Agenda
[3:29]
Call to Order/Roll Call
[4:24]
Disclosure of Interest
[4:32]
Delegations
[5:55]
Mike Pettigrew, Partner, The Biglieri Group Ltd. and Sam Stone, Sal Stone, 9004807 Canada Inc. (Stonepay)
[2:00:44]
Planning & Development Reports
[3:43:11]
Director, City Development & CBO, Report PLN 16-25
[4:23:40]
Director, City Development & CBO, Report PLN 14-25
[2:02:05]
Director, City Development & CBO, Report PLN 15-25
[4:25:00]
Member Updates on Committees
[4:25:13]
Adjournment
Transcript
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[3:25]
Perfect. Thank you very much. Wonderful. Good evening, everyone. This
[3:32]
is the planning and development committee. For June the 9th,
[3:37]
2025. I am your chair this evening. I am regional
[3:41]
counselor Linda Cook. For the beautiful award two in the
[3:44]
city of Pickering this evening. I'm going to call. This
[3:47]
meeting to order. Madam clerk, if I could ask you
[3:49]
to take roll call, please. Thank you. Madam chair, I
[3:53]
can certify the attendance of all members of council save
[3:55]
and except for. Councilor. Naggy and all members present are
[3:58]
participating electronically. Thank you for that, Madam Clerk. Just for
[4:02]
a viewing audience at home. Councilor Naggy is not able
[4:05]
to join us this evening due to some personal family
[4:09]
issues. If you could all keep councilor Naggy and her
[4:13]
family in our thoughts. In your thoughts. That would be
[4:17]
greatly appreciated. And we do wish her family. Some comfort
[4:21]
this evening. And with that, I will move on to
[4:24]
the second order of business, which. Is disclosures of interest
[4:27]
from anyone on the committee. Seeing and hearing that, we
[4:31]
will move on. We are at the delegation portion of
[4:34]
our meeting. This evening and. I will just note for
[4:38]
those following along at home, we have quite an exhaustive
[4:41]
list. This evening. There are a number of delegations, so
[4:44]
we will be moving through them. As efficiently as we
[4:48]
can, allowing our delegations their allotted time, which is either
[4:53]
ten minutes for group delegation or five for those who
[4:55]
are solo. And then our committee will have opportunity to
[4:59]
ask. Questions. So with that, we have a group delegation.
[5:04]
I do have a point of order. I just like
[5:06]
to ask. Of you. Okay, go ahead, Councilor Brun. It
[5:12]
will be my intent following the delegations. To move, a
[5:16]
motion to alter the agenda to move forward. I believe
[5:20]
item 4.4 to the front of the agenda following delegations.
[5:25]
Okay, noted. I would ask you to just speak up
[5:28]
at the appropriate time at four point. In advance of
[5:33]
4.1 when we complete the delegations. To make sure that
[5:35]
you have your mover in your seconder to alter the
[5:39]
agenda. So thank you for that notice and I've made
[5:42]
a note. Thanks, Councilor Robinson. Thank you, madam Chair. Sorry
[5:47]
for interrupting. All good. No worries. We're going to be
[5:51]
fluid this evening since we have a number. So back
[5:54]
to what I was saying. Item 3.1 is a group
[5:58]
delegation. It is. From Mike Pedigrew, Sandstone and South Stone,
[6:04]
who are representing the big liare group. In respect to
[6:08]
report PLN 1425, which is a zoning bylaw amendment to.
[6:15]
Draft plan condominium CP 2024 five so I would oh,
[6:21]
and they have a presentation. I see that's already up
[6:22]
in regards to Palmer's sawmill road. So whoever is going
[6:27]
to be the lead delegate to speak, welcome to our
[6:29]
meeting. Mike and I guess you can take it away.
[6:33]
Thank you very much. Madam chair, members of council, and
[6:37]
to the public and staff that are here, Mike Pedigrew.
[6:40]
I am partner at the big Leary group, and we're
[6:43]
actually representing the other two. Gentlemen, the stone brothers, who
[6:46]
are part of the Stone pay development group. Who are
[6:51]
the owners and the official applicants? For this site. So,
[6:57]
as you mentioned, there are two applications. There is a
[6:59]
zoning bylaw amendment. And a draft plan of common element
[7:02]
condominium. And this is for the second phase of their
[7:07]
development. That is just to the west of Brock. And
[7:12]
on what is now the new road that's going through,
[7:14]
which is Palmer Sawmill. So if I could get the
[7:17]
next slide. So the subject lands are outlined in red.
