,030
and then the city will go
and plant that tree there,

2727
02:17:09,030 --> 02:17:11,010
or go and plant it someplace else.

2728
02:17:11,010 --> 02:17:12,300
Sorry.

2729
02:17:12,300 --> 02:17:14,400
But at least it's a one-to-one policy.

2730
02:17:14,400 --> 02:17:17,220
We were asking for a two-to-one policy.

2731
02:17:17,220 --> 02:17:18,330
With apartments though,

2732
02:17:18,330 --> 02:17:20,430
I don't believe it's a one-to-one policy,

2733
02:17:20,430 --> 02:17:22,650
or with high-rise condos.

2734
02:17:22,650 --> 02:17:24,300
It's not a one-to-one policy.

2735
02:17:24,300 --> 02:17:27,540
Oftentimes, they're limited in
terms of space that they have

2736
02:17:27,540 --> 02:17:29,370
in order to plant trees,

2737
02:17:29,370 --> 02:17:31,740
but it's not even yet a one-to-one policy.

2738
02:17:31,740 --> 02:17:34,530
So if you have a 40-unit
apartment building,

2739
02:17:34,530 --> 02:17:37,560
the city doesn't require
them to plant 40 trees.

2740
02:17:37,560 --> 02:17:38,880
They might be able to have

2741
02:17:38,880 --> 02:17:41,700
10 of them on their
property and 30 elsewhere,

2742
02:17:41,700 --> 02:17:43,770
but we don't have that requirement yet.

2743
02:17:43,770 --> 02:17:46,470
So that's another thing
that we were saying is that,

2744
02:17:46,470 --> 02:17:49,110
for high density residential,

2745
02:17:49,110 --> 02:17:51,270
there still needs to be
that one-to-one policy

2746
02:17:51,270 --> 02:17:53,220
because there is that one-to-one policy

2747
02:17:53,220 --> 02:17:54,750
for single family homes.

2748
02:17:54,750 --> 02:17:56,460
So it should filter over

2749
02:17:56,460 --> 02:17:58,530
into high-density residential as well.

2750
02:18:00,502 --> 02:18:01,500
- Okay, good. Thank you.

2751
02:18:01,500 --> 02:18:02,643
Oh, look who's back?

2752
02:18:03,630 --> 02:18:05,820
We were talking about
you while you were away.

2753
02:18:05,820 --> 02:18:06,970
Councillor Nieuwesteeg.

2754
02:18:07,950 --> 02:18:10,020
- I just want to make one
comment about the tree canopy,

2755
02:18:10,020 --> 02:18:12,180
and I though it was wonderful
that you have it there.

2756
02:18:12,180 --> 02:18:16,050
If you're looking for areas
to put those excess trees

2757
02:18:16,050 --> 02:18:20,520
those old city streets
that used to be lined

2758
02:18:20,520 --> 02:18:23,220
Barker Street, Culp Street, Murray Street,

2759
02:18:23,220 --> 02:18:24,390
used to be lined with trees,

2760
02:18:24,390 --> 02:18:27,570
but as time has gone
on, they've disappeared.

2761
02:18:27,570 --> 02:18:28,830
If you need to put them,

2762
02:18:28,830 --> 02:18:31,650
I think we should look
at those those streets

2763
02:18:31,650 --> 02:18:35,820
because they have absolutely
no trees left on them,

2764
02:18:35,820 --> 02:18:37,020
the boulevard trees.

2765
02:18:37,020 --> 02:18:38,373
So anyway.

2766
02:18:39,780 --> 02:18:41,100
- Thank you.

2767
02:18:41,100 --> 02:18:42,120
Yes, Councilor Patel,

2768
02:18:42,120 --> 02:18:43,470
did you ask another question?

2769
02:18:43,470 --> 02:18:44,520
- No, I just want to say something,

2770
02:18:44,520 --> 02:18:45,450
what you said, Mr. Mayor.

2771
02:18:45,450 --> 02:18:47,730
Earlier you said the Pelham and Fort Erie

2772
02:18:47,730 --> 02:18:49,680
is the only one with the higher canopy

2773
02:18:49,680 --> 02:18:50,700
than Niagara Falls.
- Yes.

2774
02:18:50,700 --> 02:18:51,570
- Well, we are doing better

2775
02:18:51,570 --> 02:18:54,030
because we are not like
Pelham and Fort Erie.

2776
02:18:54,030 --> 02:18:55,440
We're compared more to St. Catharines

2777
02:18:55,440 --> 02:18:57,210
with our development and size of the city.

2778
02:18:57,210 --> 02:18:58,740
So I think we are doing much better

2779
02:18:58,740 --> 02:19:00,270
than any other cities.

2780
02:19:00,270 --> 02:19:02,250
- We're doing the best of the
urban cities in the region.

2781
02:19:02,250 --> 02:19:03,990
- Exactly.
- Yeah. Very good.

2782
02:19:05,910 --> 02:19:07,620
Did you want to jump in on this?

2783
02:19:07,620 --> 02:19:08,453
- We knew you're at your

2784
02:19:08,453 --> 02:19:09,412
birthday party yesterday.
- Apologize for

2785
02:19:09,412 --> 02:19:10,980
just going to the washroom.

2786
02:19:10,980 --> 02:19:12,553
- Well, we knew about your party, so.

2787
02:19:12,553 --> 02:19:14,640
- I can tell you we're setting this

2788
02:19:14,640 --> 02:19:16,740
as a preliminary target.

2789
02:19:16,740 --> 02:19:18,270
As we had reported to council

2790
02:19:18,270 --> 02:19:22,470
in our urban forest management
plan a few sessions ago,

2791
02:19:22,470 --> 02:19:25,260
there was some information
that came back on our surveys

2792
02:19:25,260 --> 02:19:27,450
and our canopy coverage.

2793
02:19:27,450 --> 02:19:29,640
And the second phase of that approach

2794
02:19:29,640 --> 02:19:30,890
in our urban forest management plan

2795
02:19:30,890 --> 02:19:32,460
is to actually do consultation

2796
02:19:32,460 --> 02:19:34,890
and to develop the formal target

2797
02:19:34,890 --> 02:19:37,380
and the action plan that helps
us achieve a future target.

2798
02:19:37,380 --> 02:19:38,970
So I think we'll be coming back to council

2799
02:19:38,970 --> 02:19:40,440
with a goal setting exercise

2800
02:19:40,440 --> 02:19:41,940
of what that target looks like

2801
02:19:41,940 --> 02:19:44,520
and a few options on how to achieve that.

2802
02:19:44,520 --> 02:19:49,080
If it is a near
impossibility to get to 40%

2803
02:19:49,080 --> 02:19:50,280
or whatever the target's going to be,

2804
02:19:50,280 --> 02:19:51,840
then we may have to scale that back

2805
02:19:51,840 --> 02:19:53,790
and look at a more practical target,

2806
02:19:53,790 --> 02:19:55,020
but that is a next step

2807
02:19:55,020 --> 02:19:56,610
and that's coming back
from municipal works

2808
02:19:56,610 --> 02:19:58,530
in about a year's time.

2809
02:19:58,530 --> 02:20:00,030
- Great. Excellent.

2810
02:20:00,030 --> 02:20:01,263
Excellent. Okay.

2811
02:20:02,100 --> 02:20:06,450
We will now go to anyone
who wishes to speak

2812
02:20:06,450 --> 02:20:10,353
to the official plan that's registered.

2813
02:20:10,353 --> 02:20:11,910
So I'm going to go to you, Madam Clerk.

2814
02:20:11,910 --> 02:20:13,803
You have a list, I take it.

2815
02:20:15,300 --> 02:20:16,800
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor, through you.

2816
02:20:16,800 --> 02:20:19,350
We do have a number of people that have

2817
02:20:19,350 --> 02:20:21,873
registered to speak to this matter.

2818
02:20:22,830 --> 02:20:25,203
The first person being Mr. Rocky Vacca.

2819
02:20:36,030 --> 02:20:38,460
- Good evening, Your
Worship, members of council.

2820
02:20:38,460 --> 02:20:39,293
- Evening.

2821
02:20:40,500 --> 02:20:43,500
- With your permission, I do
have two separate delegations

2822
02:20:43,500 --> 02:20:46,980
I'd like to make
consecutively if possible.

2823
02:20:46,980 --> 02:20:50,384
First delegation is
jointly on behalf of...

2824
02:20:50,384 --> 02:20:52,890
(attendees laughing)

2825
02:20:52,890 --> 02:20:53,840
I'm posing for you.

2826
02:20:54,750 --> 02:20:56,100
- Oh, sorry.
- No, I'm posing for you.

2827
02:20:56,100 --> 02:20:58,350
Take a picture, yeah.
- Oh, thank you, thank you.

2828
02:20:58,350 --> 02:20:59,313
Irish Insider.

2829
02:21:01,860 --> 02:21:02,992
Do you like my shirt?

2830
02:21:02,992 --> 02:21:05,160
(Rocky laughing)

2831
02:21:05,160 --> 02:21:05,993
- It's a beauty.

2832
02:21:08,580 --> 02:21:10,950
So, first delegation is jointly on behalf

2833
02:21:10,950 --> 02:21:14,760
of Mountainview Building Group
and Hummel Properties Inc.

2834
02:21:14,760 --> 02:21:16,320
I've sent you a detailed submission.

2835
02:21:16,320 --> 02:21:17,280
I'm not going to be too long,

2836
02:21:17,280 --> 02:21:21,534
but we are requesting that
five policies be deleted,

2837
02:21:21,534 --> 02:21:22,367
6.4.8.1,

2838
02:21:24,262 --> 02:21:25,095
6.4.9.1,

2839
02:21:26,540 --> 02:21:27,373
8.5.2.5,

2840
02:21:29,323 --> 02:21:30,156
8.6.5.1.1,

2841
02:21:32,307 --> 02:21:35,613
and 8.7.2.8A.

2842
02:21:37,800 --> 02:21:41,640
We provided you detailed reasons
in my written submission.

2843
02:21:41,640 --> 02:21:42,930
I do have Jennifer Vida,

2844
02:21:42,930 --> 02:21:45,120
who's the planning consultant
for Hummel Properties,

2845
02:21:45,120 --> 02:21:48,183
in the audience if you have any
specific planning questions.

2846
02:21:50,490 --> 02:21:52,170
I've also provided you a copy

2847
02:21:52,170 --> 02:21:54,540
of a planning report
from the city of Welland,

2848
02:21:54,540 --> 02:21:57,480
dated April 14, 2026,

2849
02:21:57,480 --> 02:22:00,240
wherein Welland Council accepted

2850
02:22:00,240 --> 02:22:02,910
a legal opinion from Aird & Berlis that

2851
02:22:02,910 --> 02:22:06,543
sunset clauses relating
to zoning are illegal.

2852
02:22:13,800 --> 02:22:17,910
So in short, the reason
that these policies

2853
02:22:17,910 --> 02:22:20,610
ought to be deleted is they all impose

2854
02:22:20,610 --> 02:22:24,000
requirements or conditions
on development proposals

2855
02:22:24,000 --> 02:22:26,010
or introduce policies that go beyond

2856
02:22:26,010 --> 02:22:27,990
what is required by the province

2857
02:22:27,990 --> 02:22:30,390
or permitted by applicable law.

2858
02:22:30,390 --> 02:22:32,850
This council has consistently voted down

2859
02:22:32,850 --> 02:22:34,350
any conditions or policies

2860
02:22:34,350 --> 02:22:36,960
that fall within this category.

2861
02:22:36,960 --> 02:22:37,793
Why?

2862
02:22:37,793 --> 02:22:39,570
Because there is already enough red tape

2863
02:22:39,570 --> 02:22:41,730
and hurdles imposed on developments

2864
02:22:41,730 --> 02:22:43,743
by provincial policies and laws.

2865
02:22:44,790 --> 02:22:48,000
Specifically with respect
to the use of sunset clauses

2866
02:22:48,000 --> 02:22:50,220
on zoning approvals, as I stated,

2867
02:22:50,220 --> 02:22:53,010
I provide an opinion from Aird & Berlis.

2868
02:22:53,010 --> 02:22:55,890
Their opinion is sunset
clauses are illegal

2869
02:22:55,890 --> 02:22:57,750
in terms of zoning.

2870
02:22:57,750 --> 02:23:00,030
I'm not aware of any
municipality in the region

2871
02:23:00,030 --> 02:23:03,570
that has included it
in their official plan,

2872
02:23:03,570 --> 02:23:06,303
presumably for the reason
that it is illegal.

2873
02:23:07,140 --> 02:23:09,220
And Aird & Berlis is a law firm that

2874
02:23:10,405 --> 02:23:11,700
the city is very familiar with.

2875
02:23:11,700 --> 02:23:14,280
They've done quite a bit of
work for you in the past,

2876
02:23:14,280 --> 02:23:15,783
and I believe they still do.

2877
02:23:18,060 --> 02:23:21,390
So Welland had a legal opinion.

2878
02:23:21,390 --> 02:23:23,490
They accepted that they are illegal

2879
02:23:23,490 --> 02:23:28,490
and did not put in a policy
regarding sunset clauses.

2880
02:23:29,040 --> 02:23:33,810
Finally, today, I discovered
in a memo dated December 16th,

2881
02:23:33,810 --> 02:23:37,147
Fort Erie planning staff stated
to counsel the following,

2882
02:23:37,147 --> 02:23:39,390
"Staff were unable to find any examples

2883
02:23:39,390 --> 02:23:42,630
of sunset clauses being
posed by other municipalities

2884
02:23:42,630 --> 02:23:44,220
as standard practice.

2885
02:23:44,220 --> 02:23:46,800
Should this approach be
considered by council,

2886
02:23:46,800 --> 02:23:48,870
the legal feasibility and implications

2887
02:23:48,870 --> 02:23:52,140
should be considered
prior to implementation.

2888
02:23:52,140 --> 02:23:55,080
Furthermore, it is unknown
if applying sunset clauses

2889
02:23:55,080 --> 02:23:59,670
would result in a faster
development approval process."

2890
02:23:59,670 --> 02:24:00,750
So I'll leave you with that.

2891
02:24:00,750 --> 02:24:02,010
In conclusion,

2892
02:24:02,010 --> 02:24:04,170
on behalf of Mountainview
and Hummel Properties,

2893
02:24:04,170 --> 02:24:06,450
we're requesting that the
five policies in question

2894
02:24:06,450 --> 02:24:09,960
be deleted from the draft OP before you.

2895
02:24:09,960 --> 02:24:11,460
I'd be happy to answer any questions.

2896
02:24:11,460 --> 02:24:13,830
Ms. Vida is available as well.

2897
02:24:13,830 --> 02:24:15,720
Also like to thank all
the hard work put in

2898
02:24:15,720 --> 02:24:19,020
by your consultants and by planning staff.

2899
02:24:19,020 --> 02:24:21,420
I mean, it's very exciting
to have a new official plan.

2900
02:24:21,420 --> 02:24:23,430
It's been over 20 years.

2901
02:24:23,430 --> 02:24:26,700
So I'm very excited to have a new one,

2902
02:24:26,700 --> 02:24:28,140
but we do have some concerns

2903
02:24:28,140 --> 02:24:30,600
that I think need to be addressed.

2904
02:24:30,600 --> 02:24:33,450
- Any comment or question to staff?

2905
02:24:33,450 --> 02:24:37,110
I don't know, Mr. Burgess,
you wanted to jump in first?

2906
02:24:37,110 --> 02:24:38,940
- With regards to the sunset clause,

2907
02:24:38,940 --> 02:24:42,867
council has spoken very
affirmatively on that process.

2908
02:24:42,867 --> 02:24:46,330
The city has I don't know
how many planning files

2909
02:24:47,369 --> 02:24:50,760
on file that never seem
to get accomplished,

2910
02:24:50,760 --> 02:24:53,910
and we have diminishing
servicing capability.

2911
02:24:53,910 --> 02:24:55,380
And every time something's approved,

2912
02:24:55,380 --> 02:24:58,380
we have to meet with that
servicing capability.

2913
02:24:58,380 --> 02:25:00,930
And the reality is there is

2914
02:25:00,930 --> 02:25:04,080
upzoning that is going
on with speculation.

2915
02:25:04,080 --> 02:25:07,173
So we happen to have a
different legal opinion.

2916
02:25:08,130 --> 02:25:10,860
The nice thing about legal opinions is

2917
02:25:10,860 --> 02:25:12,510
there's always two
lawyers who go into court

2918
02:25:12,510 --> 02:25:13,650
with different opinions,

2919
02:25:13,650 --> 02:25:16,650
and a judge seems to determine
which lawyer is correct.

2920
02:25:16,650 --> 02:25:18,780
So there will always be
a differing legal opinion

2921
02:25:18,780 --> 02:25:20,280
on any of these matters.

2922
02:25:20,280 --> 02:25:23,160
And I think counsel has previously spoken

2923
02:25:23,160 --> 02:25:25,197
very specifically on this issue.

2924
02:25:25,197 --> 02:25:27,720
And I think Niagara Falls is more unique

2925
02:25:27,720 --> 02:25:29,400
than a Fort Erie or a Welland

2926
02:25:29,400 --> 02:25:32,340
because I don't think any of those have...

2927
02:25:32,340 --> 02:25:33,930
I don't know, I think we have

2928
02:25:33,930 --> 02:25:37,080
close to a hundred hotel
developments on file

2929
02:25:37,080 --> 02:25:39,180
that never seem to get built.

2930
02:25:39,180 --> 02:25:41,490
So I think that's the position of staff,

2931
02:25:41,490 --> 02:25:44,670
and we're affirmative with that

2932
02:25:44,670 --> 02:25:47,130
and we're following counsel's
direction on that issue.

2933
02:25:47,130 --> 02:25:48,480
- Yep.

2934
02:25:48,480 --> 02:25:50,940
So on that one, we've got
our own legal opinion.

2935
02:25:50,940 --> 02:25:52,470
We don't agree.

2936
02:25:52,470 --> 02:25:54,990
And obviously, it serves
the public much better

2937
02:25:54,990 --> 02:25:56,130
to have something like this.

2938
02:25:56,130 --> 02:25:57,510
So I mean, that's one maybe judges

2939
02:25:57,510 --> 02:25:58,940
will have to sort out at some point.

2940
02:25:58,940 --> 02:26:00,630
And then on the other ones,

2941
02:26:00,630 --> 02:26:02,520
I guess his other points,

2942
02:26:02,520 --> 02:26:03,353
I don't know, Ms. Dolch,

2943
02:26:03,353 --> 02:26:05,130
if you wanted to address that.

2944
02:26:05,130 --> 02:26:06,183
- Thank you.

2945
02:26:06,183 --> 02:26:07,016
I can speak to some of them.

2946
02:26:07,016 --> 02:26:10,650
I know there was comments
on other woodlands

2947
02:26:10,650 --> 02:26:12,960
and the compensation policy.

2948
02:26:12,960 --> 02:26:15,780
The approach, I believe, Mr.
Vacca and his submission,

2949
02:26:15,780 --> 02:26:18,150
was that it should be
more of a one-to-one ratio

2950
02:26:18,150 --> 02:26:21,960
rather than the three to
one and five to one ratio.

2951
02:26:21,960 --> 02:26:26,130
As we spoke just briefly
a few minutes ago it,

2952
02:26:26,130 --> 02:26:27,690
we're trying to make sure we protect

2953
02:26:27,690 --> 02:26:29,670
the long-term tree canopy.

2954
02:26:29,670 --> 02:26:31,080
So we've put that in place.

2955
02:26:31,080 --> 02:26:32,670
I know counsel spoke loud and clear

2956
02:26:32,670 --> 02:26:35,190
about trying to protect the
trees when they're removed.

2957
02:26:35,190 --> 02:26:38,280
They didn't have necessarily concerns

2958
02:26:38,280 --> 02:26:41,040
on the removals to facilitate development,

2959
02:26:41,040 --> 02:26:45,243
but wanted to see the replacement
so that we had more trees,

2960
02:26:46,800 --> 02:26:48,600
a larger tree canopy.

2961
02:26:48,600 --> 02:26:50,820
And we did base it on
the original two-to-one

2962
02:26:50,820 --> 02:26:53,733
and then went up from
there as I indicated.

2963
02:26:54,630 --> 02:26:56,140
And we did...

2964
02:26:56,140 --> 02:26:57,150
And just in case counsel didn't know,

2965
02:26:57,150 --> 02:26:59,700
on one of the natural heritage plans,

2966
02:26:59,700 --> 02:27:02,700
you'll see the kind of
identified compensation areas

2967
02:27:02,700 --> 02:27:04,440
that we are looking at offsite,

2968
02:27:04,440 --> 02:27:07,560
because we do want to see these
protected for the long term.

2969
02:27:07,560 --> 02:27:09,270
We don't want to plant them in a location

2970
02:27:09,270 --> 02:27:10,890
that could be removed in the future.

2971
02:27:10,890 --> 02:27:13,020
So we are looking at parcels

2972
02:27:13,020 --> 02:27:15,600
that were adjacent to other
natural heritage features.

2973
02:27:15,600 --> 02:27:18,360
So long term, we would maintain that.

2974
02:27:18,360 --> 02:27:20,110
So that's something we did look at.

2975
02:27:21,570 --> 02:27:23,880
And so I can only tell you the reasons.

2976
02:27:23,880 --> 02:27:26,610
In the end, you can make the decision.

2977
02:27:26,610 --> 02:27:29,100
And non-provincially significant
wetlands was the other one.

2978
02:27:29,100 --> 02:27:31,800
Again, compensation is very similar.

2979
02:27:31,800 --> 02:27:33,990
It's three-to-one and five-to-one.

2980
02:27:33,990 --> 02:27:37,080
With non-provincially
significant wetlands,

2981
02:27:37,080 --> 02:27:40,357
they do provide some hydrologic function

2982
02:27:40,357 --> 02:27:43,650
and help with species

2983
02:27:43,650 --> 02:27:46,830
and species traveling from
one pocket to the next.

2984
02:27:46,830 --> 02:27:49,230
So we do feel they're important.

2985
02:27:49,230 --> 02:27:53,130
We do understand that we don't
want to hinder development.

2986
02:27:53,130 --> 02:27:55,170
We want to make sure that
development can go ahead,

2987
02:27:55,170 --> 02:27:57,660
and that's why we're saying
we are allowing offsetting

2988
02:27:57,660 --> 02:28:00,630
beyond what was allowed
in the region's plan.

2989
02:28:00,630 --> 02:28:02,280
So we want to provide that flexibility,

2990
02:28:02,280 --> 02:28:05,490
but we do think it's important
to maintain the wetlands

2991
02:28:05,490 --> 02:28:07,050
for a number of things.

2992
02:28:07,050 --> 02:28:10,230
Climate change, all the
things that we know about,

2993
02:28:10,230 --> 02:28:13,950
we want to make sure that those
are protected and enhanced

2994
02:28:13,950 --> 02:28:16,000
if they're going to be lost in that area.

2995
02:28:18,240 --> 02:28:20,883
I think the other was
draft plan approvals.

2996
02:28:21,840 --> 02:28:23,340
So plan is subdivision.

2997
02:28:23,340 --> 02:28:27,150
This one, we are going to take away.

2998
02:28:27,150 --> 02:28:30,870
So, generally, the comment or the policy

2999
02:28:30,870 --> 02:28:33,630
says that you can't extend from more than

3000
02:28:33,630 --> 02:28:36,300
a cumulative maximum of three years.

3001
02:28:36,300 --> 02:28:39,480
We will take this away and
consider it a bit further.

3002
02:28:39,480 --> 02:28:42,363
We appreciate the point
Mr. Vacca has made on this.

3003
02:28:43,830 --> 02:28:44,940
We know there's been changes

3004
02:28:44,940 --> 02:28:46,290
in the Planning Act and things like that,

3005
02:28:46,290 --> 02:28:47,400
so we will take this away

3006
02:28:47,400 --> 02:28:50,493
and consider that a bit
further prior to August 11th.

3007
02:28:52,530 --> 02:28:54,150
In terms of the sunset clause,

3008
02:28:54,150 --> 02:28:56,250
we've spoken about that.

3009
02:28:56,250 --> 02:28:57,870
In terms of the peer review,

3010
02:28:57,870 --> 02:28:59,850
so the policy right now does say

3011
02:28:59,850 --> 02:29:03,000
that the application may
not be deemed complete

3012
02:29:03,000 --> 02:29:04,950
until we're satisfied with the extent

3013
02:29:04,950 --> 02:29:07,920
and quality of work of
these studies that come in.

3014
02:29:07,920 --> 02:29:10,350
We will revise this statement.

3015
02:29:10,350 --> 02:29:11,850
The concern we have...

3016
02:29:11,850 --> 02:29:12,750
And I'll tell you,

3017
02:29:15,600 --> 02:29:19,040
right now, the way it's
been working is we don't...

3018
02:29:20,659 --> 02:29:21,840
We deem everything complete

3019
02:29:21,840 --> 02:29:23,160
provided it's been provided.

3020
02:29:23,160 --> 02:29:25,680
We don't analyze it until later.

3021
02:29:25,680 --> 02:29:29,100
Difficulty that we do
encounter now is that

3022
02:29:29,100 --> 02:29:31,830
so we analyze the studies
after we've deemed it complete.

3023
02:29:31,830 --> 02:29:33,360
We have a window of 90 days

3024
02:29:33,360 --> 02:29:36,030
for a zoning amendment
to get it before you,

3025
02:29:36,030 --> 02:29:37,410
and they can appeal on non-decision.

3026
02:29:37,410 --> 02:29:40,170
And we've been pretty good
at trying to get it to you

3027
02:29:40,170 --> 02:29:41,403
in those 90 days.

3028
02:29:43,020 --> 02:29:44,340
If we have issues with it,

3029
02:29:44,340 --> 02:29:47,580
we will never get that peer
review done in that timeframe.

3030
02:29:47,580 --> 02:29:49,800
So that's our biggest concern.

3031
02:29:49,800 --> 02:29:53,430
And, obviously, we hope that
the development community

3032
02:29:53,430 --> 02:29:54,900
won't go for a non-decision,

3033
02:29:54,900 --> 02:29:58,300
but we do ask now that
they provide us a letter

3034
02:29:59,310 --> 02:30:01,080
saying they want to hold the application

3035
02:30:01,080 --> 02:30:03,300
just in case they do go for non-decision.

3036
02:30:03,300 --> 02:30:05,790
So we think that's enough protection

3037
02:30:05,790 --> 02:30:09,360
or almost like a gentleman's handshake

3038
02:30:09,360 --> 02:30:10,860
that the development community

3039
02:30:10,860 --> 02:30:12,330
won't go for that non-decision.

3040
02:30:12,330 --> 02:30:13,500
I'm not saying it hasn't happened,

3041
02:30:13,500 --> 02:30:16,470
but we think we can modify this policy

3042
02:30:16,470 --> 02:30:18,540
because I really don't...

3043
02:30:18,540 --> 02:30:20,880
I've made commitments previously

3044
02:30:20,880 --> 02:30:24,540
that I wouldn't analyze
these policies upfront

3045
02:30:24,540 --> 02:30:25,620
because I don't think it's fair.

3046
02:30:25,620 --> 02:30:27,060
We have 30 days.

3047
02:30:27,060 --> 02:30:28,890
We'll rely on their consultants,

3048
02:30:28,890 --> 02:30:30,000
but we will review it.

3049
02:30:30,000 --> 02:30:33,450
And if we think there's problems,
we will get a peer review

3050
02:30:33,450 --> 02:30:34,950
and raise those concerns.

3051
02:30:34,950 --> 02:30:37,113
So I think we can make that change.

3052
02:30:38,220 --> 02:30:39,810
- Councilor Lococo.

3053
02:30:39,810 --> 02:30:40,880
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3054
02:30:40,880 --> 02:30:43,860
To the point that Ms. Dolch
was saying about that,

3055
02:30:43,860 --> 02:30:45,363
here in Niagara Falls,

3056
02:30:46,512 --> 02:30:49,320
we don't really have any
concerns about the removal,

3057
02:30:49,320 --> 02:30:50,790
but the replacement.

3058
02:30:50,790 --> 02:30:52,410
So I guess my question is,

3059
02:30:52,410 --> 02:30:55,140
do other municipalities have tree bylaws

3060
02:30:55,140 --> 02:30:57,750
that affect the removal

3061
02:30:57,750 --> 02:31:00,393
and then don't have
such a high replacement?

3062
02:31:01,390 --> 02:31:04,560
Is that what is happening
in other communities?

3063
02:31:04,560 --> 02:31:05,393
- Thank you, Your Worship.

3064
02:31:05,393 --> 02:31:08,190
So there are tree bylaws
in other communities.

3065
02:31:08,190 --> 02:31:10,230
And like I said, we're just trying to find

3066
02:31:10,230 --> 02:31:12,660
a balanced approach because...

3067
02:31:12,660 --> 02:31:14,103
I'll be very frank with you.

3068
02:31:15,780 --> 02:31:17,763
I don't want to see the policy deleted.

3069
02:31:18,660 --> 02:31:21,330
So we're trying to find a middle balance.

3070
02:31:21,330 --> 02:31:22,830
Obviously, we know the
development community

3071
02:31:22,830 --> 02:31:25,440
is very loud and clear that
they want to see it removed

3072
02:31:25,440 --> 02:31:28,260
and not be included as part of,

3073
02:31:28,260 --> 02:31:29,100
from the region's plan.

3074
02:31:29,100 --> 02:31:30,690
They don't want to see that carried over.

3075
02:31:30,690 --> 02:31:33,600
We felt we made some changes to allow...

3076
02:31:33,600 --> 02:31:35,160
Would we like it to remain

3077
02:31:35,160 --> 02:31:36,510
the other woodlands where they are?

3078
02:31:36,510 --> 02:31:38,670
Yes, that's our preference.

3079
02:31:38,670 --> 02:31:41,610
But if they can't, we
will allow compensation

3080
02:31:41,610 --> 02:31:43,560
because we don't want to...

3081
02:31:43,560 --> 02:31:45,750
As Mr. Vacca, it causes red tape.