[7:24]
Right. Immediately to the right or to the east is
[7:27]
the phase one, which consists of stack townhouses. And block
[7:31]
townhouses on a standard condominium. And I'll get to that
[7:35]
when? We speak to the condominium application. And to the
[7:38]
south is a public pond that will service these lands,
[7:42]
as well as future lands to the north. In phases
[7:45]
three and four. So the subject lands. On the west
[7:52]
side of phase one is a continuation of that same
[7:55]
development, mirroring a private road development. Instead of with stack
[8:01]
townhouses. We are now seeking permission for street townhouses, which
[8:06]
is slightly different because of the proposed condominium. Tenure, which
[8:11]
is a common element, or you may have heard them
[8:13]
as potles or parcels. Of tide land. It's a very
[8:17]
similar pattern with how. Going to be facing palmers Sawmill
[8:21]
Road with access to garages at the rear of the
[8:26]
property. Very similar to phase one. Using the existing and
[8:30]
you can see is the private road that splits these
[8:34]
two phases as the main point of access and a
[8:38]
second access off of tillings. Next slide, please. So in
[8:43]
the staff report, which I'm sure all members of the
[8:46]
committee here have read, The application that's before you. The
[8:52]
zoning bylaw. Has had regard for the neighborhood development guidelines
[8:58]
and conforms to the envision Durham and the Pickering official
[9:02]
plan, so obviously no amendments are being sought. There. And
[9:07]
it also is consistent and conforms to the provincial plans
[9:11]
and policies. So where it differs is the zoning bylaw
[9:16]
amendment. Originally, as part of the four phase development, there
[9:22]
was a draft plan of subdivision and a zoning bylaw
[9:25]
that was put together at that time. So we are
[9:29]
seeking an amendment to what was a site exception zoning
[9:33]
bylaw. And instead of stacks and block townhouses. The main
[9:38]
change here is to change the tenure type, and thus
[9:42]
it changes. The technical form for the zoning. So what
[9:47]
has been brought forward today has gone through a site
[9:51]
plan approval process. Has actually gone to the site plan
[9:54]
committee. And is nearly complete from a site plan perspective.
[10:00]
And then, through conversations with staff, this was the appropriate
[10:03]
time to bring forward both the condominium and the zoning
[10:06]
application. In order to solidify the right provisions to match
[10:11]
what staff have deemed acceptable in a site plan application.
[10:18]
And following this approval, if that were to be granted.
[10:22]
We would be working with staff to finalize and wrap
[10:24]
up the site plan approval process. Shortly thereafter. So, next
[10:29]
slide, please. So the difference between. A common element condominium
[10:37]
and a standard condominium is that. The future purchasers will
[10:42]
own the property beneath their townhouse outright, and they will
[10:47]
be sharing common elements which. Are private roads, private sidewalks.
[10:53]
It's very similar to a standard condominium. Typically, standard condominiums
[10:56]
are when you have stacked townhouses and you actually have
[10:59]
no land underneath your unit. You are sharing more than
[11:03]
just the common elements. You are actually sharing the. And
[11:06]
so because the type of unit, street, town has changed.
[11:11]
Thus we had to go forward with. A common element
[11:13]
condominium, and we are proposing 85 of those three story
[11:18]
townhouses. In terms of the other provisions of the zoning
[11:22]
bylaw, almost everything remains the same. We are maintaining the
[11:26]
same parking rates. There's two spaces per unit. One in
[11:30]
a garage, one in a driveway and there is. 0.2
[11:35]
spaces per unit for visitors, which is matching what was
[11:38]
there in the previous site. Exception. Zoning. In terms of
[11:42]
the lot frontages, lot areas, instead of the site being
[11:46]
viewed as one large block. They're now viewed as individual
[11:49]
townhouses, and so the zoning is now then changed. To
[11:52]
reflect that. But the townhouses that are being proposed are
[11:57]
similar in their size and nature to the block. Townhouses
[12:01]
that. Were in phase one. One of the other big
[12:06]
changes. Is a response to some questions from councilors from
[12:11]
phase one, which is relating to the air. Conditioner units.
[12:14]
And so, working with staff and with the counselor, councilor
[12:19]
Butt, I brought this. Up. We have now put the
[12:22]
air conditioner units on the ground level, and they're adequately
[12:25]
screened with the ornamental screening. And landscaping to hide those
[12:31]
as well. So those are now on the ground level.
[12:34]
And for the units that are facing Palmer sawmill. They
[12:36]
are on that palmer sawmill side. And thus it was
[12:40]
most appropriate to screen them for the other units. They
[12:43]
are also still on the ground level, which allows for
[12:46]
those units. Any balconies on the second or third. Floors.
[12:51]
To not have an air conditioner unit on that balcony,
[12:53]
which allows them to maximize that amenity. Area. So that
[12:57]
was in response to what we heard, and our clients
[13:00]
were happy to oblige that. So that's now reflected in
[13:04]
the current zoning bylaw. That's before you. Next slide, please.
[13:09]
So this is the plan? The individual units are shown
[13:14]
either in pink or in yellow, and that indicates. The
[13:18]
individual homeowner's property and then all the other areas of
[13:20]
the site that are whites. Within that sort of dashed
[13:24]
black boundary are all the shared items. So any of
[13:26]
the landscaping, the visitor parking, the sidewalks. The water meter
[13:32]
room. All of that around the edges of the site.
[13:36]
Is all part of the common elements. And to the
[13:38]
right hand side is the existing private row. Which they
[13:41]
also share for access. And then you can see in
[13:44]
the top left, the access that goes out. To Palmer
[13:48]
Sawmill Road, which in the ultimate alignment with tillings. Will
[13:52]
be revised for that intersection. But that's where the third
[13:56]
access is for the site. Next slide, please. There were
[14:01]
also a few questions that councilors brought up at our
[14:04]
public meeting on March 3. One of them was from
[14:11]
an email. That the staff had received from the Mississaugas
[14:14]
of Scogog Island, First Nation. Requesting that any wood lots,
[14:20]
wetlands and other features that are proposed to be cleared.
[14:25]
Be fully compensated. We did address this at that public
[14:29]
meeting. And I just want to again reiterate, because it's
[14:31]
in the dashboard as well, is that this application is
[14:34]
not seeking to do anything. Within those valley lands. In
[14:38]
fact, that was all dealt with at the draft plan
[14:40]
stage and through this application. We're actually implementing the compensation
[14:44]
and edge management plans that were already approved at. That
[14:48]
time. And staff from the city reached out. To the
[14:52]
Mississaugas, and they agreed that they are satisfied now with
[14:56]
that response and they understand that that has been taken
[15:00]
into account with the draft plan. I've already mentioned as
[15:04]
well the air conditioner units. On a slide that's coming
[15:07]
up. I'll show you what a rendering looks like. Of
[15:10]
the screening and landscaping that we're proposing. But based on
[15:14]
those changes, staff have reviewed those and they are satisfied.
[15:19]
And there was also a question about the future intersection
[15:22]
at Brock Road and Palmer Sawmill and when that would
[15:24]
be upgraded. The region has responded as determined that based
[15:28]
on this application, which actually has slightly fewer units than
[15:33]
what was proposed in the original plans when there were
[15:35]
stack townhouses. They determined that this is not the appropriate
[15:38]
time for the signal upgrades at Palmer Sawmill and Brock.
[15:43]
Road. And so. The region's determination is that that was
[15:47]
not warranted at this time. Other than that, at that
[15:52]
public meeting, there were no public delegates that came out
[15:55]
to speak on behalf of residents in the area. And
[16:01]
so there were no additional comments there to address. And
[16:04]
since that application and circulation, there's been no other department
[16:09]
or agency comments that have any concerns with council approving
[16:14]
our planning committee proving this zoning bylaw application tonight. So
[16:19]
next. Slide, please. And Mr. Pedigrew, I just need to
[16:24]
let you know you are at time. If I could
[16:26]
ask you to wrap up. I know you wanted to
[16:28]
show councilor about where that screen would go. So if
[16:31]
you could do so, that would be terrific. And we
[16:33]
can handle the rest within questions from the committee. That's
[16:36]
it right here. So this is the screening and the
[16:38]
landscaping. Thank you. Chair. Cook. This is the example. And
[16:45]
we can bring this back up through questions. If there
[16:47]
are any other than that, I want. To say that
[16:50]
we and our clients have reviewed the staff report and
[16:53]
the recommendations. We agree and we support the recommendation for
[16:57]
approval tonight, and I'm happy to answer any questions that
[17:00]
you may have. And thank you. And I see councilor
[17:05]
Butt had his hand up first, so I will start.
[17:07]
A list, councilor butt. Thank you, chair cook. Questions. Mike.
[17:14]
Mike. On the map currently, I didn't see any green
[17:19]
space or park area. Now, I know there was between
[17:23]
the discussion between phase one and two, maybe could you
[17:26]
point out. On the map. Where? How in the green
[17:30]
space is. Certainly. Maybe if slide two could be brought
[17:34]
up again. If that's councilor's wish. Okay.
[17:48]
So the fold development. Thank you very much. So the
[17:51]
full development spans between four seasons on the right hand
[17:56]
side and tillings, and it goes up to the hydro
[17:59]
corridor, which. Is that area by the wood lot to
[18:02]
the north. And I apologize, because I can't. Point on
[18:04]
the screen. But at the very top of the page
[18:07]
and about the center there is a village green that
[18:10]
will be a public park that was secured as part
[18:13]
of the draft plan approval. And from what I understand.
[18:18]
That's going out to tender right now for construction. And
[18:21]
so hopefully that will be constructed in the near future.