3082
02:31:45,750 --> 02:31:47,070
We don't want to cause that red tape,

3083
02:31:47,070 --> 02:31:50,910
but we want to give them
a tool to replace that

3084
02:31:50,910 --> 02:31:53,460
we feel we at least get
some benefit out of it,

3085
02:31:53,460 --> 02:31:55,170
and it's at a higher benefit.

3086
02:31:55,170 --> 02:31:57,540
So a net benefit if we have to lose it.

3087
02:31:57,540 --> 02:31:59,790
But our preference, our
first and foremost preference

3088
02:31:59,790 --> 02:32:03,360
is remain where it is, but
if not, it can be removed.

3089
02:32:03,360 --> 02:32:06,663
So that's our goal, long term.

3090
02:32:06,663 --> 02:32:07,496
- Okay, thank you.

3091
02:32:07,496 --> 02:32:09,810
I've brought up a tree
bylaw numerous times before,

3092
02:32:09,810 --> 02:32:12,540
and I guess you either protect the trees

3093
02:32:12,540 --> 02:32:14,010
to not take them down,

3094
02:32:14,010 --> 02:32:16,890
or you replace them if
they are taken down.

3095
02:32:16,890 --> 02:32:19,080
So I don't know if the
development community

3096
02:32:19,080 --> 02:32:20,490
likes one over the other,

3097
02:32:20,490 --> 02:32:23,190
but I think a municipality
has to have one of those.

3098
02:32:23,190 --> 02:32:24,930
Because if you don't
have either one of them,

3099
02:32:24,930 --> 02:32:26,330
then you have no protection.

3100
02:32:27,870 --> 02:32:28,920
- Yes, Councilor Strange.

3101
02:32:28,920 --> 02:32:30,790
- Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

3102
02:32:30,790 --> 02:32:32,190
Kind of going back to the sunset clause,

3103
02:32:32,190 --> 02:32:34,980
and I know Mr. Burgess talked about why.

3104
02:32:34,980 --> 02:32:36,150
Well, actually, can you say what...

3105
02:32:36,150 --> 02:32:38,550
Just tell everyone 'cause the
people meet in the audience

3106
02:32:38,550 --> 02:32:40,863
and the thousands of
people watching at home.

3107
02:32:42,090 --> 02:32:44,640
Just explain why we did
put the sunset clause.

3108
02:32:44,640 --> 02:32:46,410
Is it working?

3109
02:32:46,410 --> 02:32:49,833
And what happens if they don't
build by that certain time?

3110
02:32:51,420 --> 02:32:53,100
Like I said, is it working though?

3111
02:32:53,100 --> 02:32:54,840
Since we implement it,

3112
02:32:54,840 --> 02:32:56,160
we've seen more development,

3113
02:32:56,160 --> 02:32:58,260
more buildings go up because of it.

3114
02:32:58,260 --> 02:33:02,013
And if they don't follow
up with it, what happens?

3115
02:33:04,710 --> 02:33:05,730
- Thank you, Your Worship.

3116
02:33:05,730 --> 02:33:08,190
So, yes, we have seen building happen

3117
02:33:08,190 --> 02:33:10,080
as a result of the sunset clause.

3118
02:33:10,080 --> 02:33:12,630
Obviously, they try to
get in the ground sooner

3119
02:33:12,630 --> 02:33:15,660
because they know their
zoning is going to expire,

3120
02:33:15,660 --> 02:33:16,860
but it's not to say...

3121
02:33:16,860 --> 02:33:18,150
We do provide flexibility.

3122
02:33:18,150 --> 02:33:20,310
We have the one year extension
from the general manager,

3123
02:33:20,310 --> 02:33:22,110
so we're not to those dates yet

3124
02:33:22,110 --> 02:33:24,300
since we've put it in, a lot of them,

3125
02:33:24,300 --> 02:33:26,160
but we're starting to see people action.

3126
02:33:26,160 --> 02:33:26,993
So we have a lot of...

3127
02:33:26,993 --> 02:33:29,040
So we had an increase
in site plan application

3128
02:33:29,040 --> 02:33:31,410
'cause people are starting
to move their applications

3129
02:33:31,410 --> 02:33:33,390
'cause they know their
sunset date's coming up.

3130
02:33:33,390 --> 02:33:34,653
So I have seen that.

3131
02:33:35,880 --> 02:33:38,073
So I do think it is working.

3132
02:33:39,810 --> 02:33:44,520
Are we going to see every scenario
happen as it comes forward?

3133
02:33:44,520 --> 02:33:46,230
Maybe, maybe not.

3134
02:33:46,230 --> 02:33:47,730
Some people may lose it,

3135
02:33:47,730 --> 02:33:50,820
but hopefully we will be a bit flexible

3136
02:33:50,820 --> 02:33:52,350
if market condition's right.

3137
02:33:52,350 --> 02:33:54,180
Now there is some market
conditions out there,

3138
02:33:54,180 --> 02:33:55,470
so we understand that,

3139
02:33:55,470 --> 02:33:57,120
but we are providing some flexibility.

3140
02:33:57,120 --> 02:33:59,970
But I do think it is working in the city.

3141
02:33:59,970 --> 02:34:02,640
I think people are concerned

3142
02:34:02,640 --> 02:34:04,410
that they might lose their zoning

3143
02:34:04,410 --> 02:34:05,700
that they work so hard to get.

3144
02:34:05,700 --> 02:34:08,190
So I think it is really
working at this point in time.

3145
02:34:08,190 --> 02:34:10,317
And I think with the
flexibility that we've built in

3146
02:34:10,317 --> 02:34:14,010
and council is going to consider as well,

3147
02:34:14,010 --> 02:34:16,740
it doesn't hand tie anybody.

3148
02:34:16,740 --> 02:34:18,480
It just makes sure
people are going to build

3149
02:34:18,480 --> 02:34:19,530
what they say they're going to build,

3150
02:34:19,530 --> 02:34:20,860
and we're not sitting with

3151
02:34:21,720 --> 02:34:23,730
I think we're up to 19,000 units

3152
02:34:23,730 --> 02:34:26,400
that are just sitting
waiting prior to the...

3153
02:34:26,400 --> 02:34:29,528
That was prior to the
sunset clause coming in.

3154
02:34:29,528 --> 02:34:30,361
- The CAO would like to weigh in.

3155
02:34:30,361 --> 02:34:32,070
- Okay, yeah, go ahead.

3156
02:34:32,070 --> 02:34:34,170
- Yeah, actually, I've
had two conversations

3157
02:34:34,170 --> 02:34:36,960
with developers who've
not brought theirs forward

3158
02:34:36,960 --> 02:34:39,810
because they were waiting
for the market timing.

3159
02:34:39,810 --> 02:34:42,660
Because as Ms. Dolch said,

3160
02:34:42,660 --> 02:34:44,940
part of this is someone comes forward,

3161
02:34:44,940 --> 02:34:47,220
there is an expectation
that what they propose

3162
02:34:47,220 --> 02:34:48,390
they're actually going to build

3163
02:34:48,390 --> 02:34:50,640
and they actually have the
capability to build it.

3164
02:34:50,640 --> 02:34:52,560
There is no obligation currently

3165
02:34:52,560 --> 02:34:54,960
for them to live up to their obligations,

3166
02:34:54,960 --> 02:34:56,520
but we're stuck with living up

3167
02:34:56,520 --> 02:34:58,743
to our obligations to Infinity.

3168
02:35:00,090 --> 02:35:02,160
So I think it's fair

3169
02:35:02,160 --> 02:35:03,810
that if we're going to
grant certain things

3170
02:35:03,810 --> 02:35:05,220
and invest the time into it

3171
02:35:05,220 --> 02:35:07,893
and potentially hold capacity back,

3172
02:35:08,880 --> 02:35:10,920
that they live up to their obligations

3173
02:35:10,920 --> 02:35:13,230
or at least be put to that requirement.

3174
02:35:13,230 --> 02:35:14,880
And if they don't meet their obligations,

3175
02:35:14,880 --> 02:35:18,450
that capacity should be released
for someone else to do it.

3176
02:35:18,450 --> 02:35:21,510
And as Ms. Dolch says, we're
not trying to be punitive.

3177
02:35:21,510 --> 02:35:22,530
The market changes.

3178
02:35:22,530 --> 02:35:24,480
We can always come to council.

3179
02:35:24,480 --> 02:35:27,330
There's a one year extension
and council can also extend it.

3180
02:35:27,330 --> 02:35:30,660
So there is an element of
fairness if market changes.

3181
02:35:30,660 --> 02:35:33,150
But like I said, I've
talked to two developers

3182
02:35:33,150 --> 02:35:37,110
who have decided to postpone
their coming to council

3183
02:35:37,110 --> 02:35:39,540
until they kind of line
up their things before,

3184
02:35:39,540 --> 02:35:40,860
where before they might have

3185
02:35:40,860 --> 02:35:42,450
rushed to council just to get it,

3186
02:35:42,450 --> 02:35:44,910
and then try to flip the
property or try to do something.

3187
02:35:44,910 --> 02:35:46,830
Now they're actually bringing
in development partners

3188
02:35:46,830 --> 02:35:48,300
to be able to execute it.

3189
02:35:48,300 --> 02:35:51,630
So it's not just whether
they actually build.

3190
02:35:51,630 --> 02:35:54,570
It's also, are they coming
to council prematurely

3191
02:35:54,570 --> 02:35:57,240
on something getting approval?

3192
02:35:57,240 --> 02:35:58,530
So, we'll see.

3193
02:35:58,530 --> 02:36:00,133
What I can say though is,

3194
02:36:01,410 --> 02:36:03,570
is there any record that it increases it?

3195
02:36:03,570 --> 02:36:05,670
No, but I got pretty good record here

3196
02:36:05,670 --> 02:36:08,280
with 19,000 undeveloped
units that were approved

3197
02:36:08,280 --> 02:36:11,190
that the current system isn't working.

3198
02:36:11,190 --> 02:36:12,780
And the definition of insanity

3199
02:36:12,780 --> 02:36:15,360
is keep doing the same thing,
expecting different results.

3200
02:36:15,360 --> 02:36:18,090
- And would there be any alternative of...

3201
02:36:18,090 --> 02:36:21,090
Because what happens when we say approve

3202
02:36:21,090 --> 02:36:23,931
goes from whatever, agriculture, to...

3203
02:36:23,931 --> 02:36:27,480
It wouldn't be agriculture,
but something to a higher zone.

3204
02:36:27,480 --> 02:36:31,763
Would the taxes go up right
away or not until they build?

3205
02:36:34,723 --> 02:36:36,100
- Ms. Dolch?
- Thank you, Your Worship.

3206
02:36:36,100 --> 02:36:38,640
So it takes a little bit of
time for impact to catch up,

3207
02:36:38,640 --> 02:36:40,260
but they do get notified

3208
02:36:40,260 --> 02:36:43,050
of the zoning change when it happens.

3209
02:36:43,050 --> 02:36:44,220
So they do consider it.

3210
02:36:44,220 --> 02:36:46,500
I couldn't tell you the exact timeframe

3211
02:36:46,500 --> 02:36:47,910
that they actually make that change,

3212
02:36:47,910 --> 02:36:51,330
but they are aware of it,
and it does play a factor.

3213
02:36:51,330 --> 02:36:52,230
- Okay. Thank you.

3214
02:36:53,827 --> 02:36:54,690
- All right.

3215
02:36:54,690 --> 02:36:56,790
Any other comments, Mr. Vacca?

3216
02:36:56,790 --> 02:36:57,623
No?
- Nope.

3217
02:36:57,623 --> 02:36:58,770
- Okay. Thank you very much.

3218
02:36:58,770 --> 02:37:00,870
- If I can move on to
the second delegation?

3219
02:37:00,870 --> 02:37:01,773
Sorry.
- Yeah.

3220
02:37:02,730 --> 02:37:06,030
- Second delegation is solely
for Hummel Properties Inc.

3221
02:37:06,030 --> 02:37:08,760
who owns lands fronting onto Willick Road.

3222
02:37:08,760 --> 02:37:10,740
A portion of these lands have been

3223
02:37:10,740 --> 02:37:13,530
in the city's urban boundary for decades.

3224
02:37:13,530 --> 02:37:17,340
The city plans on
constructing Willick Road

3225
02:37:17,340 --> 02:37:19,230
to full urban standards

3226
02:37:19,230 --> 02:37:20,730
as the project was included

3227
02:37:20,730 --> 02:37:22,980
in your latest development charges study.

3228
02:37:22,980 --> 02:37:25,293
I understand the cost
will be in the millions.

3229
02:37:26,280 --> 02:37:27,450
I did request.

3230
02:37:27,450 --> 02:37:29,070
I'm not sure, Madam Secretary,

3231
02:37:29,070 --> 02:37:30,960
if you can put up the two exhibits

3232
02:37:30,960 --> 02:37:32,480
that were attached to my...

3233
02:37:33,660 --> 02:37:38,463
I think it was page 40 and
41 of the second last link.

3234
02:37:41,130 --> 02:37:42,730
- Just give us a moment.
- Yep.

3235
02:37:53,340 --> 02:37:54,600
Yeah, it's not the official plan.

3236
02:37:54,600 --> 02:37:57,240
It's the public comments.

3237
02:37:57,240 --> 02:37:59,733
The second last link
that's in your agenda.

3238
02:38:30,720 --> 02:38:33,320
- [Jim] The silence puts
pressure on him to perform.

3239
02:38:37,993 --> 02:38:38,826
- [Margaret] Was it the last one or the-

3240
02:38:38,826 --> 02:38:41,940
- It was the second last
link in your agenda.

3241
02:38:41,940 --> 02:38:43,893
And I think it was page 40 and 41.

3242
02:38:47,130 --> 02:38:48,953
- [Speaker] Does this
count towards his time?

3243
02:38:50,984 --> 02:38:52,005
- [Jim] Yes.

3244
02:38:52,005 --> 02:38:54,690
(attendees speaking indistinctly)

3245
02:38:54,690 --> 02:38:56,531
- Using two minutes.
- More pictures.

3246
02:38:56,531 --> 02:38:59,984
(Rocky laughing)

3247
02:38:59,984 --> 02:39:04,530
(attendees speaking indistinctly)

3248
02:39:04,530 --> 02:39:07,593
- I charge much more per
hour for that, Jason.

3249
02:39:14,431 --> 02:39:15,431
What's that?

3250
02:39:17,643 --> 02:39:18,870
(Rocky laughing)

3251
02:39:18,870 --> 02:39:21,570
Hey, I wish it was a
(indistinct) photographer though.

3252
02:39:27,720 --> 02:39:29,700
Oh, here we go. Here we go.

3253
02:39:29,700 --> 02:39:30,960
Group shot.

3254
02:39:30,960 --> 02:39:32,613
- [Speaker] Got your good side,

3255
02:39:33,879 --> 02:39:34,779
the Irish Insider.

3256
02:39:36,930 --> 02:39:38,980
- [Speaker] You're standing by the light.

3257
02:39:44,877 --> 02:39:47,460
Make sure they reset your time.

3258
02:39:49,296 --> 02:39:50,129
- Yeah.

3259
02:40:09,645 --> 02:40:13,812
(attendees speaking indistinctly)

3260
02:40:47,627 --> 02:40:49,209
- [Jim] How we making out?

3261
02:40:49,209 --> 02:40:50,070
Are we getting close or...

3262
02:40:50,070 --> 02:40:51,030
Yeah.
- There's a lot of

3263
02:40:51,030 --> 02:40:52,508
correspondence that came through.

3264
02:40:52,508 --> 02:40:53,697
- Okay.
- So I apologize.

3265
02:40:53,697 --> 02:40:58,697
- [Jim] No.

3266
02:41:13,410 --> 02:41:14,641
- [Margaret] Is this the one?

3267
02:41:14,641 --> 02:41:15,540
- [Rocky] Yep, if you keep going,

3268
02:41:15,540 --> 02:41:16,953
you'll hit exhibit one.

3269
02:41:22,800 --> 02:41:23,640
No, that's not the one.

3270
02:41:23,640 --> 02:41:25,290
That's the one we just discussed.

3271
02:41:28,620 --> 02:41:29,870
- [Margaret] Yes, please.

3272
02:41:34,082 --> 02:41:37,084
- [Speaker] Can you
forward it to Sam, please?

3273
02:41:37,084 --> 02:41:38,430
Sam.
- Sam?

3274
02:42:04,170 --> 02:42:05,003
- That's the one.

3275
02:42:05,003 --> 02:42:06,460
Yeah, exhibit one and two.

3276
02:42:08,880 --> 02:42:09,783
- [Jim] 41.

3277
02:42:12,690 --> 02:42:14,840
- There we go.
- Yeah, that's it.

3278
02:42:15,960 --> 02:42:16,793
Okay.

3279
02:42:17,880 --> 02:42:19,263
So exhibit one,

3280
02:42:21,180 --> 02:42:24,120
the northernmost red line shows

3281
02:42:24,120 --> 02:42:26,790
the current urban boundary line

3282
02:42:26,790 --> 02:42:28,593
in the current official plan.

3283
02:42:29,940 --> 02:42:34,940
The southern red line beside it

3284
02:42:35,820 --> 02:42:37,920
is the proposed boundary line

3285
02:42:37,920 --> 02:42:40,563
in the draft official plan before you.

3286
02:42:41,790 --> 02:42:46,080
And, finally, the solid
blue line just below that

3287
02:42:46,080 --> 02:42:48,150
is the boundary line we are requesting,

3288
02:42:48,150 --> 02:42:53,150
which amounts to a 20 meter
extension of the boundary line.

3289
02:42:53,250 --> 02:42:58,250
Basically, Mr. Mayor, it's a little bit

3290
02:42:58,500 --> 02:43:02,280
more than the wall behind
you to the wall behind me.

3291
02:43:02,280 --> 02:43:03,870
That's roughly 55 feet.

3292
02:43:03,870 --> 02:43:06,840
So that's how much of an
extension we're asking for.

3293
02:43:06,840 --> 02:43:10,593
That's it, less than the
size of a road allowance.

3294
02:43:11,580 --> 02:43:14,250
To classify it as a
minor boundary adjustment

3295
02:43:14,250 --> 02:43:16,950
would be an overstatement quite frankly.

3296
02:43:16,950 --> 02:43:19,800
If you can move on to exhibit
two, the next page, please.

3297
02:43:22,050 --> 02:43:24,720
So exhibit two shows as a concept plan

3298
02:43:24,720 --> 02:43:26,550
of what can be developed

3299
02:43:26,550 --> 02:43:30,120
if the boundary line is
expanded by 20 meters.

3300
02:43:30,120 --> 02:43:33,010
It results in 91 lots or units

3301
02:43:34,350 --> 02:43:37,620
and substantially more
on the abutting lands

3302
02:43:37,620 --> 02:43:39,873
from Sodom to Willoughby.

3303
02:43:41,340 --> 02:43:44,490
We have quantified that
the development charges

3304
02:43:44,490 --> 02:43:46,140
would be approximately $8 million

3305
02:43:47,490 --> 02:43:50,370
which would fund the
construction cost of Willick Road

3306
02:43:50,370 --> 02:43:51,903
probably three times over.

3307
02:43:53,010 --> 02:43:55,440
So the planning reasons
in support of the request

3308
02:43:55,440 --> 02:43:57,810
are to contribute to the cost recovery

3309
02:43:57,810 --> 02:43:59,490
of building Willick Road,

3310
02:43:59,490 --> 02:44:02,250
which supports sustainability of the city.

3311
02:44:02,250 --> 02:44:04,590
Two, the boundary adjustment is natural

3312
02:44:04,590 --> 02:44:07,050
and logical in these circumstances.

3313
02:44:07,050 --> 02:44:09,480
Three, the failure to adjust the boundary

3314
02:44:09,480 --> 02:44:12,720
would result at best in 19 signal lots

3315
02:44:12,720 --> 02:44:14,040
fronting on Willick Road,

3316
02:44:14,040 --> 02:44:16,230
each over 200 feet deep.

3317
02:44:16,230 --> 02:44:19,320
This would be a very
inefficient use of urban lands.

3318
02:44:19,320 --> 02:44:21,090
Four, there is immediate access

3319
02:44:21,090 --> 02:44:23,400
to servicing on Willick Road.

3320
02:44:23,400 --> 02:44:26,130
Five, it's a logical choice for expansion

3321
02:44:26,130 --> 02:44:28,590
because it is not near any sensitive

3322
02:44:28,590 --> 02:44:30,300
or incompatible land uses,

3323
02:44:30,300 --> 02:44:33,570
such as industry,
chicken barns, livestock,

3324
02:44:33,570 --> 02:44:35,070
farms, et cetera.

3325
02:44:35,070 --> 02:44:37,740
Six, the lands are in close proximity

3326
02:44:37,740 --> 02:44:39,810
to the new South Niagara Hospital

3327
02:44:39,810 --> 02:44:42,540
where many new jobs will be created.

3328
02:44:42,540 --> 02:44:44,790
Seven, the lands are in close proximity

3329
02:44:44,790 --> 02:44:46,773
to major highway interchanges.

3330
02:44:48,000 --> 02:44:49,890
So in summary, we're requesting that

3331
02:44:49,890 --> 02:44:50,997
the current boundary line

3332
02:44:50,997 --> 02:44:53,430
and the draft official plan before you

3333
02:44:53,430 --> 02:44:55,470
between Sodom Road and Willoughby Drive

3334
02:44:55,470 --> 02:44:58,260
be extended to the south by 20 meters

3335
02:44:58,260 --> 02:45:00,600
as shown on the blue line as exhibit one.

3336
02:45:00,600 --> 02:45:01,683
That is the request.

3337
02:45:02,940 --> 02:45:03,773
- Okay.

3338
02:45:03,773 --> 02:45:05,637
Maybe we'll start with staff

3339
02:45:05,637 --> 02:45:07,770
and then questions or comments of council.

3340
02:45:07,770 --> 02:45:10,620
And then if council wanted
to go in this direction,

3341
02:45:10,620 --> 02:45:11,920
what would have to happen?

3342
02:45:13,440 --> 02:45:14,273
- Thank you, Your Worship.

3343
02:45:14,273 --> 02:45:19,273
So we did do a minor
adjustment to the boundary.

3344
02:45:19,290 --> 02:45:22,470
And as we noted early on,

3345
02:45:22,470 --> 02:45:24,390
is that minor boundary just followed

3346
02:45:24,390 --> 02:45:26,670
the closest lot line to the south.

3347
02:45:26,670 --> 02:45:28,290
Because right now,

3348
02:45:28,290 --> 02:45:32,730
that urban boundary is floating
in the middle of the lots.

3349
02:45:32,730 --> 02:45:36,330
There was no clear delineation
on where that boundary was.

3350
02:45:36,330 --> 02:45:38,850
So we dropped it to the nearest lot line.

3351
02:45:38,850 --> 02:45:40,680
That's where you saw the first red line.

3352
02:45:40,680 --> 02:45:42,303
If we can just go up one.

3353
02:45:43,950 --> 02:45:45,243
Yeah, so that's where you saw...

3354
02:45:45,243 --> 02:45:47,790
Actually, the first red
line is the current one.

3355
02:45:47,790 --> 02:45:50,340
The second red line, you can
see that lot that we used

3356
02:45:50,340 --> 02:45:51,630
to kind of make sure we knew

3357
02:45:51,630 --> 02:45:53,430
exactly where the boundary would be.

3358
02:45:54,420 --> 02:45:58,830
So, we can make those kind of adjustments

3359
02:45:58,830 --> 02:46:00,990
because it follows clear lines.

3360
02:46:00,990 --> 02:46:01,980
We can follow creeks.

3361
02:46:01,980 --> 02:46:04,020
We can follow all these things, roads.

3362
02:46:04,020 --> 02:46:05,700
So those are things we can adjust

3363
02:46:05,700 --> 02:46:08,550
if it doesn't make sense.

3364
02:46:08,550 --> 02:46:11,700
The difficulty with further
expansion beyond that

3365
02:46:11,700 --> 02:46:14,820
is there comes a point where when is it...

3366
02:46:14,820 --> 02:46:18,000
Is there a need for additional urban land?

3367
02:46:18,000 --> 02:46:21,000
I know Mr. Vacca has his
points on additional need,

3368
02:46:21,000 --> 02:46:22,590
but there's certain policy thresholds

3369
02:46:22,590 --> 02:46:24,150
in the provincial policy statements

3370
02:46:24,150 --> 02:46:25,950
that have to be considered.

3371
02:46:25,950 --> 02:46:29,790
So we cannot recommend,
obviously, to the province

3372
02:46:29,790 --> 02:46:33,180
without additional backing.

3373
02:46:33,180 --> 02:46:34,920
If it was just servicing
and things like that,

3374
02:46:34,920 --> 02:46:36,000
those are technical studies,

3375
02:46:36,000 --> 02:46:38,520
but this is a need study, and why...

3376
02:46:38,520 --> 02:46:41,460
The question would then
become why expand here?

3377
02:46:41,460 --> 02:46:42,750
Why not expand elsewhere?

3378
02:46:42,750 --> 02:46:44,760
So we need to have those assessments.

3379
02:46:44,760 --> 02:46:46,830
And that's why, in our new official plan,

3380
02:46:46,830 --> 02:46:49,500
we put in policies to allow
for urban boundary expansions

3381
02:46:49,500 --> 02:46:51,690
provided you demonstrate these things.

3382
02:46:51,690 --> 02:46:53,670
And it goes through that process

3383
02:46:53,670 --> 02:46:56,940
so that we can evaluate
those that want to expand

3384
02:46:56,940 --> 02:46:59,010
and consider it if there is a need.

3385
02:46:59,010 --> 02:47:00,450
We don't feel there is at this point,

3386
02:47:00,450 --> 02:47:02,970
but maybe consultants can
demonstrate there is one.

3387
02:47:02,970 --> 02:47:04,980
So next steps.

3388
02:47:04,980 --> 02:47:07,770
Obviously, if council decides
to expand this boundary,

3389
02:47:07,770 --> 02:47:11,400
ultimately, be up to the
province to make that decision.

3390
02:47:11,400 --> 02:47:13,410
I know even with our Sodom Road site,

3391
02:47:13,410 --> 02:47:16,620
they have some concerns
they're not meeting policy.

3392
02:47:16,620 --> 02:47:18,660
So I would...

3393
02:47:18,660 --> 02:47:20,143
Whether or not they would approve this,

3394
02:47:20,143 --> 02:47:22,020
that would be a big question mark

3395
02:47:22,020 --> 02:47:24,180
just based on provincial policy.

3396
02:47:24,180 --> 02:47:26,073
But those are the options you have.

3397
02:47:26,910 --> 02:47:27,787
- Questions or...

3398
02:47:27,787 --> 02:47:29,430
Councilor Strange.

3399
02:47:29,430 --> 02:47:31,680
- Thank you. Mr. Mayor.

3400
02:47:31,680 --> 02:47:33,360
So, Mr. Vacca, what you're...

3401
02:47:33,360 --> 02:47:38,193
So the person that owns that
land owns all the blue there?

3402
02:47:39,480 --> 02:47:40,313
- Yes.

3403
02:47:40,313 --> 02:47:42,330
Well, there's two
separate landowners, sir.

3404
02:47:42,330 --> 02:47:45,120
Hummel Properties owns...

3405
02:47:45,120 --> 02:47:46,260
If you go to exhibit two,

3406
02:47:46,260 --> 02:47:49,473
you can see better what
Hummel Properties owns.

3407
02:47:50,910 --> 02:47:54,120
Yeah, so what is laid out as a subdivision

3408
02:47:54,120 --> 02:47:56,910
is what Hummel Properties has.

3409
02:47:56,910 --> 02:47:58,590
And then to the north of that

3410
02:47:58,590 --> 02:48:02,100
as you go towards Sodom, I believe,

3411
02:48:02,100 --> 02:48:03,360
that is another landowner.

3412
02:48:03,360 --> 02:48:04,440
- That's another land.
- Yep.

3413
02:48:04,440 --> 02:48:06,330
So we're just saying

3414
02:48:06,330 --> 02:48:08,700
the boundary that you're proposing,

3415
02:48:08,700 --> 02:48:10,530
if you're going to expand it 20 meters,

3416
02:48:10,530 --> 02:48:11,730
it should go all the way up.

3417
02:48:11,730 --> 02:48:14,280
If you don't want to go all
the way up, that's up to you.

3418
02:48:14,280 --> 02:48:15,840
I'm here on behalf of Hummel.

3419
02:48:15,840 --> 02:48:17,940
I'm not here on behalf
of the other landowner,

3420
02:48:17,940 --> 02:48:20,960
but doesn't make sense to
have a zigzag boundary line.

3421
02:48:20,960 --> 02:48:23,068
- Just have a line with
the other property.

3422
02:48:23,068 --> 02:48:24,060
- Yeah. Yeah.

3423
02:48:24,060 --> 02:48:26,080
- And how many units would that add?

3424
02:48:26,080 --> 02:48:28,738
- Well, that would get you 91 units.

3425
02:48:28,738 --> 02:48:29,571
- 91 units.

3426
02:48:29,571 --> 02:48:31,920
- And we're saying if you
don't add to the boundary,

3427
02:48:31,920 --> 02:48:34,320
you're going to have 19
lots fronting on Willick,

3428
02:48:34,320 --> 02:48:36,480
which are well over 200 feet.

3429
02:48:36,480 --> 02:48:40,260
So it all comes down to
efficiency of the development.

3430
02:48:40,260 --> 02:48:42,570
These are urban lands that

3431
02:48:42,570 --> 02:48:45,030
if you don't get the extra 60 feet,

3432
02:48:45,030 --> 02:48:49,230
you're basically doing a very
inefficient use of urban lands

3433
02:48:49,230 --> 02:48:52,230
with only 19 very deep lots.

3434
02:48:52,230 --> 02:48:54,473
- And you said they're
reconstructing which road?

3435
02:48:54,473 --> 02:48:56,580
- Willick.
- Willick Road already.

3436
02:48:56,580 --> 02:48:57,540
Okay, so.

3437
02:48:57,540 --> 02:48:58,443
Okay. Thank you.

3438
02:48:59,370 --> 02:49:01,650
- And we're willing to take
our chances with the ministry.

3439
02:49:01,650 --> 02:49:04,770
We think we have very valid
reasons to support it.

3440
02:49:04,770 --> 02:49:07,770
And I appreciate your
planning director's comments.

3441
02:49:07,770 --> 02:49:09,210
It is up to them,

3442
02:49:09,210 --> 02:49:12,210
and we will take our
position to the minister.

3443
02:49:12,210 --> 02:49:14,430
We just need your support.

3444
02:49:14,430 --> 02:49:15,450
I think it makes sense.

3445
02:49:15,450 --> 02:49:17,950
It's a very minor adjustment
to what's before you.

3446
02:49:20,520 --> 02:49:22,870
- Questions or comments
of the rest of council?

3447
02:49:24,870 --> 02:49:29,100
So at what point, if we wanted
the province to consider it,

3448
02:49:29,100 --> 02:49:29,933
at what point do we do this?

3449
02:49:29,933 --> 02:49:33,140
Madam Clerk, is this
after the meeting or...

3450
02:49:34,770 --> 02:49:36,660
Okay. Ms. Dolch?

3451
02:49:36,660 --> 02:49:37,560
- Thank you, Your Worship.

3452
02:49:37,560 --> 02:49:39,720
So, obviously, this is just
a public meeting right now,

3453
02:49:39,720 --> 02:49:41,460
but prior, on August 11th,

3454
02:49:41,460 --> 02:49:44,070
obviously prior to your final decision,

3455
02:49:44,070 --> 02:49:45,960
if you want to make a comment tonight,

3456
02:49:45,960 --> 02:49:47,550
we can obviously take that back.

3457
02:49:47,550 --> 02:49:49,440
But I think in the end,

3458
02:49:49,440 --> 02:49:51,690
the final recommendation would be modified

3459
02:49:51,690 --> 02:49:54,750
and you would add this in
at that time on August 11th

3460
02:49:54,750 --> 02:49:56,730
for that to proceed to the province.

3461
02:49:56,730 --> 02:49:57,657
- Okay. Thank you.

3462
02:49:57,657 --> 02:50:00,210
All right, so is there
anything else you've got?

3463
02:50:00,210 --> 02:50:01,043
- Nothing further.

3464
02:50:01,043 --> 02:50:03,690
- Pose for a few more pictures, otherwise.

3465
02:50:03,690 --> 02:50:05,040
- [Mike] Change your shirt.

3466
02:50:06,326 --> 02:50:07,573
- You know what, if
you're going to do one,

3467
02:50:07,573 --> 02:50:10,323
I want counsel in the background.

3468
02:50:10,323 --> 02:50:11,443
- [Speaker] Can I get a selfie?

3469
02:50:11,443 --> 02:50:14,116
- [Rocky] Yeah, yeah, hold on.

3470
02:50:14,116 --> 02:50:16,053
- This is classic. This is classic.

3471
02:50:20,400 --> 02:50:22,050
Turn around. He's doing a selfie.

3472
02:50:23,190 --> 02:50:24,740
- I'll let you push the button.

3473
02:50:27,575 --> 02:50:28,575
- Beautiful.

3474
02:50:33,003 --> 02:50:35,013
- Hey, Mayor Jim, smile.
- Smile.

3475
02:50:37,650 --> 02:50:39,100
What a team. Look at you two.

3476
02:50:43,358 --> 02:50:44,370
- It's for fun.
- You may see these

3477
02:50:44,370 --> 02:50:46,645
on a website that I'm in, but...

3478
02:50:46,645 --> 02:50:47,940
- I'm counting on it.
- Thanks everyone.

3479
02:50:47,940 --> 02:50:49,680
- All right, thank you very much.

3480
02:50:49,680 --> 02:50:51,693
Madam Clerk, who do we have next?

3481
02:50:55,754 --> 02:50:59,927
- The next person registered
to speak is Jeremy Brown.

3482
02:51:19,596 --> 02:51:21,596
- Are we ready yet or...

3483
02:51:23,370 --> 02:51:24,203
Awesome.

3484
02:51:25,170 --> 02:51:27,900
Okay, first off, I just
wanted to thank everyone,

3485
02:51:27,900 --> 02:51:30,090
planning staff, council, mayor,

3486
02:51:30,090 --> 02:51:33,210
and the consultants for all
their hard work thus far

3487
02:51:33,210 --> 02:51:34,713
on the official plan.

3488
02:51:35,640 --> 02:51:37,710
So my name is Jeremy Brown.

3489
02:51:37,710 --> 02:51:40,260
I'm a planning consultant with
Niagara Planning Consultants.

3490
02:51:40,260 --> 02:51:42,270
I'm here representing

3491
02:51:42,270 --> 02:51:45,750
the owner of 8356 Thorold Stone Road,

3492
02:51:45,750 --> 02:51:50,340
which is this property
right here, as you can see.

3493
02:51:50,340 --> 02:51:54,840
I have emailed digital copies
of these plans to everyone.

3494
02:51:54,840 --> 02:51:58,500
Unfortunately, we were behind
on the deadline yesterday,

3495
02:51:58,500 --> 02:52:01,473
but you do have those in your inboxes.

3496
02:52:03,720 --> 02:52:05,700
So if you look at the poster,

3497
02:52:05,700 --> 02:52:08,580
you'll see that property
located on the southwest corner

3498
02:52:08,580 --> 02:52:10,800
of Thorold Stone Road and Kalar Road.

3499
02:52:10,800 --> 02:52:14,580
The eastern edge of our
client's property is 88.5 meters

3500
02:52:14,580 --> 02:52:17,430
from that intersection and
the urban area boundary,

3501
02:52:17,430 --> 02:52:20,220
and we are asking council
to review this line

3502
02:52:20,220 --> 02:52:23,580
and include the existing
developed residential cluster

3503
02:52:23,580 --> 02:52:26,010
immediately west of this commercial plaza,

3504
02:52:26,010 --> 02:52:28,470
which is right here at 8278.

3505
02:52:28,470 --> 02:52:29,910
There's a commercial plaza.

3506
02:52:29,910 --> 02:52:33,240
It's not prime agricultural,
it is commercial,

3507
02:52:33,240 --> 02:52:37,020
and is currently being
designated as prime agricultural

3508
02:52:37,020 --> 02:52:38,910
along with all of these residences,

3509
02:52:38,910 --> 02:52:41,520
which, as far as I can tell
from aerial photography,

3510
02:52:41,520 --> 02:52:43,953
have never been prime
agricultural for anything.

3511
02:52:45,780 --> 02:52:48,750
So this specific...

3512
02:52:48,750 --> 02:52:49,583
Oh, sorry.

3513
02:52:49,583 --> 02:52:51,090
We are not asking for a rezoning.

3514
02:52:51,090 --> 02:52:53,040
We're not asking for immediate
development approval.

3515
02:52:53,040 --> 02:52:55,350
We're not asking for any removal

3516
02:52:55,350 --> 02:52:56,940
of environmental protections

3517
02:52:56,940 --> 02:53:00,150
or expanding into broader
agricultural lands.

3518
02:53:00,150 --> 02:53:04,170
We are simply asking to
correct what appears to be

3519
02:53:04,170 --> 02:53:06,570
a small boundary inconsistency

3520
02:53:06,570 --> 02:53:08,460
before the official plan is finalized.

3521
02:53:08,460 --> 02:53:10,440
This specific pocket of land

3522
02:53:10,440 --> 02:53:12,900
already functions as an urban area,

3523
02:53:12,900 --> 02:53:16,320
and it sits right beside, as
I said, the commercial plaza.

3524
02:53:16,320 --> 02:53:20,640
And then across the street
is also the Vector Court,

3525
02:53:20,640 --> 02:53:24,393
which you see uses this
creek, Shriners Creek,

3526
02:53:25,530 --> 02:53:27,447
as the boundary here.

3527
02:53:27,447 --> 02:53:30,000
And so in using this creek,

3528
02:53:30,000 --> 02:53:33,120
we're proposing a firm line that

3529
02:53:33,120 --> 02:53:37,110
allows a more consistent urban boundary

3530
02:53:37,110 --> 02:53:38,913
in this specific pocket.

3531
02:53:42,210 --> 02:53:43,920
Let's see here.

3532
02:53:43,920 --> 02:53:47,310
Furthermore, this site
is perfectly positioned

3533
02:53:47,310 --> 02:53:50,040
to capitalize on existing
municipal investments.

3534
02:53:50,040 --> 02:53:54,210
Kalar Road already equipped
with full municipal services,

3535
02:53:54,210 --> 02:53:57,960
including large diameter
sewer, water mains.

3536
02:53:57,960 --> 02:53:59,910
So it makes logical sense to maximize

3537
02:53:59,910 --> 02:54:02,763
the efficiency of this
existing infrastructure.

3538
02:54:04,380 --> 02:54:06,780
And so in the spirit of transparency,

3539
02:54:06,780 --> 02:54:08,070
we want the council to know

3540
02:54:08,070 --> 02:54:10,170
the long-term vision for this site.

3541
02:54:10,170 --> 02:54:12,270
If the boundary is corrected,

3542
02:54:12,270 --> 02:54:15,070
they're intending to pursue
residential development here

3543
02:54:16,110 --> 02:54:18,660
which would obviously
help with the numbers

3544
02:54:18,660 --> 02:54:20,610
and the goals set in the official plan.

3545
02:54:22,950 --> 02:54:26,270
Additionally, the owner of 8328, 8335,

3546
02:54:28,680 --> 02:54:32,340
this parcel is already
in talks to purchase

3547
02:54:32,340 --> 02:54:34,863
and be included in this
proposed development.

3548
02:54:36,570 --> 02:54:38,990
In summary, this is a modest...

3549
02:54:39,840 --> 02:54:40,673
Excuse me.

3550
02:54:40,673 --> 02:54:41,610
This is a modest mapping request

3551
02:54:41,610 --> 02:54:43,980
with a significant
long-term public benefit.

3552
02:54:43,980 --> 02:54:46,410
We respectfully ask that
council direct planning staff

3553
02:54:46,410 --> 02:54:48,660
to review this boundary in consistency

3554
02:54:48,660 --> 02:54:50,730
and determine whether a minor refinement

3555
02:54:50,730 --> 02:54:54,000
would create a more logical,
defensible, urban edge.

3556
02:54:54,000 --> 02:54:55,860
Thank you for your time, your leadership,

3557
02:54:55,860 --> 02:54:57,300
and your consideration.

3558
02:54:57,300 --> 02:55:00,669
I would be happy to answer
any questions you may have.

3559
02:55:00,669 --> 02:55:03,513
- Any questions for...

3560
02:55:03,513 --> 02:55:07,113
Any questions or comments of council?

3561
02:55:08,097 --> 02:55:08,930
Okay.

3562
02:55:08,930 --> 02:55:10,350
And yes, Councilor Patel?

3563
02:55:10,350 --> 02:55:12,600
- Question through, Mr. Mayor. Thank you.

3564
02:55:12,600 --> 02:55:15,990
What is the green or yellow
area behind the red line?

3565
02:55:15,990 --> 02:55:19,590
- Yeah, so that is the
protected Shriners Creek area.

3566
02:55:19,590 --> 02:55:23,430
So it's NPCA regulated as well.

3567
02:55:23,430 --> 02:55:25,950
A portion of this land is NPCA regulated,

3568
02:55:25,950 --> 02:55:28,230
so obviously any future
development would require

3569
02:55:28,230 --> 02:55:31,947
planning staff approvals in
conjunction with the NPCA

3570
02:55:31,947 --> 02:55:35,068
and all governing agencies.

3571
02:55:35,068 --> 02:55:36,496
- So, through you, Mr. Mayor.

3572
02:55:36,496 --> 02:55:40,060
In that house, there's
one house that's owned by

3573
02:55:40,060 --> 02:55:41,640
a gentleman, I think.

3574
02:55:41,640 --> 02:55:42,990
So is there services there?

3575
02:55:44,010 --> 02:55:49,010
- So there are services on
Thorold Stone Road right now.

3576
02:55:49,170 --> 02:55:50,400
If there's a larger development,

3577
02:55:50,400 --> 02:55:52,140
I believe they would want to tap into

3578
02:55:52,140 --> 02:55:57,140
the Kalar Road services,
which are built up larger.

3579
02:55:57,570 --> 02:55:59,940
So that would ultimately be
the plan of the development,

3580
02:55:59,940 --> 02:56:02,820
but obviously no development
would be pursued.

3581
02:56:02,820 --> 02:56:04,710
We've already done pre-consultation
meetings with staff.

3582
02:56:04,710 --> 02:56:06,210
Nothing would be able to be pursued

3583
02:56:06,210 --> 02:56:09,570
without the urban
boundary adjustment first.

3584
02:56:09,570 --> 02:56:10,980
- Thank you.
- Yep.

3585
02:56:10,980 --> 02:56:12,870
- I just figured, while we've
got our consultants here,

3586
02:56:12,870 --> 02:56:14,400
maybe Mr. Nethery,

3587
02:56:14,400 --> 02:56:17,190
since this is an urban boundary expansion,

3588
02:56:17,190 --> 02:56:21,993
maybe he might be able to offer
some comment on the request.

3589
02:56:23,370 --> 02:56:25,820
I know you couldn't see
from your angle, but...

3590
02:56:26,730 --> 02:56:28,860
- No, through you...

3591
02:56:28,860 --> 02:56:31,680
Through Your Worship, we have the letter.

3592
02:56:31,680 --> 02:56:34,380
We have the submission, and that's there.

3593
02:56:34,380 --> 02:56:36,270
The best that I'm going
to be able to offer today

3594
02:56:36,270 --> 02:56:39,270
is that we will take this submission in

3595
02:56:39,270 --> 02:56:40,830
along with any other information

3596
02:56:40,830 --> 02:56:42,810
that's coming in from anyone else tonight,

3597
02:56:42,810 --> 02:56:46,290
and it'll be reviewed and
assessed and with a report back

3598
02:56:46,290 --> 02:56:47,790
as a part of the final recommendation.

3599
02:56:47,790 --> 02:56:49,260
That's the best I can do for you today.

3600
02:56:49,260 --> 02:56:50,490
- That's great.

3601
02:56:50,490 --> 02:56:52,770
Oh, we do have one question, gentlemen.

3602
02:56:52,770 --> 02:56:54,420
Councilor Lococo.

3603
02:56:54,420 --> 02:56:57,450
- [Lori] Does Ms. Dolch have
any comments on this one?

3604
02:56:57,450 --> 02:56:59,460
- Ms. Dolch, did you want...

3605
02:56:59,460 --> 02:57:00,293
- Thank you, Your Worship.

3606
02:57:00,293 --> 02:57:01,650
I'll just make one brief comment.

3607
02:57:01,650 --> 02:57:05,940
And again, same thing applies
as did to the last speaker.

3608
02:57:05,940 --> 02:57:08,880
The provincial policy statements advise

3609
02:57:08,880 --> 02:57:10,080
on urban boundary expansions,

3610
02:57:10,080 --> 02:57:11,130
and our policies have

3611
02:57:12,000 --> 02:57:14,430
urban boundary expansion policies in them,

3612
02:57:14,430 --> 02:57:16,260
for people to make
applications in the future.

3613
02:57:16,260 --> 02:57:19,030
Right now, I don't feel we have need

3614
02:57:20,190 --> 02:57:21,960
just based on our calculations.

3615
02:57:21,960 --> 02:57:23,460
But again, through a process,

3616
02:57:23,460 --> 02:57:24,810
once this official plan's approved,

3617
02:57:24,810 --> 02:57:27,060
they could apply and
do their needs analysis

3618
02:57:27,060 --> 02:57:30,030
to put something forward at that time.

3619
02:57:30,030 --> 02:57:31,920
But again, under the provincial guidance,

3620
02:57:31,920 --> 02:57:34,980
under the PPS, provincial
policy statements,

3621
02:57:34,980 --> 02:57:37,653
there is a requirement
to demonstrate need.

3622
02:57:39,630 --> 02:57:41,490
- Okay, I think we're good for now,

3623
02:57:41,490 --> 02:57:43,230
and they'll take it under
advisement and come back to us.

3624
02:57:43,230 --> 02:57:44,280
Thank you, gentlemen.

3625
02:57:45,360 --> 02:57:47,043
Okay. Madam Clerk?

3626
02:57:49,170 --> 02:57:52,643
- Next up, I have Robert and Donna Soyka.

3627
02:57:54,780 --> 02:57:57,600
- Are they online or in person?

3628
02:57:57,600 --> 02:57:58,433
- [Donna] Oh, that's me.

3629
02:57:58,433 --> 02:57:59,340
That's me, Your Honor.

3630
02:57:59,340 --> 02:58:00,840
Oh, yeah, if you'd like
to come to the microphone.

3631
02:58:00,840 --> 02:58:03,685
- No, I just registered
to be here, not to speak.

3632
02:58:03,685 --> 02:58:04,518
- Okay.

3633
02:58:04,518 --> 02:58:05,670
Okay. Thank you.

3634
02:58:05,670 --> 02:58:07,230
No problem.

3635
02:58:07,230 --> 02:58:09,750
All right. Who do we
got next, Madam Clerk?

3636
02:58:09,750 --> 02:58:12,363
- Moving along, we have Dr. John Bacher.

3637
02:58:13,514 --> 02:58:15,930
- Okay, Mr. Bacher,

3638
02:58:15,930 --> 02:58:19,530
if you can just state your address.

3639
02:58:19,530 --> 02:58:22,170
And then of course you've
got up to five minutes.

3640
02:58:22,170 --> 02:58:25,053
- Yeah, I live at 134 Church Street.

3641
02:58:27,065 --> 02:58:29,373
Dr. Bacher.

3642
02:58:32,160 --> 02:58:32,993
When I

3643
02:58:34,830 --> 02:58:39,830
read the official plan
that's being proposed, it was

3644
02:58:42,390 --> 02:58:45,690
actually one of my
happiest moments in my life

3645
02:58:45,690 --> 02:58:50,690
because it corrected a
lot of egregious loopholes

3646
02:58:50,910 --> 02:58:52,860
in past official plans,

3647
02:58:52,860 --> 02:58:55,893
both at the region and in Niagara Falls.

3648
02:58:58,530 --> 02:59:02,510
Loopholes which led to
unnecessary litigation

3649
02:59:02,510 --> 02:59:05,403
at the Ontario Municipal Board in LPAT.

3650
02:59:08,070 --> 02:59:13,070
Now I'll read the clause
that I was so pleased

3651
02:59:13,710 --> 02:59:15,483
to see in the plan.

3652
02:59:17,070 --> 02:59:21,063
Policy 6.4.14.1.

3653
02:59:22,410 --> 02:59:26,580
It states when a feature such
as a significant woodland

3654
02:59:26,580 --> 02:59:30,720
or other woodland at the date
of the approval of the plan

3655
02:59:30,720 --> 02:59:33,180
or the regional plan,
whichever is applicable,

3656
02:59:33,180 --> 02:59:36,190
no longer meets the
definition of significant

3657
02:59:37,440 --> 02:59:39,720
because of disturbance,

3658
02:59:39,720 --> 02:59:41,770
the feature shall retain

3659
02:59:43,440 --> 02:59:47,493
its nature as a significant woodland.

3660
02:59:49,020 --> 02:59:52,360
Now this corrects problems

3661
02:59:53,550 --> 02:59:55,540
that have been caused by

3662
02:59:56,460 --> 03:00:01,413
developer-approved
environmental impact statements,

3663
03:00:04,200 --> 03:00:07,120
often which are compiled

3664
03:00:08,550 --> 03:00:11,250
where people are not able to go on site

3665
03:00:11,250 --> 03:00:14,343
to see if the conditions
are actually true.

3666
03:00:17,250 --> 03:00:19,840
Now, this was shown most egregiously

3667
03:00:21,540 --> 03:00:26,540
in the long process at Riverfront.

3668
03:00:31,500 --> 03:00:36,500
And there was a environmental
impact study that said

3669
03:00:37,530 --> 03:00:40,110
an area of significant woodland

3670
03:00:40,110 --> 03:00:43,050
was going to lose that characteristic

3671
03:00:43,050 --> 03:00:44,920
under the regional plan

3672
03:00:46,590 --> 03:00:50,460
based on what was to happen in the future,

3673
03:00:50,460 --> 03:00:52,373
not what was actually there.

3674
03:00:53,790 --> 03:00:58,790
And they claimed that most
of the trees in this woodland

3675
03:00:58,950 --> 03:01:00,603
were sick and dying.

3676
03:01:01,620 --> 03:01:03,700
And this was totally refuted

3677
03:01:04,560 --> 03:01:08,880
after all the land use planning
approvals had been done.

3678
03:01:08,880 --> 03:01:11,283
Even at a court litigation,

3679
03:01:12,270 --> 03:01:16,180
the judge dismissed my request for appeal

3680
03:01:17,220 --> 03:01:19,827
based on this erroneous statement

3681
03:01:19,827 --> 03:01:22,320
and the environmental impact statement

3682
03:01:22,320 --> 03:01:25,500
actually gave me a cost of war.

3683
03:01:25,500 --> 03:01:29,583
And the city also still is
party to this cost of war.

3684
03:01:31,797 --> 03:01:33,260
And it said...

3685
03:01:35,460 --> 03:01:39,790
This tree-saving plan refuted

3686
03:01:41,940 --> 03:01:46,940
the claim that this area of 1,775 trees,

3687
03:01:52,470 --> 03:01:55,080
they found in the tree saving-plan

3688
03:01:55,080 --> 03:01:58,923
no obvious sign of widespread
disease was present.

3689
03:02:00,090 --> 03:02:03,300
So that was what it's required

3690
03:02:03,300 --> 03:02:05,613
under the regional tree bylaw,

3691
03:02:06,630 --> 03:02:09,450
that this tree saving plan be done.

3692
03:02:09,450 --> 03:02:12,390
And it was found that all
the trees were healthy.

3693
03:02:12,390 --> 03:02:17,130
It was totally bogus, this
environmental impact statement

3694
03:02:17,130 --> 03:02:19,353
that was submitted to council.

3695
03:02:21,690 --> 03:02:24,750
And this is a very important corrective

3696
03:02:24,750 --> 03:02:27,333
sort of nonsense ever happen again.

3697
03:02:34,200 --> 03:02:39,153
And they found that many of the trees,

3698
03:02:40,950 --> 03:02:44,820
ash trees were actually
minority in this woodland.

3699
03:02:44,820 --> 03:02:47,370
The most numerous trees were cottonwood.

3700
03:02:47,370 --> 03:02:49,620
Some of very large diameter

3701
03:02:49,620 --> 03:02:52,590
quoting from the tree-saving plan.

3702
03:02:52,590 --> 03:02:54,930
- [Jim] Mr. Bacher, you've
only got about a minute to go.

3703
03:02:54,930 --> 03:02:55,763
Is there anything about the-

3704
03:02:55,763 --> 03:03:00,123
- Yes, we heard a lot from Mr.
Bacher went on much longer.

3705
03:03:04,980 --> 03:03:08,100
And I would say that
the other point is that

3706
03:03:08,100 --> 03:03:12,330
this good provision has been
weakened by the regional plan

3707
03:03:12,330 --> 03:03:15,333
designating a lot of woodlands as,

3708
03:03:16,948 --> 03:03:19,170
the new term is other wetlands,

3709
03:03:19,170 --> 03:03:23,913
before they were called
provincially significant woodlands.

3710
03:03:24,990 --> 03:03:29,310
So this policy should also be applied

3711
03:03:29,310 --> 03:03:32,150
to what are called locally
significant woodlands

3712
03:03:32,150 --> 03:03:33,783
in the official plan.

3713
03:03:34,950 --> 03:03:39,950
And these areas receive further protection

3714
03:03:40,230 --> 03:03:43,560
under the provincial policy statement

3715
03:03:43,560 --> 03:03:45,270
because they're significant

3716
03:03:45,270 --> 03:03:48,690
woodland amphibian breeding habitat.

3717
03:03:48,690 --> 03:03:52,710
Under the provincial policy statement,

3718
03:03:52,710 --> 03:03:54,540
there is a provision for

3719
03:03:54,540 --> 03:03:59,310
provincially significant wildlife habitat.

3720
03:03:59,310 --> 03:04:01,350
And the most obvious form

3721
03:04:01,350 --> 03:04:04,570
of provincially significant
wildlife habitat

3722
03:04:05,430 --> 03:04:08,163
is in these other wetlands.

3723
03:04:09,060 --> 03:04:11,370
And they're very easy to...

3724
03:04:11,370 --> 03:04:16,370
It's shown in the wetland
studies themselves that they are

3725
03:04:18,198 --> 03:04:23,198
a very good woodland breeding
habitat for amphibians.

3726
03:04:23,550 --> 03:04:28,550
So that is the key thrust
of my presentation.

3727
03:04:29,850 --> 03:04:30,850
- Thank you. Thank you.

3728
03:04:30,850 --> 03:04:34,443
Do we have any questions
or comments of council?

3729
03:04:35,610 --> 03:04:37,380
Okay, thank you very much.

3730
03:04:37,380 --> 03:04:38,213
Thank you.

3731
03:04:39,180 --> 03:04:40,053
Madam Clerk?

3732
03:04:41,146 --> 03:04:44,103
- The next registered
participant is Mr. David Rupay.

3733
03:04:46,530 --> 03:04:49,260
- David Rupay, is he online or in person?

3734
03:04:49,260 --> 03:04:51,481
- Everyone was registered to be in person.

3735
03:04:51,481 --> 03:04:53,130
- Okay.

3736
03:04:53,130 --> 03:04:54,750
Okay, looks like he's a no show.

3737
03:04:54,750 --> 03:04:56,433
So we'll go to the next one.

3738
03:05:00,660 --> 03:05:01,493
- Sorry.

3739
03:05:01,493 --> 03:05:05,163
The next person we have
registered is Jean Grandoni.

3740
03:05:24,900 --> 03:05:27,720
- I have some maps here, Mr. Chairman.

3741
03:05:27,720 --> 03:05:29,100
- Okay.

3742
03:05:29,100 --> 03:05:31,200
- There's two maps and one picture.

3743
03:05:31,200 --> 03:05:33,865
- You may want to pull that
microphone down a little bit

3744
03:05:33,865 --> 03:05:35,448
so we can hear you.

3745
03:05:36,833 --> 03:05:37,713
Yeah, that too.

3746
03:05:37,713 --> 03:05:39,360
- I have a set of...

3747
03:05:39,360 --> 03:05:41,433
I only have 12 of each.

3748
03:05:42,330 --> 03:05:44,243
- Okay.
- They're stapled together.

3749
03:05:44,243 --> 03:05:45,450
- We can send some.

3750
03:05:45,450 --> 03:05:48,190
Okay, our general manager
of planning is going to

3751
03:05:49,353 --> 03:05:50,550
come and grab that or...

3752
03:05:50,550 --> 03:05:51,640
Oh, we've got our

3753
03:05:54,395 --> 03:05:56,703
senior manager of long-term planning.

3754
03:06:08,250 --> 03:06:09,390
Just give us half a second.

3755
03:06:09,390 --> 03:06:10,223
We'll

3756
03:06:12,240 --> 03:06:13,073
hand them out.

3757
03:06:23,894 --> 03:06:25,170
Oh, thanks.

3758
03:06:25,170 --> 03:06:27,120
Get one for yourself too, don't forget.

3759
03:06:38,730 --> 03:06:42,600
- Perhaps I could just explain
the maps before I speak.

3760
03:06:42,600 --> 03:06:43,440
- Pardon me?

3761
03:06:43,440 --> 03:06:45,400
- Can I explain the maps
a bit before I speak?

3762
03:06:45,400 --> 03:06:47,160
- Yeah, we haven't started the clock yet.

3763
03:06:47,160 --> 03:06:50,283
We're just waiting till
everyone has a copy of the map.

3764
03:06:52,747 --> 03:06:54,330
Everyone's got one.

3765
03:06:55,170 --> 03:06:56,883
Does everyone have their copies?

3766
03:06:58,137 --> 03:06:59,310
Okay, good.

3767
03:06:59,310 --> 03:07:01,683
Okay, we're good to go, Ms. Grandoni.

3768
03:07:04,140 --> 03:07:07,620
- The map was showing the former

3769
03:07:07,620 --> 03:07:09,530
vineyards and orchards is...

3770
03:07:13,377 --> 03:07:15,210
(Jim speaking faintly)

3771
03:07:15,210 --> 03:07:16,043
Oh, yes.

3772
03:07:18,140 --> 03:07:20,103
It was expensive to copy.

3773
03:07:23,850 --> 03:07:25,470
The map should...

3774
03:07:25,470 --> 03:07:26,303
Oh.

3775
03:07:29,910 --> 03:07:31,087
The one map entitled

3776
03:07:31,087 --> 03:07:34,020
"Shriners Creek
Environmental Impact Study"

3777
03:07:34,020 --> 03:07:36,720
is actually a map produced by the city.

3778
03:07:36,720 --> 03:07:40,320
It's a 1966 topographical.

3779
03:07:40,320 --> 03:07:44,193
And this is an excerpt
from the larger city map.

3780
03:07:45,300 --> 03:07:49,980
And the red is your former vineyards.

3781
03:07:49,980 --> 03:07:52,830
Green is former family orchards.

3782
03:07:52,830 --> 03:07:55,770
And I should explain that

3783
03:07:55,770 --> 03:07:57,720
up here you see just a few dots

3784
03:07:57,720 --> 03:08:00,960
because those are much larger acreages.

3785
03:08:00,960 --> 03:08:03,993
Down here is smaller
acreages, so you see more.

3786
03:08:04,890 --> 03:08:09,890
And I should point out these
moon-shaped dots or red dots

3787
03:08:10,050 --> 03:08:13,980
over here along the town line are formerly

3788
03:08:13,980 --> 03:08:16,890
Mr. Davis and Mr. Lemick, two Grape Kings,

3789
03:08:16,890 --> 03:08:21,638
and they competed with the grape
kings below the escarpment.

3790
03:08:21,638 --> 03:08:23,013
- [Jim] Okay.

3791
03:08:24,570 --> 03:08:27,150
- Or with grape growers
below the escarpment.

3792
03:08:27,150 --> 03:08:27,993
Excuse me.