[18:25]
But that park right there. Was the full 5% of
[18:29]
the required land at that time of the draft plan.
[18:33]
And that's going to be going forward. Within. The actual.
[18:38]
Phase two lands. There are pedestrian muse, which are just
[18:44]
pedestrian walkways with landscaping and seating on the sides that
[18:47]
are actually running through the center of the site, very
[18:50]
similar to what you see in phase one. And then
[18:53]
there is going to be landscape areas around where. The
[18:56]
visitor parking is on the caps of these private roads,
[19:00]
and so there'll be additional landscaping there and then all
[19:04]
along the south and west end of the site, adjacent
[19:07]
to that large valley area and wooded area. That's where
[19:11]
that edge management and edge enhancement will be with additional
[19:15]
landscaping. It's quite significantly sloped as you get towards that
[19:20]
value, as you can imagine. So. There will be some
[19:23]
retaining walls that are going to be put into that
[19:24]
space as well, but that will be maintained by the.
[19:28]
Mike, the other question I had was apparently the switch
[19:31]
from the back townhouses to street townhouses. Has the numbers
[19:37]
increase or decreased? Would that change? The number of units
[19:41]
overall has decreased. Because the stack townhouses, obviously, number of
[19:46]
units that you can have when you put one or
[19:48]
two on top. So it has dramatically dropped from the
[19:54]
original application. To this application tier now. In terms of
[20:00]
the original zoning bylaw, it contemplated a number of traditional
[20:04]
towns as it was called throughout the entire development, and
[20:08]
we're now just by this phase alone, far exceeding that.
[20:11]
Minimum requirement of traditional town, so it's greeting a much
[20:14]
larger and greater mix of housing. Types, which we thought
[20:18]
was important as well. That's great. And I'm actually happy
[20:21]
that. You have made some changes in order to reflect
[20:25]
the air condition to be out in the exteriors. And
[20:28]
I think with many residents in the phase one feedback
[20:31]
that came up to me and constraint pickles. And that's
[20:34]
very welcoming news. Thank you so much for your presentation,
[20:37]
Mike. Thank you. Thank you, Bennett. You are very welcome.
[20:43]
Councilor pickles. Yes. I thought I did see your hand
[20:45]
up. Okay, you are next. Thank you. Thank you, madam
[20:49]
Chair. Thanks for the presentation, Mike. At the end of
[20:55]
your answer to councilor Butt's concerns, you mentioned. A retaining
[21:02]
wall and I think a few other. Elements there. So
[21:06]
are those going to be common elements or. Those private
[21:10]
property elements. And maybe you could just go over what
[21:15]
the common elements are again. Certainly. So, through the chair.
[21:22]
The retaining walls that are going to be proposed. Along
[21:25]
the edge of the development towards the valley. Those will
[21:29]
be maintained by the condominium. And so the wall itself
[21:33]
and any of the landscaping that's around them will be
[21:36]
also maintained by the condominium. And so the difference between
[21:41]
common elements and these potles, these parcels of tide land,
[21:44]
which are basically a person's individual lot. Whatever is their
[21:49]
individual property, which we saw in that figure that had
[21:52]
the pink and the yellow. Indication of the different lots.
[21:56]
Outside of those, those are the common elements. So any
[22:00]
sidewalks, the private sidewalks going through development adjacent to the
[22:04]
private roads, any of the landscaping? That is on the
[22:08]
pedestrian muse, any of the visitor parking areas, any of
[22:12]
the edge management, any of the vegetation, the retaining walls,
[22:16]
that sort of infrastructure that's along the edge, those are.
[22:18]
All common elements. As well as a common water meter
[22:22]
room, which is located adjacent to the first block near
[22:26]
Palmer. Sawmill. Those are all part of these common elements.
[22:31]
Common elements. Which is similar to phase one. Standard condos
[22:36]
have common elements as well. So when you're there and
[22:39]
visiting the site, It will look and feel very similar.
[22:44]
From that perspective, it's only almost technicality on paper that
[22:47]
you will see a difference. And there'll be a super
[22:49]
mailbox there, I assume. There are. So there's actually two
[22:53]
different locations where we've located. So just to spread it
[22:57]
out so it's not in one spot. We have a
[22:59]
couple of locations for the mailboxes near visitor parking areas.
[23:04]
Okay. And just with respect to the signalization, that Palmer
[23:08]
Sawmill and Brock Road, it's. An item. Myself and councilor
[23:12]
butt have brought up many times that it's necessary there's.
[23:15]
Been a number of accidents at that intersection. But I
[23:18]
think now. With the tolls being removed east of Brock
[23:22]
Road, we're seeing a lot more traffic. On Rock Road.
[23:27]
And. Your principles and the future residents may appreciate. Having
[23:33]
signalization there, so it's something that I'm going to. Be.