3793
03:08:32,310 --> 03:08:34,420
The next map,

3794
03:08:34,420 --> 03:08:35,460
well, you have a picture there,

3795
03:08:35,460 --> 03:08:38,830
that's Mr. Davis's, the
Grape King's produce,

3796
03:08:40,830 --> 03:08:42,663
his Concord grapes.

3797
03:08:45,210 --> 03:08:47,610
The soils map of Welland County,

3798
03:08:47,610 --> 03:08:49,830
I though you should see that

3799
03:08:49,830 --> 03:08:53,790
and see the direction we've
been going all these years.

3800
03:08:53,790 --> 03:08:58,790
Over in this area here to the east

3801
03:09:00,000 --> 03:09:02,040
towards the Niagara River,

3802
03:09:02,040 --> 03:09:04,140
this is all the city of Niagara Falls.

3803
03:09:04,140 --> 03:09:06,663
You can see they built
on all the fruit land.

3804
03:09:09,540 --> 03:09:14,370
And the HC is the area
I'm talking about here.

3805
03:09:14,370 --> 03:09:15,270
About half of that.

3806
03:09:15,270 --> 03:09:17,220
The other half is in Thorold.

3807
03:09:17,220 --> 03:09:18,813
That's your Haldeman Clay.

3808
03:09:19,710 --> 03:09:22,140
And some, there is a site...

3809
03:09:22,140 --> 03:09:26,820
We did have a soils
map that called it HCL,

3810
03:09:26,820 --> 03:09:29,520
the area that I'm talking about.

3811
03:09:29,520 --> 03:09:32,310
The Haldeman clay loam,

3812
03:09:32,310 --> 03:09:34,773
which is actually more accurate.

3813
03:09:41,940 --> 03:09:44,043
I'll start on my letter.

3814
03:09:47,580 --> 03:09:50,160
The agricultural designation of farmlands

3815
03:09:50,160 --> 03:09:52,440
between Niagara Falls and Thorold

3816
03:09:52,440 --> 03:09:54,963
and between the escarpment
and the Welland River.

3817
03:09:55,890 --> 03:09:58,920
The schedule two map entitled
"Land Use Designation"

3818
03:09:58,920 --> 03:10:02,910
shows them as prime, but they
are actually higher than that.

3819
03:10:02,910 --> 03:10:05,850
They should be designated specialty crop

3820
03:10:05,850 --> 03:10:07,683
and belong in the green belt.

3821
03:10:09,120 --> 03:10:11,460
Their fruit and grape
capability was proven

3822
03:10:11,460 --> 03:10:15,660
in the eight-week-long February 9th, 1979

3823
03:10:15,660 --> 03:10:18,780
Ontario Municipal Board
hearing on the urban boundaries

3824
03:10:18,780 --> 03:10:21,540
of the regional policy plan.

3825
03:10:21,540 --> 03:10:23,580
The chairman, Mr. Blake and Mr. Blair

3826
03:10:23,580 --> 03:10:26,400
on page 10 of that decision concluded

3827
03:10:26,400 --> 03:10:28,650
that the lands are good
agricultural lands,

3828
03:10:28,650 --> 03:10:31,500
which because of climatic advantage,

3829
03:10:31,500 --> 03:10:34,533
have good potential for
such crops as grapes,

3830
03:10:35,850 --> 03:10:39,120
pears, apples, plums, prunes, corn,

3831
03:10:39,120 --> 03:10:40,770
and other grain crops,

3832
03:10:40,770 --> 03:10:44,280
and are capable of better
than average yields.

3833
03:10:44,280 --> 03:10:46,320
The Beaverdams Winery existed

3834
03:10:46,320 --> 03:10:49,530
at the intersection of
Beaverdams and Garner Roads,

3835
03:10:49,530 --> 03:10:51,780
but the farmer owner, Mr. Tatterson

3836
03:10:51,780 --> 03:10:54,693
died very young and the winery was lost.

3837
03:10:55,530 --> 03:10:58,920
This is all part of the
history of this area.

3838
03:10:58,920 --> 03:11:00,300
My father knew the owner,

3839
03:11:00,300 --> 03:11:01,650
and I met one of the sons

3840
03:11:01,650 --> 03:11:05,280
who gave us a picture of
the inside of this winery,

3841
03:11:05,280 --> 03:11:08,820
which is demolished in
the '70s approximately.

3842
03:11:08,820 --> 03:11:11,190
And the son told us
how he was selling wine

3843
03:11:11,190 --> 03:11:13,380
as far away in those days

3844
03:11:13,380 --> 03:11:16,380
was quite an accomplishment in Hamilton

3845
03:11:16,380 --> 03:11:18,123
and how good the wine was.

3846
03:11:19,080 --> 03:11:22,320
A new winery has recently
been built on Highway 20

3847
03:11:22,320 --> 03:11:25,080
between Beechwood and Townline Roads,

3848
03:11:25,080 --> 03:11:27,243
along with a supporting vineyard.

3849
03:11:30,150 --> 03:11:32,820
Now my late brother
Peter calculated around

3850
03:11:32,820 --> 03:11:36,450
600 acres of grapes in various locations

3851
03:11:36,450 --> 03:11:39,210
along with small family
orchards were grown here,

3852
03:11:39,210 --> 03:11:42,810
but have been removed
mostly by land speculators.

3853
03:11:42,810 --> 03:11:44,700
Some were removed by farmers

3854
03:11:44,700 --> 03:11:49,470
under the unfortunate and
mistaken grape pullout program

3855
03:11:49,470 --> 03:11:52,290
where incompetent government
paid them to remove

3856
03:11:52,290 --> 03:11:56,220
valuable Lambrusco type vineyards.

3857
03:11:56,220 --> 03:11:58,260
The area produced two grape kings,

3858
03:11:58,260 --> 03:12:01,443
Mr. Davis and Mr. Lemick,
on the Townline Road,

3859
03:12:02,430 --> 03:12:03,993
east and west sides.

3860
03:12:04,980 --> 03:12:07,050
Years ago in the '60s and '70s,

3861
03:12:07,050 --> 03:12:09,690
the escarpment scientists
wanted to take control

3862
03:12:09,690 --> 03:12:12,610
of all the lands between
the QEW and Thorold

3863
03:12:13,480 --> 03:12:16,170
and between the escarpment
and the Welland River

3864
03:12:16,170 --> 03:12:20,430
due to their spring-fed pike
spawning streams and ponds.

3865
03:12:20,430 --> 03:12:23,580
It's provincially
significant wetland forests

3866
03:12:23,580 --> 03:12:26,730
and unique, unique farms and farmlands,

3867
03:12:26,730 --> 03:12:28,770
but the political forces of that day

3868
03:12:28,770 --> 03:12:30,840
voted against the protection

3869
03:12:30,840 --> 03:12:33,483
of this natural heritage richness.

3870
03:12:37,080 --> 03:12:42,033
47 years have passed since
the 1979 OMD decision,

3871
03:12:43,320 --> 03:12:47,340
and the truth has still not been mapped.

3872
03:12:47,340 --> 03:12:50,160
The council should move
that the designation

3873
03:12:50,160 --> 03:12:52,390
be changed to specialty crop

3874
03:12:54,060 --> 03:12:55,833
and put it in the green belt,

3875
03:12:56,910 --> 03:12:58,563
If you can get past Ford.

3876
03:13:00,240 --> 03:13:02,940
Point two, two majestic wetland forests

3877
03:13:02,940 --> 03:13:04,920
exist south of Mountain Road

3878
03:13:04,920 --> 03:13:07,020
between Kalar and Garner.

3879
03:13:07,020 --> 03:13:09,300
It is disturbing to see that they are only

3880
03:13:09,300 --> 03:13:13,320
faintly mapped in schedule
two land use designations

3881
03:13:13,320 --> 03:13:15,870
and especially when other
much smaller forests

3882
03:13:15,870 --> 03:13:18,030
are clearly shown.

3883
03:13:18,030 --> 03:13:20,520
Having seen the original development plans

3884
03:13:20,520 --> 03:13:24,810
prior to Doug Ford's dictatorial
ministerial zoning order

3885
03:13:24,810 --> 03:13:26,220
where partial destruction

3886
03:13:26,220 --> 03:13:30,420
of both these forests was proposed.

3887
03:13:30,420 --> 03:13:33,210
What are the latest plans here?

3888
03:13:33,210 --> 03:13:36,820
These forests contain a high
number of wetland vernal pools

3889
03:13:38,010 --> 03:13:39,960
'cause I have walked them,

3890
03:13:39,960 --> 03:13:43,920
and rare, threatened buttonbush,
which flower in August.

3891
03:13:43,920 --> 03:13:48,630
The Fernwood plan forest
also contains buttonbush

3892
03:13:48,630 --> 03:13:51,960
and this is one big
reason it was preserved.

3893
03:13:51,960 --> 03:13:55,380
The developer's own
ecologist, that is a Fernwood,

3894
03:13:55,380 --> 03:14:00,380
recommended preservation of
the Fernwood forest buttonbush.

3895
03:14:01,650 --> 03:14:04,410
Hundreds of frogs will
be lost with disturbance

3896
03:14:04,410 --> 03:14:07,740
of any part of these two landmark forests.

3897
03:14:07,740 --> 03:14:12,740
You must visit the forest
in April when it's dark

3898
03:14:12,900 --> 03:14:16,800
or when it first warms up to
hear the frog mating calls

3899
03:14:16,800 --> 03:14:19,113
to know of their existence there.

3900
03:14:20,460 --> 03:14:23,160
Cougars, I am told,
frequent these forests.

3901
03:14:23,160 --> 03:14:27,513
And I just learned this this
year from the neighbor there.

3902
03:14:28,710 --> 03:14:31,260
Cougars, I am told, frequent these forests

3903
03:14:31,260 --> 03:14:36,260
as evidenced in video
captured on night filming.

3904
03:14:36,900 --> 03:14:39,600
A herd of eight deer were
seen crossing Garner Road

3905
03:14:39,600 --> 03:14:42,900
from east to west, from the
direction of these forest,

3906
03:14:42,900 --> 03:14:45,090
and just missed my car.

3907
03:14:45,090 --> 03:14:46,560
When you destroy your forest,

3908
03:14:46,560 --> 03:14:49,230
you're destroying the
very source of the wood

3909
03:14:49,230 --> 03:14:51,190
that you need to build your houses

3910
03:14:52,500 --> 03:14:57,240
because a properly managed
forest will provide that.

3911
03:14:57,240 --> 03:15:01,410
You also destroy as many jobs
as you think you are creating.

3912
03:15:01,410 --> 03:15:03,750
With such destruction,
it will be difficult

3913
03:15:03,750 --> 03:15:08,580
to achieve the provincial
goal of 30% forest cover.

3914
03:15:08,580 --> 03:15:11,160
In recent years, the Niagara
Escarpment Commission

3915
03:15:11,160 --> 03:15:14,400
tried to include these
two majestic forests

3916
03:15:14,400 --> 03:15:17,730
and adjacent lands in
their protective control.

3917
03:15:17,730 --> 03:15:19,950
But once again, good planning was denied

3918
03:15:19,950 --> 03:15:21,753
by the political forces.

3919
03:15:22,680 --> 03:15:25,470
Point three, the Welland
River Watershed Plan.

3920
03:15:25,470 --> 03:15:26,910
Where is it?

3921
03:15:26,910 --> 03:15:28,530
Plans were done on the upper end,

3922
03:15:28,530 --> 03:15:31,620
but when they started on
the Niagara Falls lower end,

3923
03:15:31,620 --> 03:15:35,670
the watershed plan seemed to
be delayed or to disappear.

3924
03:15:35,670 --> 03:15:37,680
Where is the floodplain mapping?

3925
03:15:37,680 --> 03:15:40,380
Development of all kinds does not appear

3926
03:15:40,380 --> 03:15:43,083
to be respecting the river floodplain.

3927
03:15:44,010 --> 03:15:45,780
Point four.

3928
03:15:45,780 --> 03:15:48,330
Point four and five are missing

3929
03:15:48,330 --> 03:15:51,660
or faintly mapped forests and creeks.

3930
03:15:51,660 --> 03:15:53,100
And I missed a couple.

3931
03:15:53,100 --> 03:15:54,930
There's so many of these.

3932
03:15:54,930 --> 03:15:57,520
I missed two tributaries myself

3933
03:15:58,860 --> 03:16:03,120
that come out of the Fernwood subdivision.

3934
03:16:03,120 --> 03:16:05,700
Strange that you are
draining hundreds of acres

3935
03:16:05,700 --> 03:16:08,130
of urban lands through these creeks,

3936
03:16:08,130 --> 03:16:11,280
causing greatly increased flows
through both the urban lands

3937
03:16:11,280 --> 03:16:13,470
and to downstream landowners,

3938
03:16:13,470 --> 03:16:17,220
yet seem reluctant to
strongly recognize them

3939
03:16:17,220 --> 03:16:19,020
in your mapping.

3940
03:16:19,020 --> 03:16:20,610
They are mostly headwaters

3941
03:16:20,610 --> 03:16:22,800
that are spawning grounds for fish,

3942
03:16:22,800 --> 03:16:26,910
and therefore protected under
the Federal Fisheries Act.

3943
03:16:26,910 --> 03:16:29,640
You need a storm water
policy that dictates

3944
03:16:29,640 --> 03:16:34,110
that our streams be left
open and not channelized.

3945
03:16:34,110 --> 03:16:36,720
One engineer said that
the worst thing invented

3946
03:16:36,720 --> 03:16:38,343
is the storm sewer pipe.

3947
03:16:39,390 --> 03:16:42,420
Point six, missing wildlife
corridors of travel

3948
03:16:42,420 --> 03:16:44,070
throughout the city,

3949
03:16:44,070 --> 03:16:46,710
especially to connect
wildlife to escarpment

3950
03:16:46,710 --> 03:16:49,200
and to Welland River and beyond.

3951
03:16:49,200 --> 03:16:51,810
Wildlife need access to clean water

3952
03:16:51,810 --> 03:16:54,510
is found in wetland
forests since our streams

3953
03:16:54,510 --> 03:16:57,753
are mostly all polluted,
especially in the north,

3954
03:16:58,950 --> 03:17:01,713
between the Welland
River and the escarpment.

3955
03:17:02,880 --> 03:17:04,410
Point seven, flood lines.

3956
03:17:04,410 --> 03:17:06,360
Where are they for the Wellland River?

3957
03:17:06,360 --> 03:17:08,880
Currently, new subdivision homes

3958
03:17:08,880 --> 03:17:12,090
are being proposed too
close to the Welland River,

3959
03:17:12,090 --> 03:17:14,010
which should be accessible to public,

3960
03:17:14,010 --> 03:17:18,780
especially in the future, as
it gets developed in wildlife.

3961
03:17:18,780 --> 03:17:21,060
Ecosystems such as forests and creeks

3962
03:17:21,060 --> 03:17:26,060
should be connected to
rivers and escarpment lands.

3963
03:17:26,250 --> 03:17:30,390
If creeks are piped, flood
lines cannot be preserved.

3964
03:17:30,390 --> 03:17:31,680
And I have a statement here

3965
03:17:31,680 --> 03:17:34,290
that I thought of after
I'd written all this.

3966
03:17:34,290 --> 03:17:37,353
In fact, your basements
become the floodplain.

3967
03:17:38,730 --> 03:17:41,610
In other words, they get
flooded when you build them

3968
03:17:41,610 --> 03:17:44,973
in farmer creek areas.

3969
03:17:49,290 --> 03:17:50,160
Velocity- -

3970
03:17:50,160 --> 03:17:51,454
- [Jim] I need you to wrap up.

3971
03:17:51,454 --> 03:17:52,830
we're 10 minutes in.

3972
03:17:52,830 --> 03:17:57,830
- Okay, velocity is increased
and downstream suffers

3973
03:17:58,680 --> 03:18:02,043
tree and crop losses
when creeks are piped.

3974
03:18:07,350 --> 03:18:10,140
With regard to the gentleman
that was just asking

3975
03:18:10,140 --> 03:18:13,950
for urban boundary expansion,
I'm dead against it,

3976
03:18:13,950 --> 03:18:16,290
and you can bet that the
Kaylor Road pumping station

3977
03:18:16,290 --> 03:18:18,102
can handle it.

3978
03:18:18,102 --> 03:18:21,690
They have no business
adding outside the boundary.

3979
03:18:21,690 --> 03:18:26,690
That station was built
for the drainage area.

3980
03:18:28,020 --> 03:18:30,090
But what was inside the boundary?

3981
03:18:30,090 --> 03:18:31,623
not outside the boundary.

3982
03:18:32,700 --> 03:18:34,560
And they've already got too much in there

3983
03:18:34,560 --> 03:18:36,570
as far as I'm concerned.

3984
03:18:36,570 --> 03:18:38,103
Can't handle what you got.

3985
03:18:43,800 --> 03:18:45,400
And you certainly don't need it.

3986
03:18:48,240 --> 03:18:52,380
I have a big map if this
doesn't satisfy you.

3987
03:18:52,380 --> 03:18:56,070
I have the big one there from the city.

3988
03:18:57,686 --> 03:18:59,337
Yeah.

3989
03:18:59,337 --> 03:19:01,053
And one thing you should know,

3990
03:19:02,100 --> 03:19:04,650
I might as well tell you while I'm here,

3991
03:19:04,650 --> 03:19:06,093
this area up here,

3992
03:19:07,036 --> 03:19:09,960
that actually should have
gone into the 10-mile creek.

3993
03:19:09,960 --> 03:19:12,540
When they diverted the hundred acres

3994
03:19:12,540 --> 03:19:14,340
from the headwaters of the 10-mile

3995
03:19:14,340 --> 03:19:16,593
into the W51 of the Shriners,

3996
03:19:17,855 --> 03:19:21,540
they had to go so deep because
it was a different watershed.

3997
03:19:21,540 --> 03:19:23,170
They had to go so deep that they

3998
03:19:24,840 --> 03:19:28,443
dried up the springs that fed the W51.

3999
03:19:31,050 --> 03:19:35,013
Yeah, they dried up the springs
that went through there.

4000
03:19:41,700 --> 03:19:45,093
- Sorry. Do we have any
questions for Ms. Grandoni?

4001
03:19:46,770 --> 03:19:48,150
No? Okay.

4002
03:19:48,150 --> 03:19:49,380
No, I appreciate these,

4003
03:19:49,380 --> 03:19:50,550
and these maps we're going to...

4004
03:19:50,550 --> 03:19:53,490
our consultants and our staff and council

4005
03:19:53,490 --> 03:19:55,800
will utilize these maps as well.

4006
03:19:55,800 --> 03:19:58,350
- And we're on a suicide course.

4007
03:19:58,350 --> 03:20:00,333
I just want to repeat.

4008
03:20:02,010 --> 03:20:04,290
This was all tender fruitland.

4009
03:20:04,290 --> 03:20:07,080
And an interesting story
that Dr. Jim McGarry

4010
03:20:07,080 --> 03:20:12,080
told me years ago about how
these fruitlands were lost.

4011
03:20:16,770 --> 03:20:19,350
Because when they dug the hydro canal,

4012
03:20:19,350 --> 03:20:22,830
they de-watered and it
changed all the fruit trees,

4013
03:20:22,830 --> 03:20:24,693
and they had to get water lines.

4014
03:20:25,920 --> 03:20:28,410
And my dad said that it actually dried up

4015
03:20:28,410 --> 03:20:31,110
a lot of the springs
that fed the Shriners.

4016
03:20:31,110 --> 03:20:32,580
- When they put in the hydro canal?

4017
03:20:32,580 --> 03:20:33,710
- Yeah, the open cut.

4018
03:20:33,710 --> 03:20:35,160
It should have been tunneled.

4019
03:20:36,000 --> 03:20:37,860
Hindsight.
- Yeah, right?

4020
03:20:37,860 --> 03:20:40,467
I know, 'cause it's all sandy
loam in that area, I see.

4021
03:20:40,467 --> 03:20:42,570
- The best in the world.

4022
03:20:42,570 --> 03:20:46,540
Dr. Jim McGarry also told me that when

4023
03:20:48,750 --> 03:20:52,380
this Mr. Berger must have
been a patient of his.

4024
03:20:52,380 --> 03:20:56,040
He went all over the world
looking for a place to farm.

4025
03:20:56,040 --> 03:21:00,273
He was in Australia, California, Africa.

4026
03:21:01,170 --> 03:21:04,770
And he chose Stanford
Township, now Niagara Falls,

4027
03:21:04,770 --> 03:21:08,073
because of the soil
capability and the climate.

4028
03:21:09,510 --> 03:21:11,550
And now St. Catharines is just as bad

4029
03:21:11,550 --> 03:21:13,680
for having destroyed all the,

4030
03:21:13,680 --> 03:21:15,140
being built on all the fruitland

4031
03:21:15,140 --> 03:21:17,550
as if there was no other place to go.

4032
03:21:17,550 --> 03:21:20,550
It was actually better than
what was in Niagara-on-the-Lake,

4033
03:21:20,550 --> 03:21:22,440
this one farm, old Jack Mira.

4034
03:21:22,440 --> 03:21:24,750
You remember Jack Mira? I don't know.

4035
03:21:24,750 --> 03:21:25,670
He said...

4036
03:21:29,430 --> 03:21:30,350
He said...

4037
03:21:36,870 --> 03:21:38,973
I'm forgetting what I wanted to say.

4038
03:21:40,530 --> 03:21:43,650
Oh, Jack Mira told me, he says

4039
03:21:43,650 --> 03:21:45,720
they went to Niagara-on-the-Lake

4040
03:21:45,720 --> 03:21:47,910
after they destroyed what was above here

4041
03:21:47,910 --> 03:21:49,437
and in St. Catharines.

4042
03:21:49,437 --> 03:21:51,510
And then they had to drain all that.

4043
03:21:51,510 --> 03:21:52,560
It was all wetland.

4044
03:21:52,560 --> 03:21:55,650
That's why you see those
big ditches down there.

4045
03:21:55,650 --> 03:21:58,593
Niagara Falls and St. Catharines
actually had better land.

4046
03:21:59,520 --> 03:22:01,473
That concludes my presentation.

4047
03:22:02,970 --> 03:22:06,120
- Okay. Thank you, Ms. Grandoni.

4048
03:22:06,120 --> 03:22:07,773
Thank you for this.

4049
03:22:14,280 --> 03:22:17,520
Okay, Madam Clerk, do we have anyone next?

4050
03:22:17,520 --> 03:22:18,390
- Yes, we do.

4051
03:22:18,390 --> 03:22:20,973
We have Feng Xi.

4052
03:22:31,560 --> 03:22:33,480
- Hello, if you can just state
your name and your address.

4053
03:22:33,480 --> 03:22:36,420
And you have up to five
minutes, if you would.

4054
03:22:36,420 --> 03:22:39,390
- Okay. Good evening, Mayor,
member of our council,

4055
03:22:39,390 --> 03:22:40,863
and the city staff.

4056
03:22:42,000 --> 03:22:45,690
Thank you for this opportunity
for the speak today.

4057
03:22:45,690 --> 03:22:47,640
So my name is Feng Xi.

4058
03:22:47,640 --> 03:22:49,920
I'm a professional engineer,

4059
03:22:49,920 --> 03:22:53,760
and I have lived and work in Network Force

4060
03:22:53,760 --> 03:22:56,010
more than eight years.

4061
03:22:56,010 --> 03:22:58,080
So my children grew up here

4062
03:22:58,080 --> 03:23:02,820
and this city is not where I work,

4063
03:23:02,820 --> 03:23:05,043
but also my family calls home, right?

4064
03:23:10,128 --> 03:23:14,010
First of all, I fully
support the protecting our

4065
03:23:14,010 --> 03:23:16,563
natural environment,

4066
03:23:17,430 --> 03:23:22,430
but my concern is it's not the
city's environmental goals,

4067
03:23:23,130 --> 03:23:27,270
but my concern is whether
the policies are clear,

4068
03:23:27,270 --> 03:23:30,303
practical, and easy to apply.

4069
03:23:33,180 --> 03:23:37,920
So the number one is
regarding to the other wetland

4070
03:23:37,920 --> 03:23:39,870
and the other woodland.

4071
03:23:39,870 --> 03:23:42,450
The provincial planning statement

4072
03:23:42,450 --> 03:23:45,930
already provides a very clear framework

4073
03:23:45,930 --> 03:23:50,910
for protecting the important
nature heritage features.

4074
03:23:50,910 --> 03:23:55,910
So if the city wants to introduce
a new policy categories,

4075
03:23:56,820 --> 03:24:00,270
so I believe it should be clear explained

4076
03:24:00,270 --> 03:24:02,283
why they are needed.

4077
03:24:03,600 --> 03:24:07,770
I also have some concern
about the proposed

4078
03:24:07,770 --> 03:24:11,380
this three-to-one,
five-to-one compensation ratio

4079
03:24:13,744 --> 03:24:16,023
for the other woodland and other wetlands.

4080
03:24:18,120 --> 03:24:22,693
I have not found any similar
requirements in the PPS

4081
03:24:23,970 --> 03:24:27,123
or Provincial Natural Heritage Guidelines.

4082
03:24:29,970 --> 03:24:33,870
The draft official plan
also does not explain

4083
03:24:33,870 --> 03:24:36,480
why this ratio were chosen

4084
03:24:36,480 --> 03:24:40,890
and whether they are used by other,

4085
03:24:40,890 --> 03:24:44,670
like Ontario municipalities.

4086
03:24:44,670 --> 03:24:46,410
So without those information,

4087
03:24:46,410 --> 03:24:48,540
it's a difficulty to understand

4088
03:24:48,540 --> 03:24:51,573
whether these requirements are practical.

4089
03:24:53,040 --> 03:24:54,420
So for this reason,

4090
03:24:54,420 --> 03:24:57,450
I respectfully to ask the council

4091
03:24:57,450 --> 03:24:59,520
to remove the other woodland

4092
03:24:59,520 --> 03:25:02,400
and the other wetland policy category

4093
03:25:02,400 --> 03:25:06,850
unless the city can provide
clear scientist reasons

4094
03:25:09,630 --> 03:25:13,533
and practical employment rules.

4095
03:25:16,890 --> 03:25:20,580
So, myself, I believe good planning

4096
03:25:20,580 --> 03:25:24,030
should only introduce a new policy

4097
03:25:24,030 --> 03:25:27,903
when it is a clear need and clear benefit,

4098
03:25:30,240 --> 03:25:34,320
but I don't see this
explanation in the draft plan,

4099
03:25:34,320 --> 03:25:35,763
draft official plan.

4100
03:25:36,840 --> 03:25:41,840
So another concern is about
the term of no negative impact,

4101
03:25:44,700 --> 03:25:48,750
and to satisfy of the city.

4102
03:25:48,750 --> 03:25:51,960
So these policies tells us the goal

4103
03:25:51,960 --> 03:25:55,980
but they don't well explain how

4104
03:25:55,980 --> 03:26:00,980
the applicants can prove
they meet those requirements.

4105
03:26:03,240 --> 03:26:05,760
From my professional experience,

4106
03:26:05,760 --> 03:26:08,200
I have worked for like a project

4107
03:26:09,150 --> 03:26:13,080
that were revised many times about a yes,

4108
03:26:13,080 --> 03:26:15,880
because there's no clear standard for

4109
03:26:17,820 --> 03:26:22,820
deciding when this no
negative impact were achieved.

4110
03:26:25,290 --> 03:26:29,160
So without very clear standards,

4111
03:26:29,160 --> 03:26:34,160
different reviewers may
reach different conclusions

4112
03:26:34,500 --> 03:26:36,480
in the same project.

4113
03:26:36,480 --> 03:26:39,750
So increase the delay uncertainty

4114
03:26:39,750 --> 03:26:42,123
and unnecessary cost.

4115
03:26:43,410 --> 03:26:48,410
So my opinion is a good official plan

4116
03:26:48,780 --> 03:26:53,460
is not creating by adding more policy.

4117
03:26:53,460 --> 03:26:58,110
It's to creating a policy clear,

4118
03:26:58,110 --> 03:27:00,873
objective, based on the science,

4119
03:27:01,950 --> 03:27:03,603
and easy to apply.

4120
03:27:05,230 --> 03:27:06,378
- Okay.

4121
03:27:06,378 --> 03:27:07,380
Thank you, Mr. Xi.

4122
03:27:07,380 --> 03:27:09,540
I'll see whether or not our
staff have any comments,

4123
03:27:09,540 --> 03:27:12,263
and then whether or not there's
any questions of council.

4124
03:27:13,680 --> 03:27:16,113
- Thank you, Your Acting Worship.

4125
03:27:18,000 --> 03:27:20,730
So I'm just going to just make
reference to a couple things.

4126
03:27:20,730 --> 03:27:23,370
Obviously, I've talked about
other wetlands and woodlands

4127
03:27:23,370 --> 03:27:26,010
under previous requests for removal,

4128
03:27:26,010 --> 03:27:28,560
but I know you asked
the question as to why.

4129
03:27:28,560 --> 03:27:30,360
So, obviously, protections,

4130
03:27:30,360 --> 03:27:32,820
we're allowed to go beyond the
provincial policy statement.

4131
03:27:32,820 --> 03:27:37,470
It's right in the PPS 2024
under natural systems.

4132
03:27:37,470 --> 03:27:38,880
So it does let us...

4133
03:27:38,880 --> 03:27:41,430
it does let municipalities
go beyond and exceed.

4134
03:27:41,430 --> 03:27:44,583
We just can't go any
less than what they have.

4135
03:27:45,780 --> 03:27:48,000
So in terms of woodlands and wetlands,

4136
03:27:48,000 --> 03:27:49,900
the benefits obviously to the city are

4137
03:27:50,760 --> 03:27:51,930
they help with climate change,

4138
03:27:51,930 --> 03:27:56,493
biodiversity, habitat,
reducing flood risk,

4139
03:27:58,320 --> 03:27:59,490
improving water quality.

4140
03:27:59,490 --> 03:28:02,910
All those things are
things we want to kind of

4141
03:28:02,910 --> 03:28:04,800
enhance in the municipality

4142
03:28:04,800 --> 03:28:08,250
and make sure that we protect
those things where we can.

4143
03:28:08,250 --> 03:28:10,230
We have in this plan.

4144
03:28:10,230 --> 03:28:12,990
We didn't go as far as
it has been in the past,

4145
03:28:12,990 --> 03:28:16,980
but we do provide some
flexibility on that.

4146
03:28:16,980 --> 03:28:21,180
So we do feel that we've kind
of struck a middle balance.

4147
03:28:21,180 --> 03:28:22,740
As I indicated previously,

4148
03:28:22,740 --> 03:28:25,050
our preference is that
these woodlands and wetlands

4149
03:28:25,050 --> 03:28:27,030
are retained on site.

4150
03:28:27,030 --> 03:28:29,700
But if they can't be retained
on site for whatever reason,

4151
03:28:29,700 --> 03:28:32,220
we are willing to consider the offsetting

4152
03:28:32,220 --> 03:28:35,940
because we do think that
there's still a big benefit.

4153
03:28:35,940 --> 03:28:37,860
And we do like the
three-to-one, the five-to-one

4154
03:28:37,860 --> 03:28:40,260
because it at least offers a net benefit.

4155
03:28:40,260 --> 03:28:42,840
So that's what we're looking for.

4156
03:28:42,840 --> 03:28:46,113
And again, it's just
those items specifically.

4157
03:28:46,980 --> 03:28:47,813
- Okay. Thanks.

4158
03:28:47,813 --> 03:28:49,983
I'll see if there's any
questions of council.

4159
03:28:51,330 --> 03:28:52,710
I don't have any questions of council,

4160
03:28:52,710 --> 03:28:54,240
so thank you, Mr. Xi.

4161
03:28:54,240 --> 03:28:55,073
- Okay.

4162
03:28:55,073 --> 03:28:56,640
- Appreciate your comments.

4163
03:28:56,640 --> 03:28:59,700
Madam Clerk, are there any other speakers?

4164
03:28:59,700 --> 03:29:02,820
- There is one last person
registered to speak.

4165
03:29:02,820 --> 03:29:05,010
I have their first name of Sylvia,

4166
03:29:05,010 --> 03:29:07,020
but no last name at this time.

4167
03:29:07,020 --> 03:29:08,793
- Is Sylvia here with us?

4168
03:29:19,080 --> 03:29:19,913
Okay.

4169
03:29:20,820 --> 03:29:21,653
Yeah.

4170
03:29:23,130 --> 03:29:23,963
- So,

4171
03:29:26,430 --> 03:29:27,960
through you, Mr. Chair, at this time,

4172
03:29:27,960 --> 03:29:30,360
we have gone through the
list of registered speakers.

4173
03:29:30,360 --> 03:29:32,760
We are now able to open
up the floor to anyone,

4174
03:29:32,760 --> 03:29:34,890
any members of the
public that are present.

4175
03:29:34,890 --> 03:29:36,150
If they'd like to speak,

4176
03:29:36,150 --> 03:29:38,640
I just ask that maybe we have a line or-

4177
03:29:38,640 --> 03:29:39,473
- Oh, okay.

4178
03:29:39,473 --> 03:29:40,740
- Just see who is interested.

4179
03:29:40,740 --> 03:29:42,060
- Is there anyone here in the public

4180
03:29:42,060 --> 03:29:43,830
that didn't register that wishes to speak?

4181
03:29:43,830 --> 03:29:44,663
Come on up, sir.

4182
03:29:44,663 --> 03:29:46,560
We just need your name and your address

4183
03:29:46,560 --> 03:29:48,660
so that we can record it into our minutes.

4184
03:29:56,070 --> 03:29:57,450
- Good evening, Your Acting-

4185
03:29:57,450 --> 03:29:59,235
- [Margaret] Sir, there is the microphone.

4186
03:29:59,235 --> 03:30:00,235
It's not on.

4187
03:30:02,190 --> 03:30:04,110
- Good evening, Your Acting Worship,

4188
03:30:04,110 --> 03:30:06,360
esteemed members of council,

4189
03:30:06,360 --> 03:30:11,360
city planners, and members of the public.

4190
03:30:11,580 --> 03:30:13,230
My name is Mark Michalkoff.

4191
03:30:13,230 --> 03:30:15,810
I am the president of Oleo Energies

4192
03:30:15,810 --> 03:30:18,120
and I'm here representing Oleo Energies

4193
03:30:18,120 --> 03:30:21,813
with regards to the draft official plan.

4194
03:30:25,500 --> 03:30:27,660
I would like to raise two issues,

4195
03:30:27,660 --> 03:30:31,620
and I have raised them
before in front of council

4196
03:30:31,620 --> 03:30:34,983
and they become quite
poignant with this matter.

4197
03:30:35,850 --> 03:30:40,350
The first is a corrective
measure on the boundary

4198
03:30:40,350 --> 03:30:43,740
or on the land use schedule two,

4199
03:30:43,740 --> 03:30:47,370
which deals with the southernmost
boundary of our property,

4200
03:30:47,370 --> 03:30:51,000
which is 5800 Thorold Stone Road.

4201
03:30:51,000 --> 03:30:53,100
We operate the facility there.

4202
03:30:53,100 --> 03:30:56,940
It's a lubricant and chemical
manufacturing facility,

4203
03:30:56,940 --> 03:31:00,543
and it is a class three industrial site.

4204
03:31:01,620 --> 03:31:04,500
The southernmost boundary of our facility

4205
03:31:04,500 --> 03:31:06,540
is a rail corridor,

4206
03:31:06,540 --> 03:31:08,220
which is an active rail corridor

4207
03:31:08,220 --> 03:31:10,860
subject to a service agreement by CN.

4208
03:31:10,860 --> 03:31:14,100
We actually purchased the property from CN

4209
03:31:14,100 --> 03:31:15,660
numerous years ago,

4210
03:31:15,660 --> 03:31:19,530
and that is designated on schedule two

4211
03:31:19,530 --> 03:31:21,750
as parks and open space,

4212
03:31:21,750 --> 03:31:24,210
and we believe that to be incorrect.

4213
03:31:24,210 --> 03:31:26,070
We made reference to that in a letter

4214
03:31:26,070 --> 03:31:28,980
that we provided to city staff

4215
03:31:28,980 --> 03:31:32,430
shortly after the release of
the draft plan in the spring.

4216
03:31:32,430 --> 03:31:36,240
And we attended the open house

4217
03:31:36,240 --> 03:31:41,190
and personally redelivered
the letter to the city

4218
03:31:41,190 --> 03:31:43,913
as well as spoke
personally to the planning

4219
03:31:43,913 --> 03:31:47,730
and the consultants to rectify this.

4220
03:31:47,730 --> 03:31:49,350
We see that, as of today,

4221
03:31:49,350 --> 03:31:51,840
that it has not yet been rectified,

4222
03:31:51,840 --> 03:31:54,540
and we believe that this incorrect matter

4223
03:31:54,540 --> 03:31:55,683
should be rectified.

4224
03:31:57,360 --> 03:32:01,200
The other matter that
I want to address today

4225
03:32:01,200 --> 03:32:05,670
is the land use itself

4226
03:32:05,670 --> 03:32:10,670
and the designation to
a flex employment land,

4227
03:32:11,850 --> 03:32:14,640
which is I believe a light purple.

4228
03:32:14,640 --> 03:32:19,244
Perhaps if we can get this
slide on, is it page 24, 28?

4229
03:32:19,244 --> 03:32:20,077
- [Speaker] 28.

4230
03:32:20,077 --> 03:32:24,753
- Page 28 of the presentation
given by Mr. Nethery.

4231
03:32:33,281 --> 03:32:35,031
- 28, you said?
- Yes.

4232
03:32:36,990 --> 03:32:39,150
Is there any way to blow
that up a little bit

4233
03:32:39,150 --> 03:32:43,653
so that we can see Thorold
Stone Road fairly clearly?

4234
03:32:50,610 --> 03:32:55,500
So what you can see if
you look at the feature

4235
03:32:55,500 --> 03:33:00,500
which is traversing from the
south west to the northeast

4236
03:33:00,900 --> 03:33:03,930
is the OPG or the hydro canal,

4237
03:33:03,930 --> 03:33:08,930
which is the easternmost
boundary of our property.

4238
03:33:08,970 --> 03:33:12,690
And at the bottom, what you see is

4239
03:33:12,690 --> 03:33:16,440
the incorrectly designated rail corridor,

4240
03:33:16,440 --> 03:33:19,473
which was formerly CN lands.

4241
03:33:20,700 --> 03:33:24,720
And what we see above that,
at that rail corridor,

4242
03:33:24,720 --> 03:33:27,780
which proceeds all the
way to Stanley Avenue,

4243
03:33:27,780 --> 03:33:32,463
is what's designated as
employment flex lands.

4244
03:33:33,360 --> 03:33:37,830
We were here in front of
council several years ago

4245
03:33:37,830 --> 03:33:40,590
when there was an
application that was made

4246
03:33:40,590 --> 03:33:45,590
to redesignate those lands
together with another parcel.

4247
03:33:46,200 --> 03:33:49,080
And council turned down that application

4248
03:33:49,080 --> 03:33:52,683
to redesignate it to residential uses.

4249
03:33:53,520 --> 03:33:56,820
We vigorously defended our position

4250
03:33:56,820 --> 03:33:59,040
because we are an employer.

4251
03:33:59,040 --> 03:34:03,150
We employ 60 people in
good manufacturing jobs.

4252
03:34:03,150 --> 03:34:04,440
We are growing.

4253
03:34:04,440 --> 03:34:06,360
We are taking on another shift.

4254
03:34:06,360 --> 03:34:10,500
We will soon be at 100
good manufacturing jobs.

4255
03:34:10,500 --> 03:34:13,710
We find that we have to continuously

4256
03:34:13,710 --> 03:34:18,710
defend our lawful uses of our property,

4257
03:34:19,170 --> 03:34:23,230
and there is an ever
increasing expansion of

4258
03:34:24,600 --> 03:34:29,600
incompatible uses being made
against industrial properties.

4259
03:34:30,660 --> 03:34:33,510
And notwithstanding D6 guidelines,

4260
03:34:33,510 --> 03:34:36,330
there's a level of
ambiguity that's created,

4261
03:34:36,330 --> 03:34:38,850
and council has a difficult time,

4262
03:34:38,850 --> 03:34:41,880
at times, dealing with
these types of issues.

4263
03:34:41,880 --> 03:34:46,880
And we believe that the
city planners and staff

4264
03:34:48,030 --> 03:34:50,320
arrived at an erroneous decision

4265
03:34:51,270 --> 03:34:56,190
when they recommended
that there be a parcel.

4266
03:34:56,190 --> 03:34:58,800
Nevermind the entire piece,

4267
03:34:58,800 --> 03:35:03,420
but a specific use parcel
designated for residential use.

4268
03:35:03,420 --> 03:35:06,090
And that passed council
at a meeting in February,

4269
03:35:06,090 --> 03:35:09,810
I was unfortunately unable
to attend for health reasons,

4270
03:35:09,810 --> 03:35:12,150
but nevertheless, it makes no sense

4271
03:35:12,150 --> 03:35:14,650
that we hear a common theme throughout

4272
03:35:16,410 --> 03:35:18,570
tonight's presentations and others

4273
03:35:18,570 --> 03:35:21,060
that we have to protect employment lands.

4274
03:35:21,060 --> 03:35:24,630
And what we see is a continuing onslaught

4275
03:35:24,630 --> 03:35:26,820
where we have to defend ourselves

4276
03:35:26,820 --> 03:35:29,580
and our uses of those properties.

4277
03:35:29,580 --> 03:35:31,770
So number one, we would like clarification

4278
03:35:31,770 --> 03:35:34,650
of what the change in designation means.

4279
03:35:34,650 --> 03:35:36,900
And number two, we would like those

4280
03:35:36,900 --> 03:35:38,970
to remain employment lands

4281
03:35:38,970 --> 03:35:41,163
and be so reflected in the official plan.

4282
03:35:43,020 --> 03:35:43,853
- Thank you.
- Thank you.

4283
03:35:43,853 --> 03:35:44,910
- That's my presentation.

4284
03:35:44,910 --> 03:35:47,905
- Questions of council?

4285
03:35:47,905 --> 03:35:50,400
(speaker speaking faintly)

4286
03:35:50,400 --> 03:35:51,900
- We have two questions.
- Oh yeah, I'm sorry.

4287
03:35:51,900 --> 03:35:52,733
- [Speaker] Yeah, you were away.

4288
03:35:52,733 --> 03:35:54,270
- So we had two questions.

4289
03:35:54,270 --> 03:35:55,950
I'll get staff. I don't know, Ms. Dolch.

4290
03:35:55,950 --> 03:35:57,360
Okay. Okay.

4291
03:35:57,360 --> 03:35:58,417
So I'm going to get Ms. Goerz

4292
03:35:58,417 --> 03:36:01,713
to answer the question
about open space and flex,

4293
03:36:02,910 --> 03:36:04,380
or our consultants are going to do it.

4294
03:36:04,380 --> 03:36:05,880
Our consultants are going to do it.

4295
03:36:05,880 --> 03:36:07,290
Okay. Mr. Nethery?
- Yes.

4296
03:36:07,290 --> 03:36:10,530
- And then our staff will be
ready to jump in if we need it.

4297
03:36:10,530 --> 03:36:11,910
- Yes, a two-part question.

4298
03:36:11,910 --> 03:36:13,200
So on the first part question,

4299
03:36:13,200 --> 03:36:16,350
the draft of the maps
that are here tonight

4300
03:36:16,350 --> 03:36:19,830
are the same ones that
were at the open house

4301
03:36:19,830 --> 03:36:21,030
at the Gale Center.

4302
03:36:21,030 --> 03:36:23,910
And I recognize other Oleo
representatives here in the back,

4303
03:36:23,910 --> 03:36:25,890
and Ms. Goerz and I have already committed

4304
03:36:25,890 --> 03:36:30,250
to changing that rail
corridor line from open space

4305
03:36:31,139 --> 03:36:32,610
to the employment designation.

4306
03:36:32,610 --> 03:36:34,470
We just haven't made the edits yet.

4307
03:36:34,470 --> 03:36:36,060
We have already committed to doing that.

4308
03:36:36,060 --> 03:36:37,380
- Okay. That's good news.

4309
03:36:37,380 --> 03:36:39,540
- In terms of part two, I'm
stepping away from (indistinct).

4310
03:36:39,540 --> 03:36:40,373
- Okay.

4311
03:36:41,250 --> 03:36:42,783
- Part two is very important.

4312
03:36:44,880 --> 03:36:47,460
Existing industries should not be

4313
03:36:47,460 --> 03:36:50,067
defending themselves
against sensitive land uses.

4314
03:36:50,067 --> 03:36:53,160
And in fact, the provincial
planning statement

4315
03:36:53,160 --> 03:36:58,160
has changed the onus of who is responsible

4316
03:36:58,350 --> 03:37:01,350
to mitigate existing industry

4317
03:37:01,350 --> 03:37:04,353
versus the introduction
of sensitive land uses.

4318
03:37:06,180 --> 03:37:08,730
The first part of the question
is, why did we change it?

4319
03:37:08,730 --> 03:37:11,820
And I think we heard earlier tonight

4320
03:37:11,820 --> 03:37:16,470
that the change to the flex
from the employment area

4321
03:37:16,470 --> 03:37:19,740
was really a response to the
existing land use context

4322
03:37:19,740 --> 03:37:24,740
in these older industrial
areas that include land uses

4323
03:37:24,750 --> 03:37:29,750
that would not be permitted
in an employment area anymore.

4324
03:37:29,880 --> 03:37:34,740
Those include institutional
uses and commercial uses.

4325
03:37:34,740 --> 03:37:37,350
And by commercial, we mean both

4326
03:37:37,350 --> 03:37:39,000
retail and service commercial uses

4327
03:37:39,000 --> 03:37:42,060
as well as standalone office uses.

4328
03:37:42,060 --> 03:37:45,300
We want those to still be permitted.

4329
03:37:45,300 --> 03:37:48,240
In terms of the impact on

4330
03:37:48,240 --> 03:37:51,810
the encroachment of sensitive land uses,

4331
03:37:51,810 --> 03:37:54,330
I would point to,

4332
03:37:54,330 --> 03:37:58,770
in section 4.3.2 of the
draft official plan,

4333
03:37:58,770 --> 03:38:00,870
there are very specific policies

4334
03:38:00,870 --> 03:38:04,920
that set the framework through which

4335
03:38:04,920 --> 03:38:08,730
the proponent of a sensitive land use

4336
03:38:08,730 --> 03:38:13,730
that may encroach to an
existing industrial use,

4337
03:38:14,520 --> 03:38:17,220
the rules that have to be followed

4338
03:38:17,220 --> 03:38:20,220
for the mitigation of the impact,

4339
03:38:20,220 --> 03:38:23,253
and that mitigation may
include you can't develop it.

4340
03:38:24,960 --> 03:38:26,850
Again, the provincial planning statement

4341
03:38:26,850 --> 03:38:28,440
has changed the onus

4342
03:38:28,440 --> 03:38:32,820
in favor of existing industrial uses

4343
03:38:32,820 --> 03:38:36,030
for their protection from the encroachment

4344
03:38:36,030 --> 03:38:37,560
of sensitive land uses.

4345
03:38:37,560 --> 03:38:41,707
So I would point to 4322 and 4323

4346
03:38:42,810 --> 03:38:46,440
as the policies that are
intended specifically

4347
03:38:46,440 --> 03:38:49,890
to protect existing industrial uses

4348
03:38:49,890 --> 03:38:51,069
from those sensitive lands.

4349
03:38:51,069 --> 03:38:52,710
- Do you know when that change happened?

4350
03:38:52,710 --> 03:38:55,570
- It was in the 2024
Provincial Planning Statement

4351
03:38:56,419 --> 03:38:59,640
and the requirement to
ensure compatibility

4352
03:38:59,640 --> 03:39:02,313
with existing industrial development.

4353
03:39:03,810 --> 03:39:04,643
- Thank you.

4354
03:39:05,700 --> 03:39:06,960
Does that cover? Okay, good.

4355
03:39:06,960 --> 03:39:07,793
Thank you for that.

4356
03:39:07,793 --> 03:39:10,440
So did our staff have any
further comment on that?

4357
03:39:10,440 --> 03:39:11,670
No?

4358
03:39:11,670 --> 03:39:12,503
Okay.

4359
03:39:12,503 --> 03:39:14,490
So now I'm going to go to the council,

4360
03:39:14,490 --> 03:39:16,833
Councilor Lococo and then Nieuwesteeg.

4361
03:39:18,270 --> 03:39:20,040
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

4362
03:39:20,040 --> 03:39:21,480
Through the mayor to Mr. McCulloch,

4363
03:39:21,480 --> 03:39:23,340
thank you very much for joining us.

4364
03:39:23,340 --> 03:39:25,620
This is where I get very confused

4365
03:39:25,620 --> 03:39:30,620
when we have different
guidelines and recommendations.

4366
03:39:31,860 --> 03:39:35,250
Mr. McCulloch has said
that they're class three.

4367
03:39:35,250 --> 03:39:38,190
On the report for the
residential last time,

4368
03:39:38,190 --> 03:39:40,230
it said they're class two.

4369
03:39:40,230 --> 03:39:42,480
How are we supposed to distinguish?

4370
03:39:42,480 --> 03:39:43,830
They run the business.

4371
03:39:43,830 --> 03:39:45,780
They know what the business is.

4372
03:39:45,780 --> 03:39:48,780
And then another consultant
tells us a different class.

4373
03:39:48,780 --> 03:39:50,610
And this was in my comments,

4374
03:39:50,610 --> 03:39:52,530
that I was going to talk
about employment areas

4375
03:39:52,530 --> 03:39:56,280
and the flex business district.

4376
03:39:56,280 --> 03:39:59,880
As council, we have to
protect our employment areas

4377
03:39:59,880 --> 03:40:01,440
and the businesses that are here,

4378
03:40:01,440 --> 03:40:03,780
but we also have to protect our residents

4379
03:40:03,780 --> 03:40:07,200
from the noise, the
pollution, and all of those.

4380
03:40:07,200 --> 03:40:09,090
But the policies that are in front of us

4381
03:40:09,090 --> 03:40:10,890
are making it very, very difficult.

4382
03:40:10,890 --> 03:40:13,410
And I'm glad to hear that
there has been a change

4383
03:40:13,410 --> 03:40:14,730
to protect that.

4384
03:40:14,730 --> 03:40:17,160
And I just feel like we're
going around in circles.

4385
03:40:17,160 --> 03:40:19,620
This has now been three applications

4386
03:40:19,620 --> 03:40:22,920
when there's been conflict
about what the class is,

4387
03:40:22,920 --> 03:40:24,510
a class two or a class three.

4388
03:40:24,510 --> 03:40:29,010
If it's class three, it
has to be further out.

4389
03:40:29,010 --> 03:40:30,960
If it's class two, it can be closer.

4390
03:40:30,960 --> 03:40:32,970
Well, then you argue
about what class it is.

4391
03:40:32,970 --> 03:40:35,970
So we really need to come to some sort of

4392
03:40:35,970 --> 03:40:37,170
understanding about...

4393
03:40:37,170 --> 03:40:39,810
We know what businesses are in our area.

4394
03:40:39,810 --> 03:40:42,900
Why can we not just have a
list that everybody agrees to

4395
03:40:42,900 --> 03:40:43,920
about what they are?

4396
03:40:43,920 --> 03:40:46,057
Speak to the industry to say,

4397
03:40:46,057 --> 03:40:48,690
"Here is the business,
the number of hours,

4398
03:40:48,690 --> 03:40:49,650
the number of shifts,"

4399
03:40:49,650 --> 03:40:53,850
whatever the classes are
per the D6 guidelines.

4400
03:40:53,850 --> 03:40:57,300
So it can help us because
we're going around in circles.

4401
03:40:57,300 --> 03:40:58,560
We're approving something,

4402
03:40:58,560 --> 03:41:00,660
and then all of a sudden there's an issue.

4403
03:41:02,070 --> 03:41:03,390
We can't keep on doing this.

4404
03:41:03,390 --> 03:41:04,830
We only have...

4405
03:41:04,830 --> 03:41:06,210
There's Washington Mills.

4406
03:41:06,210 --> 03:41:09,090
Salit Steel has moved out. We have Oleo.

4407
03:41:09,090 --> 03:41:11,490
We really have to come up with better

4408
03:41:11,490 --> 03:41:13,140
protection for everybody.

4409
03:41:13,140 --> 03:41:15,330
And I hope that through this conversation

4410
03:41:15,330 --> 03:41:16,440
and through our official plan

4411
03:41:16,440 --> 03:41:18,330
that we can come up with something better

4412
03:41:18,330 --> 03:41:22,410
because we just go around in circles.

4413
03:41:22,410 --> 03:41:24,720
- So, you're right.

4414
03:41:24,720 --> 03:41:26,010
Now, at the same time,

4415
03:41:26,010 --> 03:41:28,830
you're last time addressing
noise from the neighbors

4416
03:41:28,830 --> 03:41:30,210
for Washington Mills.

4417
03:41:30,210 --> 03:41:33,330
Now that hurts industry when
you do things like that.

4418
03:41:33,330 --> 03:41:36,870
So we need to get clarity on
what position we're taking.

4419
03:41:36,870 --> 03:41:39,600
Are we protecting the industry?

4420
03:41:39,600 --> 03:41:40,860
- With all due respect, Mayor,

4421
03:41:40,860 --> 03:41:42,510
it's not that we're protecting anybody.

4422
03:41:42,510 --> 03:41:44,430
When somebody comes to us with a concern,

4423
03:41:44,430 --> 03:41:46,530
whether it's a business or a resident,

4424
03:41:46,530 --> 03:41:47,910
me as a council member,

4425
03:41:47,910 --> 03:41:49,410
I have to bring that forward.

4426
03:41:49,410 --> 03:41:52,320
So we have residents that
we approve that development

4427
03:41:52,320 --> 03:41:53,790
close to Washington Mills.

4428
03:41:53,790 --> 03:41:56,490
If they have a concern, I'm
going to bring it forward.

4429
03:41:57,390 --> 03:41:59,940
Yes, it was in their purchase of sale

4430
03:41:59,940 --> 03:42:02,790
that there would be some occasional noise.

4431
03:42:02,790 --> 03:42:05,130
And we heard from the plant manager

4432
03:42:05,130 --> 03:42:07,440
that some of the operations changed

4433
03:42:07,440 --> 03:42:10,410
because they were given a
different class from two to four

4434
03:42:10,410 --> 03:42:12,240
and they changed their operations.

4435
03:42:12,240 --> 03:42:13,740
That changed the noise.

4436
03:42:13,740 --> 03:42:15,720
So it can't just be, are
you for the residents?

4437
03:42:15,720 --> 03:42:16,890
Are you for the business?

4438
03:42:16,890 --> 03:42:18,090
It shouldn't be like that.

4439
03:42:18,090 --> 03:42:20,940
We should be working with
everybody to accommodate it.

4440
03:42:20,940 --> 03:42:22,590
- Well, unfortunately, you can't.

4441
03:42:22,590 --> 03:42:24,830
You have to decide what side you're on.

4442
03:42:24,830 --> 03:42:27,030
In this case, what came
first? The industry.

4443
03:42:27,030 --> 03:42:29,640
You move next to industry, buyer beware.

4444
03:42:29,640 --> 03:42:31,860
We lived next to a train
track when I was a kid.

4445
03:42:31,860 --> 03:42:34,530
You can't complain about your
house shaking from the trains

4446
03:42:34,530 --> 03:42:37,320
because the trains are longer and bigger.

4447
03:42:37,320 --> 03:42:39,000
As far as I'm concerned,
you protect industry.

4448
03:42:39,000 --> 03:42:40,260
You got to pick a side.

4449
03:42:40,260 --> 03:42:43,590
So, here, we need to protect
the industry, protect the jobs.

4450
03:42:43,590 --> 03:42:45,955
As Councilor Patel said, you
need a job to buy a house.

4451
03:42:45,955 --> 03:42:47,520
You don't need a house to buy a job.

4452
03:42:47,520 --> 03:42:48,353
So you got to pick.

4453
03:42:48,353 --> 03:42:51,060
So Washington Mills felt
very threatened last time

4454
03:42:51,060 --> 03:42:52,920
by comments that were made.

4455
03:42:52,920 --> 03:42:53,880
They're very concerned.

4456
03:42:53,880 --> 03:42:54,870
They're trying to expand.

4457
03:42:54,870 --> 03:42:56,400
- Everybody's very concerned,

4458
03:42:56,400 --> 03:42:58,912
but we can't just ignore a
bunch of residents who have-

4459
03:42:58,912 --> 03:43:00,494
- Never said to ignore them.

4460
03:43:00,494 --> 03:43:02,782
- Well, that's how
they're feeling right now.

4461
03:43:02,782 --> 03:43:04,353
- Well, I don't know about that,

4462
03:43:04,353 --> 03:43:06,717
but fact is you move next to a factory,

4463
03:43:06,717 --> 03:43:08,460
you have to expect noise.

4464
03:43:08,460 --> 03:43:09,900
That's how it is.

4465
03:43:09,900 --> 03:43:13,770
- Again, it does say
occasional noise on the deed.

4466
03:43:13,770 --> 03:43:15,990
And noise at three o'clock in the morning

4467
03:43:15,990 --> 03:43:18,240
that is above the D6 guidelines,

4468
03:43:18,240 --> 03:43:20,220
that's not what their expectations are.

4469
03:43:20,220 --> 03:43:21,827
- Well, why don't we ask
maybe our consultants

4470
03:43:21,827 --> 03:43:24,240
if you can weigh in on...

4471
03:43:24,240 --> 03:43:26,370
We talk about different
guidelines for industry

4472
03:43:26,370 --> 03:43:28,380
because we have residential creep and,

4473
03:43:28,380 --> 03:43:29,640
and they're moving in,

4474
03:43:29,640 --> 03:43:32,640
and we don't want to lose
the industry that's here.

4475
03:43:32,640 --> 03:43:34,500
So I don't know if
you've got some insight,

4476
03:43:34,500 --> 03:43:38,700
and the councilor, Lococo,
makes a valid point that

4477
03:43:38,700 --> 03:43:41,040
one person says we're D this

4478
03:43:41,040 --> 03:43:43,080
and someone else says,
"No, you're D that."

4479
03:43:43,080 --> 03:43:45,470
So who is the authority on what they are?

4480
03:43:45,470 --> 03:43:47,760
- I just have one quick point.

4481
03:43:47,760 --> 03:43:49,770
- Your Worship, may I
make a quick point to

4482
03:43:49,770 --> 03:43:51,270
Councilor Lococo?

4483
03:43:51,270 --> 03:43:52,103
- Yes.

4484
03:43:52,103 --> 03:43:56,250
- I just wanted to add to
what you said, Councilor.

4485
03:43:56,250 --> 03:44:01,230
And that is that the D6
guidelines are fairly clear.

4486
03:44:01,230 --> 03:44:04,260
We had a consultant, ours,

4487
03:44:04,260 --> 03:44:07,290
who was a very reputable
InterNity consultants

4488
03:44:07,290 --> 03:44:10,170
deem what our uses constituted,

4489
03:44:10,170 --> 03:44:12,270
whereas the report that the city relied on

4490
03:44:12,270 --> 03:44:13,410
and thereby the council,

4491
03:44:13,410 --> 03:44:14,910
in order to make its decision

4492
03:44:14,910 --> 03:44:17,430
to allow a residential development,

4493
03:44:17,430 --> 03:44:21,540
that study, the consultants never once

4494
03:44:21,540 --> 03:44:24,240
set foot on our property,
never contacted us,

4495
03:44:24,240 --> 03:44:28,120
and had no knowledge of what we did

4496
03:44:29,070 --> 03:44:31,890
other than available public knowledge.

4497
03:44:31,890 --> 03:44:35,040
So I do agree with you 100%

4498
03:44:35,040 --> 03:44:37,890
that there has to be a set of guidelines

4499
03:44:37,890 --> 03:44:41,610
that makes council's job
that much easier to do

4500
03:44:41,610 --> 03:44:44,370
in order to achieve what
you were looking for

4501
03:44:44,370 --> 03:44:46,950
in the draft plan, to protect industry

4502
03:44:46,950 --> 03:44:50,853
and to protect residents from
industry that's too noisy.