[23:38]
Continuing to pursue with the region, but thank you. Excellent.
[23:43]
Thank you, council. Anyone else? Questions of the delegate? If
[23:50]
not. I thank you, Mike, for representing your delegation. And.
[23:57]
We will. Address your item when it hits the floor.
[24:00]
Item 4.3. So we are moving on to item 3.2.
[24:04]
Thank you. Which is another group? Delegation, this is Adam
[24:08]
Layton, who's associate principal for the Goldberg Group and Will
[24:12]
Maria, transportation planning lead for GHD. This is in reference
[24:17]
to 720. Granite court, which is item 4.4 on the
[24:22]
agenda. Report number PLN 1525. Good. Evening, gentlemen. And as
[24:27]
this is a group delegation, you also do have ten
[24:30]
minutes as well, so. You may proceed. Thank you, madam
[24:34]
Chair. Hopefully I'm coming through loud and clear. Perfect. Excellent.
[24:39]
So thank you for the introductions. As noted, we are
[24:41]
here tonight to discuss the application at 720. Granite court.
[24:45]
I do apologize. I noted a typo on the cover
[24:48]
slide, so I have sent the corrected version to Andy,
[24:50]
which hopefully can be reflected in the final agenda package.
[24:55]
But in any event. We are very happy to be
[24:57]
here tonight. To discuss a recommendation for approval by staff
[25:03]
for the proposed development of this property. Just actually two
[25:06]
years plus one day since we made this initial submission.
[25:10]
In June 2023. Moving to the next slide. I'll re
[25:15]
familiarize council with. The context of the subject site, so
[25:19]
it is within a local node at the northwest corner
[25:21]
of the intersection of granite Court and Whites Road. The
[25:25]
rail corridor does cross the property to the north. And
[25:29]
west. Creating a triangular shaped parcel on the west side
[25:33]
of the rail corridor or employment lands Whites Road itself
[25:36]
to Bailey is an artsier road and a high frequency
[25:41]
transit route. And then to the southwest and east. Are
[25:46]
additional low density residential areas. Moving to the next slide.
[25:51]
We can see. The site statistics comparing the initial proposal
[25:56]
from 2023 to the revised proposal before you tonight. Again.
[26:00]
We've had. A robust public consultation process. Including. Two community
[26:06]
meetings, as well as one public meeting, which you may
[26:09]
recall from November 2023. And before you tonight is a
[26:14]
revised proposal which has reduced the overall height of the
[26:18]
development from twelve stories down to ten has reduced the
[26:22]
overall unit count from 262 down to 252s or reduction
[26:27]
of ten units. A reconfiguration of the unit mix to
[26:32]
provide a greater proportion of larger units. And some minor
[26:36]
amendments to the site plan with respect to the layout
[26:38]
of amenity areas. And no change to the FSI, which
[26:43]
is still consistent with the official plan at 1.7 FSI
[26:47]
but are a corresponding reduction in the units per hectare
[26:49]
measure. At just under 213 units per hectare, and then
[26:54]
parking and bike parking. Are generally remain generally the same.
[27:01]
On the next slide you'll see a comparison of the
[27:05]
initial proposal. On the left side of the screen. And
[27:09]
the revised proposal. Again, the layout of the building, the
[27:13]
access. From granite court, which is separated from the intersection
[27:18]
by about 74 meters, remains largely consistent. There has been
[27:23]
some reconfiguration of amenity, spaces and whatnot in order to
[27:27]
reduce the height. We've elongated the development along Whites Road
[27:31]
and that's probably best shown. On the next slide, which
[27:33]
is a rendered land. Landscape plan showing the relationship of
[27:36]
the ground floor. In this instance, north would be to
[27:39]
the right. Side of the page. So if you tilt
[27:41]
your head, you'd get the same sort of view as
[27:44]
on the prior slide and this shows the anticipated public
[27:47]
realm treatment along Whites Road and granite court, the location
[27:51]
of the driveway, the proposed plantings and amenity space layout
[27:54]
as well as the. Relationship to the ground floor, as
[27:57]
noted in the staff report, which, again, I do thank
[27:59]
staff for. Being extremely thorough. In their description of the
[28:02]
proposal. What we had previously contemplated as a privately owned,
[28:07]
publicly accessible space, or pop space along the granite road
[28:11]
frontage we heard loud and clear that there were some
[28:13]
concerns about the appropriateness of that programming. So we removed
[28:17]
that and are just contemplating it more as sort of
[28:19]
a passive outdoor landscaped area, the orange areas that are
[28:23]
highlighted. On the building are residential use areas, and that
[28:27]
includes outdoor terraces facing the public realm. We have yellow
[28:31]
area, which I'll get to on the next slide, and
[28:33]
then the blue area is. Your loading and back of
[28:36]
house operations. Moving on to the next slide. Is one
[28:41]
other addition. We've included some non residential floor area into
[28:45]
the building, so we've got about 81 m² or just
[28:48]
under about 1000 sqft. Of non residential floor area, which
[28:55]
we've included appropriate permissions for in the draft zoning bylaw
[28:58]
that could be locally oriented. Retail, day nursery, something of
[29:02]
that nature. Obviously, we're just trying to establish flexibility at
[29:07]
this point. And then moving on to the next slide,
[29:10]
I think is one of the primary issues that people
[29:13]
raised during the consultation. So this is an aerial view
[29:18]
of the existing intersection. We've done significant analysis of the
[29:23]
traffic intersection operations. If there's questions, Mr. Maria who's the
[29:27]
transportation lead at GHD, who wrote the transportation impact study
[29:31]
with his colleagues. Can go into more detail than I,
[29:33]
but I'll just summarize it at a high level. One
[29:36]
of the main concerns, obviously, is the backing up of
[29:39]
traffic. At the peak hours. During the afternoon rush hour.
[29:46]
More than anything. For people leaving the employment area. We
[29:50]
actually had GHD set up some cameras to. Get continuous
[29:54]
monitoring and live stream feeds of the traffic operations to
[29:59]
be able to fully vet the situation, and what it
[30:02]
determined was that there might be a potential to convert.
[30:06]
The intersection operations. To a dual northbound left turn. So
[30:13]
the existing northbound left would remain, and then the through
[30:15]
lane, or at least what is currently a through lane
[30:18]
could be converted to allow through left and right turns,
[30:22]
and in doing so, as described in the staff report
[30:25]
quite succinctly, we would hopefully see a significant reduction in
[30:30]
the queuing length along granite court. This has been passed
[30:34]
by and analyzed by a region of Durham staff as
[30:37]
well as city staff. And they have advised that. It
[30:41]
can be successfully implemented through the proposed development. I'll move
[30:46]
on to the next slide. I'm assuming if there are
[30:48]
questions, we. Can ask Ms. Maria once I've through the
[30:50]
slide deck. This is just an updated rendered view showing.
[30:55]
The proposed development in situ. This is looking northwest from
[30:58]
the southeast corner of the intersection of Whites Road and
[31:01]
Granite Court. You'll see some of the built form changes
[31:04]
that we've implemented, including the reduced height, the location of
[31:08]
entrances and the new sidewalks. The long granite court in
[31:10]
Whites Road. The building steps as one increases in height
[31:15]
in order to provide. An appropriate transition. And then on
[31:17]
the following slides, we just have the angular plane drawings,
[31:20]
which are provided in the staff report as well, but
[31:23]
I think do serve. Sorry, I got one ahead. We
[31:27]
do have some alternative views not rendered, but these are
[31:30]
very just showing details of the proposed building. Massing, which
[31:34]
obviously will be further detailed through the. Site plan process
[31:37]
the view on the right looking from granted court the
[31:39]
view on the vice versa. Left from Granite court, right
[31:43]
from Whites Road, and then on the following slides, we
[31:46]
have the angular plane images showing, if you may recall,
[31:50]
at the twelve stories, there was a slight encroachment of
[31:52]
the angular plane through mechanical pentos, obviously by dropping two.
[31:56]
Stories. We are now significantly below the projected angular plane,
[32:00]
which is that red dash line. So this is the
[32:02]
view that would be looking up white's road or the
[32:05]
east angular plane and then the next slide shows the
[32:08]
southern angular plane. From granite court. That concludes my presentation.
[32:14]
I'm happy to answer any questions. And again, I do
[32:17]
thank staff and councilor for the opportunity to work together
[32:22]
on this project for the robust community consultation and for
[32:27]
the opportunity to speak here tonight. Thank you very much,
[32:31]
Mr. Layton. We will certainly take questions now from committee.
[32:37]
I can start a list. Mr. Pickles, you are first.
[32:41]
Go ahead, councilor. Thank you, madam Chair. The dual turn
[32:48]
lane, the dual left hand turn lane going east on
[32:52]
Bailey north onto Whites Road. You mentioned would alleviate some
[32:57]
traffic, but. In the second lane, which. Would be the
[33:03]
left turn through lane or right turn lane if there
[33:07]
was one car waiting to go through the throughling. That
[33:11]
would impede other cars from using that as a left
[33:15]
hand. Turn lane, would it not? Well, the left would
[33:18]
only occur on a green light, at which point. The
[33:20]
through lane could that car would clear? The through lane
[33:23]
by just going through the green light and the left
[33:24]
could continue. Okay. All right, so I see how that
[33:29]
works. Retail. You're proposing. I think you said 1000 think
[33:37]
you said. In. 81 m², slightly less than 1000 sqft.