4503
03:44:53,610 --> 03:44:54,813
- To you, Mr. Mayor.

4504
03:44:56,010 --> 03:44:58,740
There's two contexts that
we're talking about here,

4505
03:44:58,740 --> 03:45:00,900
existing situations.

4506
03:45:00,900 --> 03:45:02,910
And again, in a city

4507
03:45:02,910 --> 03:45:06,420
with the age and context of Niagara Falls,

4508
03:45:06,420 --> 03:45:09,600
there's always going to be conflicts

4509
03:45:09,600 --> 03:45:13,060
when residential
development has surrounded

4510
03:45:14,040 --> 03:45:17,640
an existing historic industrial use.

4511
03:45:17,640 --> 03:45:20,400
And the industrial uses have to be given

4512
03:45:20,400 --> 03:45:24,270
the opportunity to grow,
to evolve, to change.

4513
03:45:24,270 --> 03:45:28,230
Fundamentally, the guidelines are D6,

4514
03:45:28,230 --> 03:45:33,090
but they can't always be
met in an existing context.

4515
03:45:33,090 --> 03:45:38,090
The goal of the policies
that I spoke about here

4516
03:45:38,280 --> 03:45:43,280
is to not permit new sensitive
land uses to encroach

4517
03:45:45,180 --> 03:45:47,703
towards an existing industry.

4518
03:45:49,655 --> 03:45:51,240
It doesn't matter if it's
in an employment area

4519
03:45:51,240 --> 03:45:55,230
or in the flex business district.

4520
03:45:55,230 --> 03:45:59,190
The goal is to apply
the D6 for the current

4521
03:45:59,190 --> 03:46:01,890
or for the proposed situation.

4522
03:46:01,890 --> 03:46:05,100
And the trigger, again,
that has been used elsewhere

4523
03:46:05,100 --> 03:46:06,723
is the 300 meters.

4524
03:46:07,680 --> 03:46:09,982
The work needs to be done.

4525
03:46:09,982 --> 03:46:12,360
The D6 guidelines need to be implemented.

4526
03:46:12,360 --> 03:46:17,193
And the goal is to avoid
future and additional conflict.

4527
03:46:18,750 --> 03:46:21,210
But both need to be dealt with.

4528
03:46:21,210 --> 03:46:24,870
Very difficult in a historic
city like Niagara Falls

4529
03:46:24,870 --> 03:46:29,523
to deal with the long-term
conflict between land uses,

4530
03:46:30,690 --> 03:46:35,040
and particularly when you
want to protect the jobs

4531
03:46:35,040 --> 03:46:38,643
that are so important to
the vitality of the city.

4532
03:46:39,510 --> 03:46:42,810
So that's why the province changed

4533
03:46:42,810 --> 03:46:45,240
the onus to the sensitive,

4534
03:46:45,240 --> 03:46:47,820
the proponent of the sensitive land use.

4535
03:46:47,820 --> 03:46:52,750
They have to make their case
to the satisfaction of council.

4536
03:46:54,930 --> 03:46:57,045
- Thank you. Thank you.

4537
03:46:57,045 --> 03:46:58,890
Yeah, the questions are...

4538
03:46:58,890 --> 03:47:00,660
You'll get a chance to speak publicly,

4539
03:47:00,660 --> 03:47:03,510
but right now it's just for
the council to ask questions.

4540
03:47:04,890 --> 03:47:08,400
Any other questions or
comments of council?

4541
03:47:08,400 --> 03:47:09,990
Yes, Councilor Nieuwesteeg.

4542
03:47:09,990 --> 03:47:11,910
- Actually, a lot of my
comments have already been said,

4543
03:47:11,910 --> 03:47:13,770
but I do want to reiterate.

4544
03:47:13,770 --> 03:47:16,230
When you see this provincial
D series guideline,

4545
03:47:16,230 --> 03:47:18,990
the onus is on the
resident, not the industry.

4546
03:47:18,990 --> 03:47:21,480
So we need to really enforce that

4547
03:47:21,480 --> 03:47:25,410
and refer back to that and not give the...

4548
03:47:25,410 --> 03:47:26,730
We have to balance it out that way.

4549
03:47:26,730 --> 03:47:28,800
So when we get confused
in these situations,

4550
03:47:28,800 --> 03:47:30,690
I think we have a provincial guideline

4551
03:47:30,690 --> 03:47:31,980
that we need to refer to.

4552
03:47:31,980 --> 03:47:34,620
And I think anything that we
can do in this official plan,

4553
03:47:34,620 --> 03:47:36,990
I know we were speaking
earlier to Ms. Dolch

4554
03:47:36,990 --> 03:47:38,430
about the extra 300,

4555
03:47:38,430 --> 03:47:41,280
anything we can do to
protect the industry,

4556
03:47:41,280 --> 03:47:43,740
I think is honest and
here's a good opportunity

4557
03:47:43,740 --> 03:47:45,360
with the official plan to do it.

4558
03:47:45,360 --> 03:47:48,180
So if the 300 extra meters helps,

4559
03:47:48,180 --> 03:47:50,400
then maybe that's what we have to do

4560
03:47:50,400 --> 03:47:52,863
to ensure this going forward.

4561
03:47:54,600 --> 03:47:56,350
- [Jim] Thank you, Councilor Patel.

4562
03:47:58,470 --> 03:47:59,490
- I have a question.

4563
03:47:59,490 --> 03:48:00,467
Who is-
- Microphone, Councilor Patel.

4564
03:48:00,467 --> 03:48:01,470
I have a question.

4565
03:48:01,470 --> 03:48:04,233
Who decides to what type
of industry that is?

4566
03:48:05,100 --> 03:48:06,120
Is it-

4567
03:48:06,120 --> 03:48:06,953
- Ms. Dolch.

4568
03:48:08,610 --> 03:48:09,443
- Thank you, Your Worship.

4569
03:48:09,443 --> 03:48:12,000
So it's based on experts in the field.

4570
03:48:12,000 --> 03:48:14,190
So depending on the type.

4571
03:48:14,190 --> 03:48:17,730
So for when you do assessment,
it could be air quality,

4572
03:48:17,730 --> 03:48:19,260
it could be noise,
depending on the industry.

4573
03:48:19,260 --> 03:48:22,290
So then they do a study to determine

4574
03:48:22,290 --> 03:48:25,560
whether the sensitive land
use can go in proximity.

4575
03:48:25,560 --> 03:48:28,650
So they determine what the class is.

4576
03:48:28,650 --> 03:48:32,220
Obviously, in this case too,
Oleo did their own study

4577
03:48:32,220 --> 03:48:33,360
to determine their class,

4578
03:48:33,360 --> 03:48:35,040
but it's based on the D6 guidelines

4579
03:48:35,040 --> 03:48:36,960
and the requirements in the D6 guidelines

4580
03:48:36,960 --> 03:48:39,120
by consultants in those fields,

4581
03:48:39,120 --> 03:48:41,670
especially when you're
introducing a sensitive land use.

4582
03:48:41,670 --> 03:48:44,610
They determine what's appropriate setbacks

4583
03:48:44,610 --> 03:48:46,080
and things like that.

4584
03:48:46,080 --> 03:48:49,860
The D6 guidelines give you your
standard class one setbacks,

4585
03:48:49,860 --> 03:48:51,030
class two.

4586
03:48:51,030 --> 03:48:52,830
So they lay out the setbacks.

4587
03:48:52,830 --> 03:48:55,230
They also give you a
potential area of influence,

4588
03:48:55,230 --> 03:48:57,030
which tells you where you have to kind of

4589
03:48:57,030 --> 03:49:00,210
consider as a red flag, like
this could cause issues.

4590
03:49:00,210 --> 03:49:02,773
That's when we start
to ask for studies. So

4591
03:49:03,790 --> 03:49:04,800
- To you, Mr. Mayor.

4592
03:49:04,800 --> 03:49:06,633
So when we had a development on,

4593
03:49:07,620 --> 03:49:09,750
what was that, around the George Street.

4594
03:49:09,750 --> 03:49:11,460
I forgot the name of it.

4595
03:49:11,460 --> 03:49:12,590
What was the street?

4596
03:49:12,590 --> 03:49:14,010
- Fraser?
- Fraser Street.

4597
03:49:14,010 --> 03:49:15,327
So we had...

4598
03:49:15,327 --> 03:49:18,827
Our staff had information
that was a type two industry

4599
03:49:18,827 --> 03:49:22,230
and Oleo said they were
type three industry.

4600
03:49:22,230 --> 03:49:25,590
So how is there difference in two report?

4601
03:49:25,590 --> 03:49:26,510
- Thank you, Your Worship.

4602
03:49:26,510 --> 03:49:29,230
In that scenario, we did get Oleo's

4603
03:49:30,300 --> 03:49:32,340
through the council meeting that evening.

4604
03:49:32,340 --> 03:49:35,430
So we didn't get notified
that they had their own study

4605
03:49:35,430 --> 03:49:37,110
until that evening at council.

4606
03:49:37,110 --> 03:49:39,030
So that was the difficulty there.

4607
03:49:39,030 --> 03:49:40,563
Normally, in those scenarios,

4608
03:49:41,905 --> 03:49:45,180
we rely on the consultants,
the experts in the field.

4609
03:49:45,180 --> 03:49:46,950
If we have a situation early,

4610
03:49:46,950 --> 03:49:48,840
if we would've got their
information earlier

4611
03:49:48,840 --> 03:49:50,160
prior to coming to council,

4612
03:49:50,160 --> 03:49:52,530
we could have done a
peer review on the study

4613
03:49:52,530 --> 03:49:56,550
to see generally who was right
and kind of determine that.

4614
03:49:56,550 --> 03:49:58,350
But in that case, obviously,

4615
03:49:58,350 --> 03:50:00,750
it was raised right on
the floor at council,

4616
03:50:00,750 --> 03:50:03,086
so I wasn't really
aware of it at the time.

4617
03:50:03,086 --> 03:50:04,586
- Okay, thank you.

4618
03:50:05,926 --> 03:50:07,830
- I just would like to add a
little bit more information

4619
03:50:07,830 --> 03:50:09,633
if that is okay, Your Worship.

4620
03:50:10,710 --> 03:50:13,830
We were not made aware of that study

4621
03:50:13,830 --> 03:50:16,420
nor the fact that it was peer reviewed

4622
03:50:18,180 --> 03:50:20,973
for the consultant
working for the proponent.

4623
03:50:22,080 --> 03:50:23,280
When we saw that the Friday

4624
03:50:23,280 --> 03:50:25,080
before the Tuesday council meeting,

4625
03:50:25,080 --> 03:50:28,110
we immediately engaged
our longtime consultants

4626
03:50:28,110 --> 03:50:31,650
that do our air permits for
the Ministry of the Environment

4627
03:50:31,650 --> 03:50:35,310
and handle all of the
regulatory requirements for us

4628
03:50:35,310 --> 03:50:39,720
to write a detailed letter in support

4629
03:50:39,720 --> 03:50:42,180
of the type of facility that we were.

4630
03:50:42,180 --> 03:50:43,740
And it was obviously in conflict

4631
03:50:43,740 --> 03:50:45,900
with the information
that the city received

4632
03:50:45,900 --> 03:50:47,430
and what the council was able

4633
03:50:47,430 --> 03:50:49,830
to make the decision relying upon.

4634
03:50:49,830 --> 03:50:53,790
And thereby, we believe,
there was an inequity there.

4635
03:50:53,790 --> 03:50:56,580
And we are currently appealing this

4636
03:50:56,580 --> 03:50:58,470
to the Ontario Land Tribunal

4637
03:50:58,470 --> 03:51:01,263
and are awaiting our hearing at this time.

4638
03:51:03,930 --> 03:51:05,550
- Yep. Yep. You still got it.

4639
03:51:05,550 --> 03:51:06,870
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

4640
03:51:06,870 --> 03:51:08,160
So, to Ms. Dolch,

4641
03:51:08,160 --> 03:51:10,950
so is it possible for us
to request all the industry

4642
03:51:10,950 --> 03:51:14,340
to send us their what
kind of industry they are,

4643
03:51:14,340 --> 03:51:15,210
type one, type two?

4644
03:51:15,210 --> 03:51:16,440
I'm not sure what it is.

4645
03:51:16,440 --> 03:51:18,060
Is it possible for us to keep the record

4646
03:51:18,060 --> 03:51:20,163
or it goes by the application basis?

4647
03:51:21,600 --> 03:51:22,650
- Thank you, Your Worship.

4648
03:51:22,650 --> 03:51:26,550
So, obviously, any industry can
do that work if they choose.

4649
03:51:26,550 --> 03:51:28,080
And if we want to keep a database,

4650
03:51:28,080 --> 03:51:29,850
happy to do so here at the city.

4651
03:51:29,850 --> 03:51:33,780
What happens though is
obviously anybody who comes in

4652
03:51:33,780 --> 03:51:36,180
to introduce a sensitive land use

4653
03:51:36,180 --> 03:51:38,970
would be required to do that study anyway.

4654
03:51:38,970 --> 03:51:42,510
And even though the
classification does occur,

4655
03:51:42,510 --> 03:51:46,000
I just want to caution,
it doesn't say it must be

4656
03:51:47,160 --> 03:51:48,960
300 meters from a class three.

4657
03:51:48,960 --> 03:51:50,520
It says that's the setback,

4658
03:51:50,520 --> 03:51:53,130
but there's provisions that allow for

4659
03:51:53,130 --> 03:51:55,200
you to reduce those setbacks in the D6.

4660
03:51:55,200 --> 03:51:57,600
So mitigation measures other things.

4661
03:51:57,600 --> 03:52:00,390
So I just want to caution that
even though it's class three,

4662
03:52:00,390 --> 03:52:02,610
it doesn't mean, hey,
we apply this setback.

4663
03:52:02,610 --> 03:52:03,780
With our new official plan,

4664
03:52:03,780 --> 03:52:07,473
we're putting in a
policy to say 300 meters,

4665
03:52:08,670 --> 03:52:13,530
which allows us at least
some control over that

4666
03:52:13,530 --> 03:52:14,430
when it comes to council.

4667
03:52:14,430 --> 03:52:18,600
But normally just through
D6, yeah, you would have to,

4668
03:52:18,600 --> 03:52:19,920
if they wanted to do that work,

4669
03:52:19,920 --> 03:52:22,800
but again, the proponents
still would introduce that

4670
03:52:22,800 --> 03:52:24,750
because they're going
to have to demonstrate

4671
03:52:24,750 --> 03:52:27,180
how they can mitigate those concerns

4672
03:52:27,180 --> 03:52:30,210
from a class three industry
or whichever class.

4673
03:52:30,210 --> 03:52:31,687
- Through you, Mr. Mayor,
only reason I'm asking is

4674
03:52:31,687 --> 03:52:33,930
if we get a complaint from resident,

4675
03:52:33,930 --> 03:52:37,170
last meeting when we actually
had industry partners

4676
03:52:37,170 --> 03:52:38,370
come out and speak about it,

4677
03:52:38,370 --> 03:52:39,840
if we actually have the information,

4678
03:52:39,840 --> 03:52:42,030
it's easier for staff to give that answer.

4679
03:52:42,030 --> 03:52:42,985
That's the only reason.

4680
03:52:42,985 --> 03:52:44,070
If we have more information,

4681
03:52:44,070 --> 03:52:45,670
we can give the answer properly.

4682
03:52:47,310 --> 03:52:48,143
- Thank you, Your Worship.

4683
03:52:48,143 --> 03:52:50,043
No, and definitely obviously helpful.

4684
03:52:51,000 --> 03:52:52,410
If they wanted to do that work,

4685
03:52:52,410 --> 03:52:57,164
obviously, we don't have that
on our work plan or anything,

4686
03:52:57,164 --> 03:52:58,740
and the cost might be substantial,

4687
03:52:58,740 --> 03:53:01,710
but I think that if they
did want to provide us

4688
03:53:01,710 --> 03:53:02,970
with the information they have,

4689
03:53:02,970 --> 03:53:05,910
it gives us a basis for
when applications come in.

4690
03:53:05,910 --> 03:53:09,390
Because when they do come in,
we do do pre-consultation.

4691
03:53:09,390 --> 03:53:11,760
And if we had some information in advance

4692
03:53:11,760 --> 03:53:12,990
about what type in class,

4693
03:53:12,990 --> 03:53:14,610
we at least would know that early on

4694
03:53:14,610 --> 03:53:16,950
to advise the proponents
when they came in,

4695
03:53:16,950 --> 03:53:18,210
we have this information.

4696
03:53:18,210 --> 03:53:19,043
- Perfect. Thank you.

4697
03:53:19,043 --> 03:53:19,876
- Thank you.

4698
03:53:19,876 --> 03:53:21,210
Councilor Lococo.

4699
03:53:21,210 --> 03:53:22,650
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

4700
03:53:22,650 --> 03:53:25,590
I've suggested that we've
had a list now three times.

4701
03:53:25,590 --> 03:53:27,210
I hope we can do this.

4702
03:53:27,210 --> 03:53:30,600
The other one that we had
the issue was BVGlazing

4703
03:53:30,600 --> 03:53:32,647
The owner of the building came and said,

4704
03:53:32,647 --> 03:53:33,960
"We're class three."

4705
03:53:33,960 --> 03:53:35,947
And then the consultants
for the developer said,

4706
03:53:35,947 --> 03:53:37,080
"We're class two."

4707
03:53:37,080 --> 03:53:40,473
Again, we really need to solve that.

4708
03:53:42,030 --> 03:53:44,340
- Some consistency for
the classifications.

4709
03:53:44,340 --> 03:53:45,173
- Exactly.

4710
03:53:46,110 --> 03:53:46,959
- Thank you, Your Worship.

4711
03:53:46,959 --> 03:53:48,810
And I just want to be clear,

4712
03:53:48,810 --> 03:53:51,360
they would have to provide
us with some study work.

4713
03:53:52,529 --> 03:53:53,362
You know, obviously they
can't just come in and say,

4714
03:53:53,362 --> 03:53:54,270
"I'm a class three."

4715
03:53:54,270 --> 03:53:57,000
They would have to provide it
from a reputable consultant

4716
03:53:57,000 --> 03:53:58,950
that we could rely on,

4717
03:53:58,950 --> 03:54:01,800
just not that they feel
they're class three.

4718
03:54:01,800 --> 03:54:04,140
- And I think that's
maybe part of the problem.

4719
03:54:04,140 --> 03:54:08,070
The agenda gets posted
on Thursday publicly.

4720
03:54:08,070 --> 03:54:09,960
I'm sure that they
would have been notified

4721
03:54:09,960 --> 03:54:11,820
that something was coming to council,

4722
03:54:11,820 --> 03:54:14,040
but there's no discussion.

4723
03:54:14,040 --> 03:54:15,090
They didn't have a discussion.

4724
03:54:15,090 --> 03:54:16,387
They didn't talk with Ms. Dolch and say,

4725
03:54:16,387 --> 03:54:17,910
"I'm class this, class that."

4726
03:54:17,910 --> 03:54:19,537
Then they come to council
that night and said,

4727
03:54:19,537 --> 03:54:21,150
"No, we're class three."

4728
03:54:21,150 --> 03:54:23,850
So I think there needs to
be a better process for...

4729
03:54:23,850 --> 03:54:25,650
And anytime we're near industry,

4730
03:54:25,650 --> 03:54:27,510
we should make that extra effort

4731
03:54:27,510 --> 03:54:30,330
to go out to them and have
conversations ahead of time

4732
03:54:30,330 --> 03:54:32,310
that it's not on the evening of,

4733
03:54:32,310 --> 03:54:33,990
or like it was with BVGlazing

4734
03:54:33,990 --> 03:54:36,270
when the owner stood up and said

4735
03:54:36,270 --> 03:54:37,702
they were class three as well.

4736
03:54:37,702 --> 03:54:38,535
- I Agree.

4737
03:54:38,535 --> 03:54:42,236
And Ms. Segney would like to speak.

4738
03:54:42,236 --> 03:54:43,564
Ms. Segney?

4739
03:54:43,564 --> 03:54:44,430
Please answer.

4740
03:54:44,430 --> 03:54:45,630
- Just wanted to add as well that

4741
03:54:45,630 --> 03:54:48,900
since the January 2026 meeting of council

4742
03:54:48,900 --> 03:54:50,610
where we had this discussion,

4743
03:54:50,610 --> 03:54:52,920
we now require applicants to reach out

4744
03:54:52,920 --> 03:54:56,130
to local industry within a thousand meters

4745
03:54:56,130 --> 03:54:59,040
to make them aware of a
development application.

4746
03:54:59,040 --> 03:55:00,690
They are engaged early on

4747
03:55:00,690 --> 03:55:03,390
both by the applicant and by staff.

4748
03:55:03,390 --> 03:55:06,780
So that is a process change
we've made since January,

4749
03:55:06,780 --> 03:55:07,860
and I think that addresses

4750
03:55:07,860 --> 03:55:09,450
some of the comments that you're making.

4751
03:55:09,450 --> 03:55:11,160
- That's great. Really good.

4752
03:55:11,160 --> 03:55:12,363
Really good. Okay.

4753
03:55:13,320 --> 03:55:14,340
I think we're good.

4754
03:55:14,340 --> 03:55:15,270
Thank you very much.

4755
03:55:15,270 --> 03:55:17,310
Yeah. I'm going to come back to the crowd.

4756
03:55:17,310 --> 03:55:20,420
Okay, so thank you, Oleo guys
for being here, appreciate it.

4757
03:55:20,420 --> 03:55:21,810
Thank you, Your Worship and council.

4758
03:55:21,810 --> 03:55:24,060
- All right, thank you. Thank you.

4759
03:55:24,060 --> 03:55:25,230
Yep. I'm going to go to our clerk.

4760
03:55:25,230 --> 03:55:28,290
So do we have a list running
or are we to the public?

4761
03:55:28,290 --> 03:55:29,310
- [Margaret] The list is completed.

4762
03:55:29,310 --> 03:55:30,510
It's now members of the
public that wish to speak.

4763
03:55:30,510 --> 03:55:35,510
- Okay, so I've got a gentleman
in the back there, Mr. Pine,

4764
03:55:37,050 --> 03:55:38,400
and then I've got the lady in front,

4765
03:55:38,400 --> 03:55:39,840
young lady in front of him.

4766
03:55:39,840 --> 03:55:42,030
And is there anyone else that
wants to speak tonight too?

4767
03:55:42,030 --> 03:55:44,040
Okay, another young lady in the back.

4768
03:55:44,040 --> 03:55:45,330
Where else?

4769
03:55:45,330 --> 03:55:47,850
All right, we got three speakers.

4770
03:55:47,850 --> 03:55:48,683
Pardon me?

4771
03:55:49,590 --> 03:55:51,300
You've got up to five minutes.

4772
03:55:51,300 --> 03:55:52,800
If you can state your name.

4773
03:55:52,800 --> 03:55:53,880
- Hi.
- It's on.

4774
03:55:53,880 --> 03:55:54,750
And your address.

4775
03:55:54,750 --> 03:55:58,443
- Brad Pine, 4900 St. Clair Avenue.

4776
03:56:00,210 --> 03:56:02,300
I have two topics.

4777
03:56:02,300 --> 03:56:05,479
The one is about...

4778
03:56:05,479 --> 03:56:06,312
- Well-
- It's just on

4779
03:56:06,312 --> 03:56:07,145
the official plan, right?

4780
03:56:07,145 --> 03:56:09,213
On the official plan is
the comments are now.

4781
03:56:10,170 --> 03:56:12,633
- If I'm wrong, you can
correct me and stop me.

4782
03:56:13,770 --> 03:56:15,093
I issued letters.

4783
03:56:16,380 --> 03:56:17,550
Just kind of...

4784
03:56:17,550 --> 03:56:19,500
I think it goes with the official plan.

4785
03:56:20,670 --> 03:56:23,010
The first one's about
how we deal with garbage.

4786
03:56:23,010 --> 03:56:28,010
I've been doing some investigative
studies on Queen Street,

4787
03:56:28,200 --> 03:56:30,150
and I noticed the garbage-

4788
03:56:30,150 --> 03:56:30,983
- So garbage-

4789
03:56:30,983 --> 03:56:32,310
- It's supposed to be sorted.

4790
03:56:32,310 --> 03:56:35,580
- [Jim] Yeah, so that would be
another topic, but not on...

4791
03:56:35,580 --> 03:56:39,600
Official plan is just about
the zoning discussions

4792
03:56:39,600 --> 03:56:41,460
for future use of lands.

4793
03:56:41,460 --> 03:56:42,853
- Okay, so it's just land.
- Just for land.

4794
03:56:42,853 --> 03:56:45,150
- All right, I should
not be standing here.

4795
03:56:45,150 --> 03:56:45,990
I apologize.

4796
03:56:45,990 --> 03:56:47,100
- [Jim] Yeah. No, no, that's fine.

4797
03:56:47,100 --> 03:56:48,274
Appreciate it.

4798
03:56:48,274 --> 03:56:49,107
It's a learning process.

4799
03:56:49,107 --> 03:56:51,540
- But I will say, I hope everyone knows

4800
03:56:51,540 --> 03:56:53,580
we have such a beautiful city

4801
03:56:53,580 --> 03:56:55,170
and there's so much potential.

4802
03:56:55,170 --> 03:56:57,700
And what that woman was saying about

4803
03:56:58,620 --> 03:57:00,840
the past and how it's been destroyed,

4804
03:57:00,840 --> 03:57:02,370
that is such a shame.

4805
03:57:02,370 --> 03:57:05,340
And thank you for
highlighting that, ma'am.

4806
03:57:05,340 --> 03:57:06,180
If I may say ma'am,

4807
03:57:06,180 --> 03:57:08,363
'cause sometimes you get
in trouble saying ma'am.

4808
03:57:10,230 --> 03:57:13,173
What a beautiful city
that we could've had.

4809
03:57:15,000 --> 03:57:16,650
You were thinking about the wine.

4810
03:57:17,610 --> 03:57:19,740
- Anyways, have a good evening.

4811
03:57:19,740 --> 03:57:20,573
Have a good evening.

4812
03:57:20,573 --> 03:57:22,410
- Thanks, Mr. Pine. Thank you.

4813
03:57:22,410 --> 03:57:24,270
All right, ma'am, if
you'd like to come forward

4814
03:57:24,270 --> 03:57:25,890
and state your name and your address,

4815
03:57:25,890 --> 03:57:27,840
and then you've got up to five minutes.

4816
03:57:31,050 --> 03:57:34,140
- Good evening, Mr. Mayor and councilors.

4817
03:57:34,140 --> 03:57:36,960
I wasn't prepared to speak
earlier, but I am now.

4818
03:57:36,960 --> 03:57:41,880
Donna Soyka and 5601 Green
Avenue here in Niagara Falls.

4819
03:57:41,880 --> 03:57:45,420
So I wanted to talk about
the posting of this meeting

4820
03:57:45,420 --> 03:57:50,420
and maybe for them to
proofread when they post.

4821
03:57:50,460 --> 03:57:54,420
And also the one at the
Gale Center that I attended

4822
03:57:54,420 --> 03:57:55,773
for the stacked housing.

4823
03:57:57,060 --> 03:58:00,840
The dates and the days don't match.

4824
03:58:00,840 --> 03:58:03,420
So, for instance, at the Gale Center,

4825
03:58:03,420 --> 03:58:06,850
they said it was Wednesday,
June the 18th, the posting

4826
03:58:09,000 --> 03:58:11,220
where they post on the properties,

4827
03:58:11,220 --> 03:58:13,140
and it was actually Thursday.

4828
03:58:13,140 --> 03:58:18,140
And so this meeting posted
said Thursday, July the 28th,

4829
03:58:18,690 --> 03:58:21,120
and actually it's today.

4830
03:58:21,120 --> 03:58:24,750
- So, Mr. CAO, would that
be our comms department

4831
03:58:24,750 --> 03:58:25,590
or is that planning?

4832
03:58:25,590 --> 03:58:26,867
Yes. Oh, Ms. Dolch?

4833
03:58:26,867 --> 03:58:27,700
Okay.

4834
03:58:29,053 --> 03:58:31,890
- And through the Worship to the speaker.

4835
03:58:31,890 --> 03:58:33,660
And we do apologize for that.

4836
03:58:33,660 --> 03:58:36,270
We did have the correct
date, but we did note...

4837
03:58:36,270 --> 03:58:37,860
I know you sent a letter in.

4838
03:58:37,860 --> 03:58:39,660
Obviously, we didn't notice at the time.

4839
03:58:39,660 --> 03:58:43,290
And unfortunately, our human
makes mistakes once in a while.

4840
03:58:43,290 --> 03:58:45,180
My staff are quite busy trying to

4841
03:58:45,180 --> 03:58:47,670
get this in front of council
as quickly as we can.

4842
03:58:47,670 --> 03:58:49,560
So we do apologize for that,

4843
03:58:49,560 --> 03:58:52,170
but thanks for bringing
that to our attention.

4844
03:58:52,170 --> 03:58:53,610
- I appreciate that,

4845
03:58:53,610 --> 03:58:57,030
but the dates for the public are important

4846
03:58:57,030 --> 03:58:59,880
because then we would've missed it.

4847
03:58:59,880 --> 03:59:00,713
Thank you.
- Absolutely.

4848
03:59:00,713 --> 03:59:02,070
- Okay. Thank you very much.

4849
03:59:02,070 --> 03:59:02,903
Thank you.

4850
03:59:04,860 --> 03:59:07,647
As they say in "The Price
is Right," "Come on down."

4851
03:59:08,730 --> 03:59:09,563
Oh, yeah.

4852
03:59:09,563 --> 03:59:11,550
Kailen, you wanted to weigh in as well?

4853
03:59:11,550 --> 03:59:13,350
Is that to the last speaker,

4854
03:59:13,350 --> 03:59:14,183
Ms. Soyka?
Yes. I just...

4855
03:59:14,183 --> 03:59:15,990
- Yes, I just wanted to
add something to that.