[33:45]
You suggested it would be something like a daycare. Would
[33:48]
it be something like. Could it be. Something like a
[33:51]
convenience store. Certainly. I'm just pulling up the zoning bylaw
[33:55]
to see exactly what uses we've. Permitted. But what we
[33:59]
have contemplated, in addition to the apartment, dwellings, animal care
[34:03]
establishment, art gallery, and studio convenience store dry cleaning distribution
[34:07]
center financial institution office personal service shop restaurant veterinary clinic
[34:13]
so. Those sort of compatible non residential uses that could
[34:17]
coexist harmoniously at grade in an apartment building. Okay, that's
[34:21]
there. Any questions? I add. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you
[34:24]
very much. Councilor pickles. Councilor butt. Thank you. My question
[34:28]
was in terms of parking ratios. I'm not sure if
[34:32]
you addressed that, could you address the parking ratios do
[34:35]
you have in your complex? Certainly. If we could pull
[34:38]
up, I. Believe it was slide three. Statistics we are
[34:43]
consistent with. The city's comprehensive zoning bylaw. We're providing about
[34:50]
one. Point. A blended 1.6 basis per unit. Or about
[34:56]
1.35 for residential and just under zero point 26 for
[35:01]
visitor. In fact, there's a slight oversupply. I see. Like
[35:06]
Bachelor A, for example, 3.1 percentage and then one bedroom,
[35:12]
68%. Sorry, council, I believe you're looking at the prior
[35:17]
proposal. The revised proposal, which would be. To the right.
[35:20]
Oh, yes, that's right. That's what I was going to
[35:22]
say. So that's much better now. So obviously. At one
[35:27]
bedroom 103. So it's gone down now? Yes. We've readjusted
[35:33]
the unit mix so that there was a larger proportion.
[35:37]
Of larger units, so. We've introduced some three bedroom units.
[35:42]
There's almost 5% of those. And then obviously skewed more
[35:46]
towards the one bedroom plus den, two bedroom and two
[35:48]
bedroom plus dense. What about amenities? What kind of amenities
[35:52]
are you offering? So, at grade currently, maybe if we
[35:56]
go. To. What page is it? Slide. Five. We're providing
[36:03]
both programmed and unprogrammed spaces, so if you zoom in,
[36:06]
maybe. Towards. The right side of the page or on
[36:08]
the north side of the building. While this does need
[36:10]
to still go through the site plan process. We're contemplating
[36:14]
that there would be a variety of outdoor areas. We've
[36:17]
contemplated some community gardens. A dedicated kids play area, or
[36:21]
what we call a tot lot. Some passive seating. And
[36:25]
then as well, on the far west side of the
[36:28]
site is a large unprogrammed area, which we foresee leaving
[36:32]
in more of a passive landscape sawted area that could
[36:36]
be used for a variety of purposes. And that's. Sorry.
[36:40]
In addition to the interior amenity spaces, which are also
[36:43]
provided, so. The green areas that I see. Is that
[36:46]
a planted tree areas? It's a bit of both. So
[36:52]
perhaps. Are you looking at the north side of the
[36:55]
building or the west? The north side. Of the building,
[36:57]
north side of the building. So there is the more
[37:00]
active use areas. Which. Sorry. If we could go to
[37:03]
the. Whoever's controlling the screen, I think you need. To
[37:06]
go. One slide prior. Yes. So you'll see it here.
[37:10]
There is an area that's enclosed by a noise barrier,
[37:14]
which would be the more active areas, which would consist
[37:17]
of seating areas, community gardens, the taut lots, dog off
[37:21]
leash, play areas, things of that nature, and then the
[37:24]
rest of the site. Where it's shown in green. Would
[37:29]
just be left sided or unprogrammed for. More wider variety
[37:35]
of uses. Okay. That's all the questions I had. Thank
[37:40]
you. Thank you, madam Chair. You are very welcome, councilor,
[37:45]
but I'm not seeing any additional hands from council, so.
[37:49]
I thank you very much, Mr. Layton, for your delegation
[37:52]
and. We will get to this particular item and do
[37:56]
the course. Thank you, madam Chair. You're very welcome. 3.3
[38:01]
is Pickering resident Mr. Craig Bamford, who will be speaking
[38:04]
on Report Pln. 1625, which is item 4.2 on the
[38:09]
agenda, which is a project update and completed growth management
[38:13]
strategy. Welcome, Mr. Bamford, back to our chambers, virtual though
[38:18]
they are, and you will have five minutes for your
[38:20]
delegation. Thank you. Thank you. My presentation is titled five
[38:26]
ways to make homes more affordable. And pickering, tonight, I
[38:30]
would like to introduce you to the work of the.