4856
03:59:15,990 --> 03:59:17,910
So my understanding is that

4857
03:59:17,910 --> 03:59:20,850
the newspaper notice was corrected

4858
03:59:20,850 --> 03:59:21,810
before it went to print.

4859
03:59:21,810 --> 03:59:22,860
So that was correct.

4860
03:59:22,860 --> 03:59:27,450
And then the notice that was
emailed out was incorrect,

4861
03:59:27,450 --> 03:59:29,290
but that was rectified as soon as

4862
03:59:30,720 --> 03:59:32,670
we realized that it was incorrect.

4863
03:59:32,670 --> 03:59:33,503
- Yeah.
- This was also

4864
03:59:33,503 --> 03:59:35,130
on the lawn signs.

4865
03:59:35,130 --> 03:59:35,963
- Okay.

4866
03:59:37,020 --> 03:59:38,820
- Thank you for that. Appreciate it.

4867
03:59:39,900 --> 03:59:40,923
Come on down.

4868
03:59:45,300 --> 03:59:46,863
You know the exercise.
- I do.

4869
03:59:47,910 --> 03:59:48,870
Good evening.

4870
03:59:48,870 --> 03:59:50,460
My name is Lesley Laan.

4871
03:59:50,460 --> 03:59:54,663
My address is 5525 Reixinger
Road in Southern Niagara.

4872
03:59:56,280 --> 03:59:58,560
And I think that's all
you need to know, right?

4873
03:59:58,560 --> 03:59:59,640
Phone number?

4874
03:59:59,640 --> 04:00:00,674
- [Jim] No, no, we're good.

4875
04:00:00,674 --> 04:00:01,860
- Okay.

4876
04:00:01,860 --> 04:00:04,290
It's on the bathroom.
No, I'm just kidding.

4877
04:00:04,290 --> 04:00:09,290
Anyway, I want to first
say that I think this,

4878
04:00:09,600 --> 04:00:11,280
in reading this official plan,

4879
04:00:11,280 --> 04:00:14,190
I think all of the people involved

4880
04:00:14,190 --> 04:00:16,590
have done an amazing job on

4881
04:00:16,590 --> 04:00:21,573
finding that balance that
you were speaking of earlier.

4882
04:00:22,500 --> 04:00:24,390
We do realize we have to go forward

4883
04:00:24,390 --> 04:00:26,253
and develop to a certain extent.

4884
04:00:27,210 --> 04:00:30,750
And that is how a city progresses.

4885
04:00:30,750 --> 04:00:34,270
I think in looking at

4886
04:00:35,310 --> 04:00:38,250
the guidelines that have
been developed by this plan,

4887
04:00:38,250 --> 04:00:41,340
I think it's a very positive move forward

4888
04:00:41,340 --> 04:00:43,470
in the direction that they're trying to go

4889
04:00:43,470 --> 04:00:45,600
to try and balance the development

4890
04:00:45,600 --> 04:00:49,830
with the natural heritage,
the economic development,

4891
04:00:49,830 --> 04:00:52,920
our transport, all of those things.

4892
04:00:52,920 --> 04:00:56,100
And I think this plan has done
a really good job with that.

4893
04:00:56,100 --> 04:00:59,230
I would like to maybe suggest

4894
04:01:00,660 --> 04:01:02,670
in the economic development part,

4895
04:01:02,670 --> 04:01:04,230
I was very, very happy

4896
04:01:04,230 --> 04:01:07,650
to see the ecotourism component of that,

4897
04:01:07,650 --> 04:01:12,333
and I think that has some
really positive direction

4898
04:01:13,530 --> 04:01:15,873
or a really positive
direction to take that.

4899
04:01:16,920 --> 04:01:19,383
We are surrounded by water.

4900
04:01:21,199 --> 04:01:23,880
We've got some amazing existing parks,

4901
04:01:23,880 --> 04:01:26,010
but I think we have to look outside

4902
04:01:26,010 --> 04:01:28,200
that green strip along the river

4903
04:01:28,200 --> 04:01:31,350
for more of those
ecotourism opportunities.

4904
04:01:31,350 --> 04:01:34,350
And I think that can also
bring some job development

4905
04:01:34,350 --> 04:01:35,853
to the area as well.

4906
04:01:36,750 --> 04:01:39,370
Industry, there's so many

4907
04:01:41,460 --> 04:01:46,460
green industries that are

4908
04:01:46,740 --> 04:01:50,040
coming to the forefront around building,

4909
04:01:50,040 --> 04:01:51,930
and we are building.

4910
04:01:51,930 --> 04:01:54,360
Niagara is targeted basically as

4911
04:01:54,360 --> 04:01:56,670
one of the largest areas to expand

4912
04:01:56,670 --> 04:01:58,500
for building in our future.

4913
04:01:58,500 --> 04:02:01,710
And I think the environmental aspect

4914
04:02:01,710 --> 04:02:05,040
and the development aspect can be combined

4915
04:02:05,040 --> 04:02:06,630
if the will is there.

4916
04:02:06,630 --> 04:02:08,493
And I think that's a big part of it.

4917
04:02:10,560 --> 04:02:15,560
Mayor Jim, you said
previously about buyer beware.

4918
04:02:17,370 --> 04:02:18,300
Okay.

4919
04:02:18,300 --> 04:02:19,860
I think a lot of the...

4920
04:02:19,860 --> 04:02:23,220
I think that not only has
to apply to homeowners,

4921
04:02:23,220 --> 04:02:28,220
but I think that also has
to apply to our speculators

4922
04:02:28,620 --> 04:02:32,610
who are purchasing land
in the area to develop.

4923
04:02:32,610 --> 04:02:37,470
We have these natural
heritage and green spaces,

4924
04:02:37,470 --> 04:02:41,430
and I think they have to
be more than aware of that

4925
04:02:41,430 --> 04:02:42,603
when they purchase.

4926
04:02:43,753 --> 04:02:46,830
And not only taking into consideration

4927
04:02:46,830 --> 04:02:50,640
that it's something they
can apply to have removed

4928
04:02:50,640 --> 04:02:54,570
or reduced buffers or
whatever in the future.

4929
04:02:54,570 --> 04:02:58,120
That requires a visionary shift

4930
04:02:59,730 --> 04:03:04,080
away from the way development
has traditionally happened,

4931
04:03:04,080 --> 04:03:08,220
possibly changing the paradigm
of what we would like to see

4932
04:03:08,220 --> 04:03:10,620
as a community and as a municipality

4933
04:03:10,620 --> 04:03:14,580
to see how we would like to
see development moving forward.

4934
04:03:14,580 --> 04:03:18,393
We've seen some really
wonderful designs come down.

4935
04:03:20,280 --> 04:03:21,900
I keep referring back to,

4936
04:03:21,900 --> 04:03:23,020
I believe it was

4937
04:03:25,980 --> 04:03:27,690
one of the Rodan families,

4938
04:03:27,690 --> 04:03:32,690
had an amazing development
for a tall tourist hotel.

4939
04:03:35,550 --> 04:03:37,020
- On Portage Road.
- Yeah.

4940
04:03:37,020 --> 04:03:41,230
And it encompassed so many positive

4941
04:03:42,480 --> 04:03:46,110
green and eco forward-thinking ideas.

4942
04:03:46,110 --> 04:03:49,980
Again, will we ever see it? Possibly not.

4943
04:03:49,980 --> 04:03:53,910
But the ideas are there and
we're starting to see them.

4944
04:03:53,910 --> 04:03:57,150
And if somehow we can get
it from just seeing them

4945
04:03:57,150 --> 04:03:59,370
to actually building them.

4946
04:03:59,370 --> 04:04:02,610
And that takes policy change.

4947
04:04:02,610 --> 04:04:06,060
And it takes, again, the will.

4948
04:04:06,060 --> 04:04:07,970
And we also have to...

4949
04:04:12,150 --> 04:04:15,570
I've sat in council for
a lot of years watching.

4950
04:04:15,570 --> 04:04:20,437
And I see a lot of concessions made

4951
04:04:23,130 --> 04:04:28,130
that maybe could have been
revisited and possibly not.

4952
04:04:35,430 --> 04:04:37,410
Again, I'm an eco person.

4953
04:04:37,410 --> 04:04:39,840
I'm an environmental person,

4954
04:04:39,840 --> 04:04:42,540
but I also know that
development has to happen.

4955
04:04:42,540 --> 04:04:45,213
And I think the two can mesh really well.

4956
04:04:47,569 --> 04:04:50,640
I love the five-to-one. That's amazing.

4957
04:04:50,640 --> 04:04:52,980
The three-to-one, the
five-to-one tree thing.

4958
04:04:52,980 --> 04:04:56,160
I think something to go forward to that,

4959
04:04:56,160 --> 04:04:59,070
that is only applicable
to the urban lands.

4960
04:04:59,070 --> 04:05:00,300
Is that correct?

4961
04:05:00,300 --> 04:05:01,920
The public urban lands?

4962
04:05:01,920 --> 04:05:03,540
- [Jim] Ms. Dolch?

4963
04:05:03,540 --> 04:05:04,710
- Or does that also include

4964
04:05:04,710 --> 04:05:06,933
private property owners removing trees?

4965
04:05:08,070 --> 04:05:08,903
- Thank you, Your Worship.

4966
04:05:08,903 --> 04:05:11,190
It does include private
property owners with trees.

4967
04:05:11,190 --> 04:05:12,510
And again, our preference though

4968
04:05:12,510 --> 04:05:14,670
is so if you don't retain it on site,

4969
04:05:14,670 --> 04:05:16,860
you can offset it offsite as well,

4970
04:05:16,860 --> 04:05:18,270
but it's at the five-to-one.

4971
04:05:18,270 --> 04:05:21,390
And then we do have
areas that we identified

4972
04:05:21,390 --> 04:05:22,560
where we think it's appropriate

4973
04:05:22,560 --> 04:05:25,290
because we want to make sure
it's there for the long term

4974
04:05:25,290 --> 04:05:28,590
outside the boundary rather
than inside in certain instances

4975
04:05:28,590 --> 04:05:31,290
because, again, if it's
inside, most likely

4976
04:05:31,290 --> 04:05:34,080
same thing will happen once
that canopy goes again.

4977
04:05:34,080 --> 04:05:35,990
- Now, are we moving that...

4978
04:05:38,250 --> 04:05:40,860
Are we moving that forward
to a private tree bylaw?

4979
04:05:40,860 --> 04:05:44,220
Because right now our, we don't
have a private tree bylaw.

4980
04:05:44,220 --> 04:05:48,000
It's kind of controlled by the
region, if I'm not mistaken,

4981
04:05:48,000 --> 04:05:49,350
beyond a certain point.

4982
04:05:49,350 --> 04:05:53,830
And I think since there is such

4983
04:05:56,430 --> 04:05:58,560
upheaval right now, shall we say,

4984
04:05:58,560 --> 04:06:00,450
around the region and where it's going,

4985
04:06:00,450 --> 04:06:01,860
then I think, as a community,

4986
04:06:01,860 --> 04:06:04,320
we need our own private tree bylaw.

4987
04:06:04,320 --> 04:06:07,650
We can't rely on someone
else to be enforcing things

4988
04:06:07,650 --> 04:06:10,833
that affect us directly.

4989
04:06:12,000 --> 04:06:15,630
Within that, and again,
within those natural corridors

4990
04:06:15,630 --> 04:06:20,630
and the buffers that we
apply to the natural heritage

4991
04:06:21,930 --> 04:06:23,790
the provincially significant wetlands,

4992
04:06:23,790 --> 04:06:26,193
those provincially significant woodlands,

4993
04:06:28,590 --> 04:06:30,110
I feel that...

4994
04:06:32,850 --> 04:06:37,850
I think those have to be not
only observed, but enhanced.

4995
04:06:37,890 --> 04:06:42,060
You yourself have reiterated that

4996
04:06:42,060 --> 04:06:46,350
the provincial policy are guidelines.

4997
04:06:46,350 --> 04:06:48,270
And those are the minimum standards

4998
04:06:48,270 --> 04:06:50,043
that we should be striving for.

4999
04:06:51,300 --> 04:06:55,947
I don't think it's unreasonable
to not just encourage,

5000
04:06:58,380 --> 04:07:03,030
but possibly create policies that mandate

5001
04:07:03,030 --> 04:07:07,590
certain minimums for our own standards,

5002
04:07:07,590 --> 04:07:10,890
not necessarily the provincial standards.

5003
04:07:10,890 --> 04:07:13,440
That's just a thought
on my behalf because,

5004
04:07:13,440 --> 04:07:15,450
again, if I was having brain surgery,

5005
04:07:15,450 --> 04:07:18,810
I wouldn't want the guy who
only got 50% doing it, okay?

5006
04:07:18,810 --> 04:07:21,090
I'd want the person who got 90% doing it.

5007
04:07:21,090 --> 04:07:26,090
So if you apply that to
our natural heritage,

5008
04:07:26,490 --> 04:07:30,840
I think that's a positive for everybody

5009
04:07:30,840 --> 04:07:34,350
because those natural heritage spaces

5010
04:07:34,350 --> 04:07:37,300
are also our climate change mitigation

5011
04:07:40,650 --> 04:07:42,420
tools that we have.

5012
04:07:42,420 --> 04:07:43,770
And they're free right now.

5013
04:07:44,610 --> 04:07:49,610
And I watched videos from
Niagara on the lake this morning,

5014
04:07:50,430 --> 04:07:54,960
and they were just horrendously flooded.

5015
04:07:54,960 --> 04:07:56,010
Okay?

5016
04:07:56,010 --> 04:08:00,360
And they have one of our more

5017
04:08:00,360 --> 04:08:05,250
absorbent and porous
soil types down there.

5018
04:08:05,250 --> 04:08:07,890
That's why the farmland
is so good down there.

5019
04:08:07,890 --> 04:08:10,443
It usually absorbs and runs off.

5020
04:08:13,020 --> 04:08:15,780
Here in Niagara, we are
above the escarpment.

5021
04:08:15,780 --> 04:08:17,340
We're between two...

5022
04:08:17,340 --> 04:08:19,890
Well, we're between Lake Erie.

5023
04:08:19,890 --> 04:08:22,860
And between Lake Erie and
the brink of the falls,

5024
04:08:22,860 --> 04:08:27,180
there is a 10-meter elevation change.

5025
04:08:27,180 --> 04:08:28,140
Okay?

5026
04:08:28,140 --> 04:08:33,140
All that water moves
through our whole region.

5027
04:08:33,150 --> 04:08:36,300
But specifically, a
lot of it moves through

5028
04:08:36,300 --> 04:08:41,300
Niagara, Port Colborne,
Welland, those southern areas.

5029
04:08:41,550 --> 04:08:45,300
And the river, yes, it accommodates
a certain amount of it,

5030
04:08:45,300 --> 04:08:48,300
but water just goes where water will go.

5031
04:08:48,300 --> 04:08:50,970
It goes through the Wainfleet Marsh,

5032
04:08:50,970 --> 04:08:53,820
the Wainfleet Bog, the Willoughby Marsh.

5033
04:08:53,820 --> 04:08:58,060
And I think we have to remember

5034
04:08:58,950 --> 04:09:02,910
that a lot of our community drains

5035
04:09:02,910 --> 04:09:05,220
start in those places.

5036
04:09:05,220 --> 04:09:07,710
And if they are overwhelmed,

5037
04:09:07,710 --> 04:09:11,370
then everything downhill
will be overwhelmed as well.

5038
04:09:11,370 --> 04:09:16,083
And I think trying to
contain it in diameter,

5039
04:09:20,340 --> 04:09:23,670
like culverts and things of a diameter

5040
04:09:23,670 --> 04:09:26,903
that are based on past extreme events,

5041
04:09:31,440 --> 04:09:32,700
that doesn't cut it anymore

5042
04:09:32,700 --> 04:09:36,720
'cause we're entering new
extreme events all the time.

5043
04:09:36,720 --> 04:09:38,190
And I think moving forward,

5044
04:09:38,190 --> 04:09:40,110
I don't know if this is a,

5045
04:09:40,110 --> 04:09:41,640
I'm not an engineer,

5046
04:09:41,640 --> 04:09:44,860
but, to me, maybe overbuild

5047
04:09:46,170 --> 04:09:48,690
going into the future
instead of relying on

5048
04:09:48,690 --> 04:09:50,310
what's worked in the past.

5049
04:09:50,310 --> 04:09:52,500
So, anyhow, thank you for your time,

5050
04:09:52,500 --> 04:09:56,070
and I appreciate all the
work that everyone's done.

5051
04:09:56,070 --> 04:09:58,743
And we'll just keep planting more trees.

5052
04:10:00,210 --> 04:10:01,860
- Thanks, Leslie. Thank you.

5053
04:10:01,860 --> 04:10:03,540
Councilor Lococo.

5054
04:10:03,540 --> 04:10:04,530
- Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

5055
04:10:04,530 --> 04:10:07,320
Two comments to what Ms. Laan said.

5056
04:10:07,320 --> 04:10:10,890
I wholeheartedly agree
regarding the tree bylaw.

5057
04:10:10,890 --> 04:10:14,250
And she also spoke about ecotourism.

5058
04:10:14,250 --> 04:10:15,900
A while ago I was speaking with

5059
04:10:15,900 --> 04:10:18,060
the Niagara Falls Hotel Association

5060
04:10:18,060 --> 04:10:19,290
and Niagara Falls Tourism

5061
04:10:19,290 --> 04:10:21,180
about looking at ecotourism,

5062
04:10:21,180 --> 04:10:23,010
the UNESCO designation.

5063
04:10:23,010 --> 04:10:24,150
In the official plan,

5064
04:10:24,150 --> 04:10:25,980
it talks about that the Niagara escarpment

5065
04:10:25,980 --> 04:10:29,310
is a UNESCO world biosphere reserve.

5066
04:10:29,310 --> 04:10:32,310
If you move towards a UNESCO designation,

5067
04:10:32,310 --> 04:10:36,540
you open up the tourist possibilities

5068
04:10:36,540 --> 04:10:37,770
for people to come here

5069
04:10:37,770 --> 04:10:40,560
for a completely different experience than

5070
04:10:40,560 --> 04:10:42,330
they might not have come here before.

5071
04:10:42,330 --> 04:10:44,220
So I'd like to revisit that

5072
04:10:44,220 --> 04:10:46,860
maybe at another time
about looking at UNESCO,

5073
04:10:46,860 --> 04:10:49,440
but ecotourism is in the official plan.

5074
04:10:49,440 --> 04:10:51,330
So I'd like to look at that,

5075
04:10:51,330 --> 04:10:53,190
revisit that conversation later.

5076
04:10:53,190 --> 04:10:54,390
Thank you.
- Thank you.

5077
04:10:55,290 --> 04:10:56,123
Okay.

5078
04:10:57,030 --> 04:10:58,623
There was a motion.

5079
04:10:59,730 --> 04:11:01,170
Oh, did you want to speak, Aras?

5080
04:11:01,170 --> 04:11:03,510
Okay, I had your name
crossed off the list.

5081
04:11:03,510 --> 04:11:04,500
Okay.

5082
04:11:04,500 --> 04:11:07,230
Yeah, if you want to introduce
yourself and your address.

5083
04:11:07,230 --> 04:11:10,140
- Yes. Aras Reisi,
resident of Niagara Falls.

5084
04:11:10,140 --> 04:11:11,130
As this council knows,

5085
04:11:11,130 --> 04:11:13,710
I'll come to all the council
meetings, sit here in person.

5086
04:11:13,710 --> 04:11:15,540
So some of the comments
that I want to mention is

5087
04:11:15,540 --> 04:11:18,480
based on things that I
heard from my neighbors

5088
04:11:18,480 --> 04:11:20,850
with fellow citizens of the city,

5089
04:11:20,850 --> 04:11:22,290
a lot of things has been discussed,

5090
04:11:22,290 --> 04:11:25,050
so I'm not just going
to skip through them,

5091
04:11:25,050 --> 04:11:26,910
but given that this is
a commenting period,

5092
04:11:26,910 --> 04:11:28,290
I just want to mention that

5093
04:11:28,290 --> 04:11:29,850
one of the issues that
I want to talk about

5094
04:11:29,850 --> 04:11:33,810
is the encroachment on industrial lands,

5095
04:11:33,810 --> 04:11:35,070
which has been already discussed.

5096
04:11:35,070 --> 04:11:36,120
I just want to mention that,

5097
04:11:36,120 --> 04:11:38,040
in addition, BVGlazing was mentioned,

5098
04:11:38,040 --> 04:11:40,980
Oleo was mentioned,
Washington Mill was mentioned,

5099
04:11:40,980 --> 04:11:41,910
but PALFINGER.

5100
04:11:41,910 --> 04:11:43,760
That was the issue with them as well.

5101
04:11:45,210 --> 04:11:46,590
One thing I've noticed is that

5102
04:11:46,590 --> 04:11:49,680
the problem arises when we
absolutely need housing.

5103
04:11:49,680 --> 04:11:53,220
It's a crisis, cost of
housing significantly high,

5104
04:11:53,220 --> 04:11:54,510
but we need new housing.

5105
04:11:54,510 --> 04:11:56,850
But the problem is that
with the development

5106
04:11:56,850 --> 04:11:58,690
goes in neighborhood that
doesn't match with it.

5107
04:11:58,690 --> 04:11:59,523
And I appreciate it.

5108
04:11:59,523 --> 04:12:01,230
I want to thank the staff and consultant.

5109
04:12:01,230 --> 04:12:02,370
They've done an amazing job.

5110
04:12:02,370 --> 04:12:05,490
And I'm so happy to hear the
comment that's been made about

5111
04:12:05,490 --> 04:12:07,380
protecting other industrial jobs

5112
04:12:07,380 --> 04:12:09,420
because we need the jobs to be able to

5113
04:12:09,420 --> 04:12:11,373
buy the homes as Councilor Patel said.

5114
04:12:12,450 --> 04:12:15,210
I am very interested about
this whole mixed-use 1 and 2

5115
04:12:15,210 --> 04:12:17,550
and existing neighborhood.

5116
04:12:17,550 --> 04:12:19,440
But my question is,

5117
04:12:19,440 --> 04:12:21,570
so you discussed about
how we are protecting

5118
04:12:21,570 --> 04:12:23,520
the industrial zone, which, again,

5119
04:12:23,520 --> 04:12:25,830
I want to make a comment
that I support that motion,

5120
04:12:25,830 --> 04:12:26,940
that idea.

5121
04:12:26,940 --> 04:12:30,510
But what happens is that moving forward,

5122
04:12:30,510 --> 04:12:33,540
given that we have a
beautiful new master plan,

5123
04:12:33,540 --> 04:12:35,820
are we trying to make
things next to each other

5124
04:12:35,820 --> 04:12:37,287
so we don't have a high-rise

5125
04:12:37,287 --> 04:12:39,690
all of a sudden goes to
a small neighborhood?

5126
04:12:39,690 --> 04:12:44,010
I understand perhaps that
based on the planning,

5127
04:12:44,010 --> 04:12:46,770
we could not prevent the
applicants to come forward

5128
04:12:46,770 --> 04:12:48,750
saying that, "I want
to build this high-rise

5129
04:12:48,750 --> 04:12:51,750
in the middle of a small,
single-story households,"

5130
04:12:51,750 --> 04:12:54,300
but at least I believe
from the perspective of

5131
04:12:54,300 --> 04:12:55,710
good urban planning,

5132
04:12:55,710 --> 04:12:57,420
we need to put things next to each other.

5133
04:12:57,420 --> 04:13:00,570
So if you have those
corridors has been identified,

5134
04:13:00,570 --> 04:13:03,300
so if you could have those
high-rises on those corridors,

5135
04:13:03,300 --> 04:13:04,350
this means that the residents

5136
04:13:04,350 --> 04:13:07,110
will get a frequent public transport.

5137
04:13:07,110 --> 04:13:08,850
You don't need a car.

5138
04:13:08,850 --> 04:13:11,880
And so my question is that

5139
04:13:11,880 --> 04:13:14,310
not going to industrial use,

5140
04:13:14,310 --> 04:13:16,010
but how are we going...

5141
04:13:17,220 --> 04:13:19,320
If we have this new master plan,

5142
04:13:19,320 --> 04:13:22,380
are we going to see less of friction

5143
04:13:22,380 --> 04:13:25,890
that major high-rises
go next to industrial

5144
04:13:25,890 --> 04:13:27,690
or next to a single story?

5145
04:13:27,690 --> 04:13:29,820
What protection do we have?

5146
04:13:29,820 --> 04:13:31,971
- [Jim] Well, we'll go to
Ms. Dolch for this one.

5147
04:13:31,971 --> 04:13:32,804
- Thank you, Your Worship.

5148
04:13:32,804 --> 04:13:34,710
And I may refer to the
consultants as well.

5149
04:13:34,710 --> 04:13:38,403
So I'll just go to Mr. Palmer first.

5150
04:13:39,540 --> 04:13:40,530
- Perfect.
- Because it's my

5151
04:13:40,530 --> 04:13:41,900
favorite part of...

5152
04:13:43,470 --> 04:13:44,430
Through you, Mr. Mayor.

5153
04:13:44,430 --> 04:13:46,893
I go back to chapter four.

5154
04:13:47,730 --> 04:13:50,220
And absolutely correct,

5155
04:13:50,220 --> 04:13:55,220
the tension where build form
heights mostly abut each other.

5156
04:14:00,360 --> 04:14:03,030
Been doing this for a really long time,

5157
04:14:03,030 --> 04:14:07,620
and there's policies in
this plan in section 4.3.2.

5158
04:14:07,620 --> 04:14:10,350
Compatibility transition requirements

5159
04:14:10,350 --> 04:14:12,990
based on the land use designation.

5160
04:14:12,990 --> 04:14:15,660
There's a requirement for the higher,

5161
04:14:15,660 --> 04:14:20,370
the designation that permits
the highest building types

5162
04:14:21,330 --> 04:14:24,330
has to consider the appropriate transition

5163
04:14:24,330 --> 04:14:28,410
down to the adjacent low-rise development.

5164
04:14:28,410 --> 04:14:33,030
That means that while
there are maximum heights

5165
04:14:33,030 --> 04:14:35,190
identified in this official plan

5166
04:14:35,190 --> 04:14:37,620
for various land use designations,

5167
04:14:37,620 --> 04:14:39,520
they cannot achieve them

5168
04:14:40,920 --> 04:14:44,373
until they've dealt with
compatibility and transition.

5169
04:14:45,240 --> 04:14:47,190
That will be implemented through

5170
04:14:47,190 --> 04:14:49,743
subsequent zoning approvals.

5171
04:14:50,640 --> 04:14:53,920
So quite on a deep lot, you could have

5172
04:14:54,780 --> 04:14:58,470
an 18-story building
that steps its way down

5173
04:14:58,470 --> 04:15:00,150
to a three story building,

5174
04:15:00,150 --> 04:15:02,040
adjacent to a three story building.

5175
04:15:02,040 --> 04:15:04,950
You can have more distance separation.

5176
04:15:04,950 --> 04:15:08,070
There's many, many, many ways to detail

5177
04:15:08,070 --> 04:15:12,000
and articulate an appropriate transition

5178
04:15:12,000 --> 04:15:14,250
between two land use designations.

5179
04:15:14,250 --> 04:15:18,660
And that's the intent of this
section of the official plan.

5180
04:15:18,660 --> 04:15:22,173
It applies everywhere
to every development.

5181
04:15:23,520 --> 04:15:26,013
So it's a very important part of the plan,

5182
04:15:27,132 --> 04:15:30,663
and it's been thought about for 42 years.

5183
04:15:31,529 --> 04:15:33,510
- [Jim] 4.3.2.

5184
04:15:33,510 --> 04:15:35,310
Yes. Got it.

5185
04:15:35,310 --> 04:15:36,729
Okay.
- Thank you.

5186
04:15:36,729 --> 04:15:37,562
- Aras?

5187
04:15:37,562 --> 04:15:38,395
- Okay, thanks for that.

5188
04:15:38,395 --> 04:15:41,100
And just very brief comment
about, that's been mentioned.

5189
04:15:41,100 --> 04:15:42,870
Developers, they can go around,

5190
04:15:42,870 --> 04:15:45,240
shop around to whatever
consultant they want.

5191
04:15:45,240 --> 04:15:46,530
They can go five.

5192
04:15:46,530 --> 04:15:49,890
Four of them say, "No, this
is level three or level..."

5193
04:15:49,890 --> 04:15:52,140
And then the moment they
find the one that they want,

5194
04:15:52,140 --> 04:15:54,810
and they come to us with
presenting whatever they want.

5195
04:15:54,810 --> 04:15:55,650
Just want to mention that

5196
04:15:55,650 --> 04:15:57,367
because the comment has been,

5197
04:15:57,367 --> 04:15:58,410
"How do we know?

5198
04:15:58,410 --> 04:16:00,810
Are the Oleo's plan or the applicants?"

5199
04:16:00,810 --> 04:16:03,060
Well, applicants, they go shop around.

5200
04:16:03,060 --> 04:16:04,470
The other issue that I want to come here,

5201
04:16:04,470 --> 04:16:08,460
give my issue that echo what
our CAO said about up zoning.

5202
04:16:08,460 --> 04:16:09,900
The problem that we have in this city,

5203
04:16:09,900 --> 04:16:12,360
and I appreciate the position of the staff

5204
04:16:12,360 --> 04:16:14,820
and yourself, Your Worship,
about the sunset clauses.

5205
04:16:14,820 --> 04:16:16,200
I want to defend that sunset clause.

5206
04:16:16,200 --> 04:16:17,420
One of the people was asking for it.

5207
04:16:17,420 --> 04:16:19,470
It was me behind the scene.

5208
04:16:19,470 --> 04:16:21,270
We have out-of-town investors

5209
04:16:21,270 --> 04:16:23,130
and sometimes in-city investors.

5210
04:16:23,130 --> 04:16:26,040
They buy a land, dilapidated land,

5211
04:16:26,040 --> 04:16:28,380
and they come with the application.

5212
04:16:28,380 --> 04:16:30,060
They hire the best lawyer in town.

5213
04:16:30,060 --> 04:16:31,620
And they would come here.

5214
04:16:31,620 --> 04:16:35,040
They're building 70-story,
50-story, multiple towers.

5215
04:16:35,040 --> 04:16:37,320
At time before even they come here,

5216
04:16:37,320 --> 04:16:40,110
they have a huge PR firm advertising.

5217
04:16:40,110 --> 04:16:42,150
They have no intention of getting built.

5218
04:16:42,150 --> 04:16:46,380
All they are doing, upzoning
it, creating a speculation

5219
04:16:46,380 --> 04:16:47,910
so that they can go to bank

5220
04:16:47,910 --> 04:16:50,160
and say that the property
that I built for $1 million,

5221
04:16:50,160 --> 04:16:51,360
now it's worth $10 million.

5222
04:16:51,360 --> 04:16:54,327
Securing loan against
it to go build in GTA,

5223
04:16:54,327 --> 04:16:56,160
and they say, "Look, we
are legitimate builders.

5224
04:16:56,160 --> 04:16:57,180
We are building in GTA."

5225
04:16:57,180 --> 04:16:58,350
But what happens is that

5226
04:16:58,350 --> 04:17:03,350
that trickling the cost of
those up-zoned speculations

5227
04:17:03,810 --> 04:17:06,060
goes then to all the
youth of Niagara Falls

5228
04:17:06,060 --> 04:17:08,100
who are struggling to buy housing.

5229
04:17:08,100 --> 04:17:09,510
So I want to commend you.

5230
04:17:09,510 --> 04:17:11,580
I want to put that...

5231
04:17:11,580 --> 04:17:13,770
I really appreciate that sunset clause.

5232
04:17:13,770 --> 04:17:15,960
I hope the city will defend it vigorously.

5233
04:17:15,960 --> 04:17:18,900
My other question would be that

5234
04:17:18,900 --> 04:17:23,900
if we are having a brand
new slate of official plan,

5235
04:17:24,540 --> 04:17:29,540
what could we do to fight back
against this speculations?

5236
04:17:30,720 --> 04:17:34,860
And what can we so that we
don't get the situations

5237
04:17:34,860 --> 04:17:39,270
that we have upzoning, that speculation?

5238
04:17:39,270 --> 04:17:42,630
Could we go back and use
those use it and reuse it,

5239
04:17:42,630 --> 04:17:45,360
or minister passed a law that says,

5240
04:17:45,360 --> 04:17:47,880
if you don't use it, use
your site servicing plan?

5241
04:17:47,880 --> 04:17:50,160
What could we do other than sunset clause?

5242
04:17:50,160 --> 04:17:51,120
Should I defend it?

5243
04:17:51,120 --> 04:17:52,890
To fight against this upzoning

5244
04:17:52,890 --> 04:17:54,630
because it's really hurt our,

5245
04:17:54,630 --> 04:17:58,470
especially next generation of
home buyers of the our city.

5246
04:17:58,470 --> 04:18:02,043
- So Ms. Dolch, other than
sunset clauses, what else?

5247
04:18:03,600 --> 04:18:04,740
- Thank you, Your Worship.

5248
04:18:04,740 --> 04:18:07,173
- Look, so you got some
backup support here.

5249
04:18:08,040 --> 04:18:09,063
Mr. Palmer.

5250
04:18:10,260 --> 04:18:12,240
We're 3.2.

5251
04:18:12,240 --> 04:18:15,600
- I like the sunset approach.

5252
04:18:15,600 --> 04:18:17,580
It used to be in the Planning Act.

5253
04:18:17,580 --> 04:18:18,690
- [Jim] Oh, it was?

5254
04:18:18,690 --> 04:18:20,850
- Many, many, many, many years ago.

5255
04:18:20,850 --> 04:18:21,813
And it was removed.

5256
04:18:22,710 --> 04:18:24,090
- It was what?
- It was removed

5257
04:18:24,090 --> 04:18:25,357
from the Planning Act.

5258
04:18:26,370 --> 04:18:30,300
That doesn't mean you should
not take your lawyer's advice

5259
04:18:30,300 --> 04:18:34,320
and try to do it specifically for zoning.

5260
04:18:34,320 --> 04:18:37,590
Obviously, there's
opportunities for sunsetting

5261
04:18:37,590 --> 04:18:39,030
through draft plans subdivision

5262
04:18:39,030 --> 04:18:41,373
and not renewing the draft plan approval.

5263
04:18:42,210 --> 04:18:44,730
But also another powerful tool

5264
04:18:44,730 --> 04:18:47,853
is the infrastructure allocation protocol.

5265
04:18:49,260 --> 04:18:54,003
You absolutely can sunset an allocation,

5266
04:18:55,050 --> 04:18:56,670
and it's outside of this official plan,

5267
04:18:56,670 --> 04:18:58,050
and it's outside of the Planning Act.

5268
04:18:58,050 --> 04:18:59,910
It's not subject to appeal.

5269
04:18:59,910 --> 04:19:03,030
I would suggest that the city

5270
04:19:03,030 --> 04:19:06,540
establish a allocation protocol

5271
04:19:06,540 --> 04:19:10,740
for various forms of
infrastructure, sewer, water, road,

5272
04:19:10,740 --> 04:19:14,370
that considers removing an allocation

5273
04:19:14,370 --> 04:19:18,330
so that it's not held up
and can be reallocated

5274
04:19:18,330 --> 04:19:21,030
based on someone who's ready to build.

5275
04:19:21,030 --> 04:19:23,010
So you have the three approaches,

5276
04:19:23,010 --> 04:19:27,390
draft plans, zoning,
and allocation protocol.

5277
04:19:27,390 --> 04:19:29,850
All of them should be brought to bear

5278
04:19:29,850 --> 04:19:34,170
on the issue of making
sure development happens.

5279
04:19:34,170 --> 04:19:36,660
Because I've worked across Ontario.

5280
04:19:36,660 --> 04:19:38,400
It's an issue everywhere

5281
04:19:38,400 --> 04:19:40,350
where somebody gets an approval

5282
04:19:40,350 --> 04:19:42,783
and an allocation and sits on it.

5283
04:19:44,310 --> 04:19:47,520
And it basically freezes
development elsewhere

5284
04:19:47,520 --> 04:19:50,490
on the basis of those approvals.

5285
04:19:50,490 --> 04:19:54,183
So it's a really important
principle to get through.

5286
04:19:55,350 --> 04:19:58,530
And I hope that it is successful
in this official plan.

5287
04:19:58,530 --> 04:20:02,190
- [Jim] And the three were
zoning, allocation, and?

5288
04:20:02,190 --> 04:20:03,023
- Draft plan.

5289
04:20:03,023 --> 04:20:04,320
- Draft plan, okay.

5290
04:20:04,320 --> 04:20:05,153
That's good.

5291
04:20:05,153 --> 04:20:07,020
I know our staff are all listening to that

5292
04:20:08,670 --> 04:20:10,710
to strengthen our sunset positioning.

5293
04:20:10,710 --> 04:20:11,543
That's great.

5294
04:20:11,543 --> 04:20:14,280
- Yeah, and sunset's what
it's typically called.

5295
04:20:14,280 --> 04:20:15,570
- Yeah.
- Call it whatever you want,

5296
04:20:15,570 --> 04:20:16,403
but-
- I didn't know

5297
04:20:16,403 --> 04:20:17,370
it used to be in the Planning Act though.

5298
04:20:17,370 --> 04:20:19,200
- Yeah, many, many, many, many, many.

5299
04:20:19,200 --> 04:20:21,630
- Before 4.3.2 or after?

5300
04:20:21,630 --> 04:20:22,680
- Yes.

5301
04:20:22,680 --> 04:20:25,410
Well before. Well before.
- Okay.

5302
04:20:25,410 --> 04:20:27,260
Just want to show I'm paying attention.

5303
04:20:29,580 --> 04:20:30,690
- Just want to finish and say that

5304
04:20:30,690 --> 04:20:34,470
I have no objection from this
application gets renewed,

5305
04:20:34,470 --> 04:20:36,360
director of planning or even the council.

5306
04:20:36,360 --> 04:20:38,670
If they're truly
legitimately showing that,

5307
04:20:38,670 --> 04:20:40,470
look, I'm working with
it, the market is bad.

5308
04:20:40,470 --> 04:20:41,730
Sure, let's renew it.

5309
04:20:41,730 --> 04:20:42,750
Let's renew it.

5310
04:20:42,750 --> 04:20:46,440
But the fact that they sit
on them and secure financing,

5311
04:20:46,440 --> 04:20:48,300
they have no intention of getting built.

5312
04:20:48,300 --> 04:20:51,540
You're not going to build
77-story in a half an acre.

5313
04:20:51,540 --> 04:20:52,373
No way.

5314
04:20:52,373 --> 04:20:53,220
It's just the financing.

5315
04:20:53,220 --> 04:20:55,410
And also, I just want to add that

5316
04:20:55,410 --> 04:20:56,970
the other downside of that is that

5317
04:20:56,970 --> 04:21:01,410
when we have, I don't know, 12
major hotels being approved.

5318
04:21:01,410 --> 04:21:03,270
If they're truly a legitimate builder

5319
04:21:03,270 --> 04:21:04,530
who really wants to build it,

5320
04:21:04,530 --> 04:21:07,020
if they see their 12 approval on a plan,

5321
04:21:07,020 --> 04:21:09,000
they would never come
spending billion dollars

5322
04:21:09,000 --> 04:21:10,770
because what should...

5323
04:21:10,770 --> 04:21:11,610
They don't know.

5324
04:21:11,610 --> 04:21:15,060
If they start building, and
the rest of them, they come up,

5325
04:21:15,060 --> 04:21:16,020
they lose money.

5326
04:21:16,020 --> 04:21:17,910
So I think it's very important for us,

5327
04:21:17,910 --> 04:21:18,930
not just for the youth,

5328
04:21:18,930 --> 04:21:21,900
not the fact that this is going
to impact the housing market.

5329
04:21:21,900 --> 04:21:23,550
It's just to say that, you know what,

5330
04:21:23,550 --> 04:21:26,730
if you cannot build it,
we're going to take it away,

5331
04:21:26,730 --> 04:21:28,950
blank a slate to someone else.

5332
04:21:28,950 --> 04:21:30,000
And now with that being said,

5333
04:21:30,000 --> 04:21:32,160
I want to thank the
staff and the consultant

5334
04:21:32,160 --> 04:21:34,050
for really engaging the community.

5335
04:21:34,050 --> 04:21:37,440
And I know it's not easy
to make everybody happy,

5336
04:21:37,440 --> 04:21:39,900
but I think if we all get
a little bit something

5337
04:21:39,900 --> 04:21:43,110
and manage to compromise and
recognizing the rest of us

5338
04:21:43,110 --> 04:21:45,300
might have different perspective,

5339
04:21:45,300 --> 04:21:47,100
I guess we will have a beautiful city.

5340
04:21:47,100 --> 04:21:47,940
Thank you very much.

5341
04:21:47,940 --> 04:21:48,773
- Thanks, Aras.

5342
04:21:48,773 --> 04:21:50,160
Thank you very much.

5343
04:21:50,160 --> 04:21:51,390
Is there anyone else?

5344
04:21:51,390 --> 04:21:52,223
I'm afraid to ask.

5345
04:21:52,223 --> 04:21:53,056
Okay. There's none.

5346
04:21:53,056 --> 04:21:54,360
Okay.

5347
04:21:54,360 --> 04:21:55,650
Before anyone else steps up,

5348
04:21:55,650 --> 04:21:59,520
thank you for everyone's
efforts, time, and input,

5349
04:21:59,520 --> 04:22:01,500
and 4.3.2.

5350
04:22:01,500 --> 04:22:04,320
And now I'm looking,

5351
04:22:04,320 --> 04:22:07,890
the meeting for the official
plan is now concluded.

5352
04:22:07,890 --> 04:22:09,960
So I'm looking for motion, two parts,

5353
04:22:09,960 --> 04:22:11,397
one that we receive the information,

5354
04:22:11,397 --> 04:22:13,830
and two, direct staff to consider

5355
04:22:13,830 --> 04:22:16,440
the comments received at this meeting,

5356
04:22:16,440 --> 04:22:18,780
the open house, this public meeting,

5357
04:22:18,780 --> 04:22:21,247
and in the final draft of our
Niagara Falls Official Plan.

5358
04:22:21,247 --> 04:22:24,750
Motion by Councilor Kerrio,
second by Councilor Nieuwesteeg.

5359
04:22:24,750 --> 04:22:26,319
Any discussion to the motion?

5360
04:22:26,319 --> 04:22:27,750
Councilor Lococo?

5361
04:22:27,750 --> 04:22:29,217
- Not necessarily to the
motion, I'll vote for it.

5362
04:22:29,217 --> 04:22:32,287
I just had a couple of
final comments or questions.

5363
04:22:32,287 --> 04:22:33,120
- Okay.
- If that's okay.

5364
04:22:33,120 --> 04:22:34,920
Well, not questions now, just comments,

5365
04:22:34,920 --> 04:22:36,210
because we've already done the questions.

5366
04:22:36,210 --> 04:22:37,293
- Yep.
- Yeah.

5367
04:22:41,520 --> 04:22:45,810
- In the official plan, it
talks about vacancy rate,

5368
04:22:45,810 --> 04:22:49,050
looking at the vacancy
rate over three years

5369
04:22:49,050 --> 04:22:50,940
and it needs to be 3%.

5370
04:22:50,940 --> 04:22:52,050
I do have a concern.

5371
04:22:52,050 --> 04:22:56,790
I know it's a CMHC guideline
for the vacancy rate,

5372
04:22:56,790 --> 04:22:58,680
but what I've been hearing
from a lot of landlords

5373
04:22:58,680 --> 04:22:59,513
here in Niagara Falls is that

5374
04:22:59,513 --> 04:23:02,250
they don't want to rent
to long-term tenants.

5375
04:23:02,250 --> 04:23:05,850
They would rather leave
their building vacant.

5376
04:23:05,850 --> 04:23:08,580
And I'm afraid if the vacancy rate

5377
04:23:08,580 --> 04:23:11,550
is applied to a vacation rental unit,

5378
04:23:11,550 --> 04:23:14,760
whether another one can be added

5379
04:23:14,760 --> 04:23:19,110
or if it's going to be
removed, that's my concern.

5380
04:23:19,110 --> 04:23:21,870
So I don't know linking the vacancy rate

5381
04:23:21,870 --> 04:23:26,870
to adding more VRUs is,

5382
04:23:27,270 --> 04:23:28,290
if it's going to be accurate,

5383
04:23:28,290 --> 04:23:31,470
because I don't think the
vacancy rate is accurate.

5384
04:23:31,470 --> 04:23:33,030
And I know CMHC does it,

5385
04:23:33,030 --> 04:23:35,910
so I don't quite know how we would.

5386
04:23:35,910 --> 04:23:38,047
- [Jim] I don't know
who would address this.

5387
04:23:38,047 --> 04:23:38,880
Ms. Dolch?

5388
04:23:39,926 --> 04:23:40,830
- Thank you, Your Worship.

5389
04:23:40,830 --> 04:23:44,853
So the policies in the plan about these,

5390
04:23:46,290 --> 04:23:49,980
about the vacancy rate and
the vacation rental units,

5391
04:23:49,980 --> 04:23:52,260
we want to make sure there's
some kind of standard.

5392
04:23:52,260 --> 04:23:55,260
And if we don't use the vacancy rate,

5393
04:23:55,260 --> 04:23:57,934
the question is, what do we use?

5394
04:23:57,934 --> 04:23:59,790
And the vacancy rate is the only tool

5395
04:23:59,790 --> 04:24:01,980
that we have at this point in time

5396
04:24:01,980 --> 04:24:05,820
to determine whether or
not we should start to

5397
04:24:05,820 --> 04:24:09,600
allow these things to happen.

5398
04:24:09,600 --> 04:24:12,840
There's other provisions in there also,

5399
04:24:12,840 --> 04:24:17,303
but I think we need to make
sure we have some kind of basis.

5400
04:24:18,360 --> 04:24:21,420
If I take that out, there is no basis.

5401
04:24:21,420 --> 04:24:23,940
Vacancy rate can be 1%,

5402
04:24:23,940 --> 04:24:26,130
and they could come forward
and just meet the other policy.

5403
04:24:26,130 --> 04:24:28,950
So we want to make sure that they have

5404
04:24:28,950 --> 04:24:33,950
at least the minimum based on
that information from CMHC.

5405
04:24:34,050 --> 04:24:35,850
In terms of those residents

5406
04:24:35,850 --> 04:24:37,920
that may not rent it but have it,

5407
04:24:37,920 --> 04:24:39,870
we can't help that we
don't know who they are.

5408
04:24:39,870 --> 04:24:42,060
All we have is the information that we get

5409
04:24:42,060 --> 04:24:43,710
from CMHC at this point.

5410
04:24:43,710 --> 04:24:45,030
- Okay. Thank you.

5411
04:24:45,030 --> 04:24:46,329
I just have a concern about it,

5412
04:24:46,329 --> 04:24:47,700
and I don't know how
that's going to work out.

5413
04:24:47,700 --> 04:24:49,080
Okay.

5414
04:24:49,080 --> 04:24:52,320
We also talk about the
mineral aggregate resources

5415
04:24:52,320 --> 04:24:55,380
and there's a map of the resources.

5416
04:24:55,380 --> 04:24:57,180
I'm glad to see the map there,

5417
04:24:57,180 --> 04:24:59,940
and I spoke with Ms. Dolch about this.

5418
04:24:59,940 --> 04:25:01,860
There's resources all mapped out.

5419
04:25:01,860 --> 04:25:03,060
We know that they're there,

5420
04:25:03,060 --> 04:25:04,920
and I link this to Fernwood.

5421
04:25:04,920 --> 04:25:06,870
We knew that the resources were there,

5422
04:25:06,870 --> 04:25:08,580
but yet we built that anyway.

5423
04:25:08,580 --> 04:25:10,170
So when we're looking at this map,

5424
04:25:10,170 --> 04:25:12,960
I want to make sure that
we're extra diligent

5425
04:25:12,960 --> 04:25:15,150
that we're not building homes in an area

5426
04:25:15,150 --> 04:25:17,340
that there would be mineral extraction.

5427
04:25:17,340 --> 04:25:20,253
So I'm really glad to see that map there.

5428
04:25:24,840 --> 04:25:25,710
This was interesting.

5429
04:25:25,710 --> 04:25:28,170
So when I was reading this
about Queen Victoria Park,

5430
04:25:28,170 --> 04:25:29,670
and I know, Mr. Mayor, you brought up

5431
04:25:29,670 --> 04:25:31,560
saying that we weren't responsible.

5432
04:25:31,560 --> 04:25:34,080
There were things in here that I read

5433
04:25:34,080 --> 04:25:35,910
that I did feel responsible for.

5434
04:25:35,910 --> 04:25:37,020
I know that technically

5435
04:25:37,020 --> 04:25:38,670
we're not responsible to do anything,

5436
04:25:38,670 --> 04:25:40,320
but some of the wording that was in here

5437
04:25:40,320 --> 04:25:42,360
about Queen Victoria Park

5438
04:25:42,360 --> 04:25:45,870
to protection of the escarpment

5439
04:25:45,870 --> 04:25:47,520
and separating Queen Victoria Park

5440
04:25:47,520 --> 04:25:49,500
is significant natural features.

5441
04:25:49,500 --> 04:25:52,620
Establishing plans for
future harmony development

5442
04:25:52,620 --> 04:25:54,900
within and adjacent to the park

5443
04:25:54,900 --> 04:25:57,990
provide support for new
development within the park

5444
04:25:57,990 --> 04:25:59,850
on non-intrusive facilities

5445
04:25:59,850 --> 04:26:03,210
which interpret and/or
enhance the falls experience.

5446
04:26:03,210 --> 04:26:06,360
New buildings and
structures should complement

5447
04:26:06,360 --> 04:26:09,750
and not detract from open space
viewing, function, and park.

5448
04:26:09,750 --> 04:26:11,370
So when I read that, I asked Ms. Dolch,

5449
04:26:11,370 --> 04:26:13,050
was this added in after

5450
04:26:13,050 --> 04:26:14,880
the discussion about Queen Victoria Park?

5451
04:26:14,880 --> 04:26:16,890
And she said, "No, it's
been in the official plan."

5452
04:26:16,890 --> 04:26:18,060
So I found it interesting,

5453
04:26:18,060 --> 04:26:20,220
but I do feel responsible
that we could work

5454
04:26:20,220 --> 04:26:23,310
with the Niagara Parks Commission
to have those discussions.

5455
04:26:23,310 --> 04:26:27,270
So that was just a comment
that I wanted to state.

5456
04:26:27,270 --> 04:26:32,070
And then going back to
that environmental overlay,

5457
04:26:32,070 --> 04:26:34,080
we've talked about the other woodlands

5458
04:26:34,080 --> 04:26:35,520
and the other wetlands.

5459
04:26:35,520 --> 04:26:37,260
And I'm really happy that they're there.

5460
04:26:37,260 --> 04:26:39,120
I think we do need to protect it.

5461
04:26:39,120 --> 04:26:41,520
I want more to protect more.

5462
04:26:41,520 --> 04:26:43,080
I just don't want the minimum.

5463
04:26:43,080 --> 04:26:43,913
So that's great.

5464
04:26:43,913 --> 04:26:45,180
We're protecting our environment,

5465
04:26:45,180 --> 04:26:46,290
and those are all my comments.

5466
04:26:46,290 --> 04:26:48,510
Thank you.
- Thank you, Councilor.

5467
04:26:48,510 --> 04:26:49,743
Yes, Councilor Patel.

5468
04:26:51,330 --> 04:26:52,590
- I just have one comment.

5469
04:26:52,590 --> 04:26:54,000
Is it possible for us to see

5470
04:26:54,000 --> 04:26:57,360
the progress that has made
in a city over the years?

5471
04:26:57,360 --> 04:27:00,600
I'm sure official plan,
when the map comes out...

5472
04:27:00,600 --> 04:27:01,760
- Progress.
- Because I'm sure,

5473
04:27:01,760 --> 04:27:04,410
20 years ago, there were
lots more trees in the city,

5474
04:27:04,410 --> 04:27:05,550
then residents happen,

5475
04:27:05,550 --> 04:27:07,950
and maybe, 100 years ago,
there were trees everywhere,

5476
04:27:07,950 --> 04:27:11,400
and then even city hall
happened the same place.

5477
04:27:11,400 --> 04:27:13,200
Is there some way for us to see it,

5478
04:27:13,200 --> 04:27:14,910
the progress of the city?

5479
04:27:14,910 --> 04:27:15,870
- I'm sure we're planning.

5480
04:27:15,870 --> 04:27:17,120
Is that a yes. Ms. Dolch?

5481
04:27:19,380 --> 04:27:20,400
- Thank you, Your Worship.

5482
04:27:20,400 --> 04:27:22,590
So there's a couple resources there

5483
04:27:22,590 --> 04:27:25,170
in terms of tree canopy and
the changes over the years.

5484
04:27:25,170 --> 04:27:27,300
Obviously, there's air photos going back.

5485
04:27:27,300 --> 04:27:29,250
We have air photos across the whole city.

5486
04:27:29,250 --> 04:27:32,010
But in terms of progress,

5487
04:27:32,010 --> 04:27:33,390
and I'm going to take it more from

5488
04:27:33,390 --> 04:27:35,070
a development perspective too.

5489
04:27:35,070 --> 04:27:37,920
We are looking at, in planning,

5490
04:27:37,920 --> 04:27:40,560
showing all the things that have happened

5491
04:27:40,560 --> 04:27:43,380
and all the approvals and the
things that have been built.

5492
04:27:43,380 --> 04:27:45,880
So we're going to have kind
of a showcase coming out.

5493
04:27:46,950 --> 04:27:48,600
It's going to be definitely
after August 11th,

5494
04:27:48,600 --> 04:27:51,160
but we are working on that to kind of show

5495
04:27:52,920 --> 04:27:54,087
what you saw at council

5496
04:27:54,087 --> 04:27:57,150
and what was built kind of display.

5497
04:27:57,150 --> 04:27:58,320
So we are working on that.

5498
04:27:58,320 --> 04:28:00,420
But again, the tree canopy,

5499
04:28:00,420 --> 04:28:02,940
I know Mr. Nickel's group has done

5500
04:28:02,940 --> 04:28:04,380
quite a bit of work on the tree canopy,

5501
04:28:04,380 --> 04:28:07,470
but you can see from
the air photos progress

5502
04:28:07,470 --> 04:28:10,623
and something that will continue
to be monitored as we go.

5503
04:28:12,030 --> 04:28:13,229
- Okay. Thank you.

5504
04:28:13,229 --> 04:28:14,062
So what I'd like to do now.

5505
04:28:14,062 --> 04:28:15,960
So we call the vote first.

5506
04:28:15,960 --> 04:28:17,460
All those in favor?

5507
04:28:17,460 --> 04:28:18,600
Okay, unanimous.

5508
04:28:18,600 --> 04:28:22,410
And then Madam Clerk, you've
got a motion to bring forward

5509
04:28:22,410 --> 04:28:25,500
that Councilor Pietrangelo suggested.

5510
04:28:25,500 --> 04:28:27,600
- Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, through you.

5511
04:28:29,610 --> 04:28:32,400
Earlier this afternoon, evening,

5512
04:28:32,400 --> 04:28:34,780
Councilor Pietrangelo had requested that

5513
04:28:35,940 --> 04:28:39,090
the opportunity to have further education

5514
04:28:39,090 --> 04:28:41,550
provided by staff and consultants.

5515
04:28:41,550 --> 04:28:43,143
And as such,

5516
04:28:44,220 --> 04:28:47,370
because we haven't put
it yet onto the agenda,

5517
04:28:47,370 --> 04:28:50,910
my recommendations as
the clerk would be that

5518
04:28:50,910 --> 04:28:55,910
we do first proceed with a pass of the...

5519
04:28:55,920 --> 04:28:57,750
Sorry, a motion to-

5520
04:28:57,750 --> 04:28:59,040
- Waive.
- Thank you.

5521
04:28:59,040 --> 04:29:00,030
I'm sorry.

5522
04:29:00,030 --> 04:29:01,500
To waive the procedure bylaw.

5523
04:29:01,500 --> 04:29:02,760
We'll need a two thirds majority.

5524
04:29:02,760 --> 04:29:04,937
And then from there, I have scribed

5525
04:29:05,970 --> 04:29:07,740
the resolution to go in camera.

5526
04:29:07,740 --> 04:29:10,590
And then that way, it's
the August the 4th meeting,

5527
04:29:10,590 --> 04:29:13,116
we can just proceed as directed.

5528
04:29:13,116 --> 04:29:14,533
- Okay, so I need a motion.

5529
04:29:14,533 --> 04:29:15,703
Motion by Councilor Pietrangelo,

5530
04:29:15,703 --> 04:29:16,680
second by Councilor Nieuwesteeg

5531
04:29:16,680 --> 04:29:18,300
to waive the procedural bylaw.

5532
04:29:18,300 --> 04:29:19,860
All those in favor.

5533
04:29:19,860 --> 04:29:20,910
Okay, it's unanimous.

5534
04:29:20,910 --> 04:29:22,219
- To move the resolution.

5535
04:29:22,219 --> 04:29:23,400
- A motion by Councilor Pietrangelo,

5536
04:29:23,400 --> 04:29:24,630
second by Councilor Nieuwesteeg,

5537
04:29:24,630 --> 04:29:26,400
that we make a motion

5538
04:29:26,400 --> 04:29:29,160
to have a special
information council meeting

5539
04:29:29,160 --> 04:29:32,057
on the 4th of August.

5540
04:29:32,057 --> 04:29:33,270
- [Margaret] To commence at two o'clock.

5541
04:29:33,270 --> 04:29:34,860
- To commence at two o'clock.

5542
04:29:34,860 --> 04:29:35,693
- [Margaret] Yes. Thank you.

5543
04:29:35,693 --> 04:29:36,526
- Okay. We'll call that vote.

5544
04:29:36,526 --> 04:29:37,380
All those in favor?

5545
04:29:37,380 --> 04:29:38,580
That's unanimous.

5546
04:29:38,580 --> 04:29:39,930
- Thank you.
- Now the bylaws?

5547
04:29:39,930 --> 04:29:41,520
- [Margaret] Yes, correct.

5548
04:29:41,520 --> 04:29:42,353
First, second, third.
- First, second, third.

5549
04:29:42,353 --> 04:29:44,040
- Councilor Pietrangelo makes a motion

5550
04:29:44,040 --> 04:29:45,960
to give the bylaws the first,
second, and third reading,

5551
04:29:45,960 --> 04:29:48,930
seconded by Councilor Strange.

5552
04:29:48,930 --> 04:29:50,700
All those in favor?

5553
04:29:50,700 --> 04:29:51,864
Okay.

5554
04:29:51,864 --> 04:29:53,300
(Jim laughs)

5555
04:29:53,300 --> 04:29:54,307
The Oleo guys are happy.

5556
04:29:54,307 --> 04:29:55,620
"Let's get out of here."

5557
04:29:55,620 --> 04:29:57,180
Some other time.

5558
04:29:57,180 --> 04:29:59,270
What else? Is there anything else?

5559
04:29:59,270 --> 04:30:00,103
- [Margaret] Adjournment, please.

5560
04:30:00,103 --> 04:30:00,936
- Motion for adjournment.

5561
04:30:00,936 --> 04:30:01,769
Councilor Kerrio. (laughs)

5562
04:30:01,769 --> 04:30:03,420
I've never seen your hand move so fast.

5563
04:30:03,420 --> 04:30:05,250
Second by Councilor Baldinelli.

5564
04:30:05,250 --> 04:30:06,630
All those in favor?

5565
04:30:06,630 --> 04:30:08,550
We are concluded.

5566
04:30:08,550 --> 04:30:09,570
Thank you, everybody.

5567
04:30:09,570 --> 04:30:12,109
Thank you to our consultants.

5568
04:30:12,109 --> 04:30:13,738
4.3.2.

5569
04:30:13,738 --> 04:30:15,863
Thank you to Oleo sticking
it out to the end.