[38:38]
Alliance for Livable Ontario, a multidiscipline group of interested Ontario
[38:43]
residents and volunteers who came together to research best practices
[38:48]
for creating affordable housing in Ontario. The report advisors included
[38:53]
recognizable names like Anne Golden, David Cromby, Greg saber. Sabera
[38:59]
from the building industry, Tim Gray from environmental defense and
[39:03]
many others. The report has also been endorsed by planners,
[39:07]
including former Toronto planning chief Jennifer Keysmat. Other professional planners,
[39:13]
including a gentleman from the region of Durham who headed
[39:16]
up their planning department, Victor Doyle, who has well been
[39:20]
on to all of us and a number. Of environmental,
[39:23]
agricultural and community groups. During the recent provincial election campaign.
[39:30]
The report was packaged up and each provincial party was
[39:33]
asked to endorse the report. Which was titled for that
[39:38]
purpose. And five ways home. And each of the leaders
[39:43]
of the Liberal NDP and Green parties endorsed the report.
[39:48]
I'd be happy to provide their letters to you. Andy.
[39:54]
Thank you for arranging to show the introductory video titled.
[40:00]
Five ways to make homeless more affordable. You probably know
[40:10]
someone who can't find a home they can afford. It
[40:17]
wasn't always like this. And while we can argue and
[40:19]
debate about what happened and didn't happen. Talking won't make
[40:24]
affordable homes happen. So a bunch of us got together
[40:28]
and found five. Ways that will. Number one. Gutting farmland
[40:32]
and nature to build McMansions in places where you need
[40:36]
two cars and have to install expensive infrastructure is not
[40:40]
the answer. We need to build in the right places,
[40:44]
affordable livable neighborhoods where people already live and want to
[40:48]
live, and we already have enough ready to build room.
[40:52]
Inside our towns and cities to do it. Number two,
[40:56]
while everyone needs something different and affordable, too. Many of
[41:01]
these are being built. We need to build a wide
[41:04]
variety of housing types, low rise. Mid rise, not for
[41:08]
profit, multi unit, multifamily, multibedroom. A multiplex of more affordable,
[41:14]
appropriate options for every stage of life. Number three. The
[41:20]
way most homes are built and the laws around building
[41:23]
them are not built for affordability. Or speed. We need
[41:27]
to build smarter and faster, like more wood frame and
[41:31]
prefab panel. Homes and updating old rules like high rises
[41:35]
needing parking for everyone. We can cut costs and time.
[41:40]
With faster and smarter rules, approvals and building methods. Number
[41:46]
four. For decades, our government's built and operated affordable nonmarket
[41:51]
housing. Then affordable housing stopped going. Up, but rents didn't.
[41:58]
We need to invest heavily in non market, affordable housing.
[42:03]
And we is our governments builders will build it coops
[42:07]
and other groups will run it, but. Our governments must
[42:10]
invest in it because almost no one else is. Number
[42:14]
five, we can't. Be hurrying like mad to approve and
[42:18]
demolish and build without stopping to think about neighborhoods. We.
[42:23]
Need to make housing not just affordable, but part of
[42:27]
livable communities. Affordable deans building in the right places, building
[42:32]
smarter and faster, and building more choices and more non
[42:37]
market homes. While livable means building neighborhoods, close convenient communities
[42:44]
that bring everything we need together, including each other. These
[42:49]
are our five ways to affordability. But there's actually one
[42:53]
more. We need everyone, governments, the private sector and nonprofit
[42:59]
housing providers, to work together to fix this and we
[43:03]
need you to tell your MPp that they've got five
[43:07]
things to do to help everyone have an affordable, livable
[43:11]
home. Now. Learn all that you can do at five
[43:16]
wayshome, Ca. At this point.
[43:27]
We're at a crossroads. Sell. Houses are not selling in
[43:31]
Seaton. We're not sure what the market is for. Housing
[43:35]
and intensification in the downtown core. I think we really
[43:41]
need to get everybody in one room. They mentioned various
[43:46]
types of new construction methods. What happens if you put
[43:50]
those. Construction methods in that some of the neighborhoods that
[43:54]
haven't been started in the Satan area. What would the
[43:57]
numbers be in the watch and report? I'm sorry to
[44:00]
interrupt you, but you are at your five minutes, so
[44:02]
I'm. Going to give you a little latitude with an
[44:04]
extra 30 seconds to wrap up, and then there may
[44:07]
be some questions from committee. I really do think that
[44:12]
we should not race ahead with the official plan process
[44:17]
as is requested. Effectively, if you look at your motion,
[44:20]
they're asking you to endorse. The development in northeast Pickering?
[44:27]
I don't think that's the answer. I don't. Think that's
[44:30]
the least affordable housing. I would request that you have
[44:38]
a 7th public information session that focuses on. The business
[44:44]
community and. An 8th. Public information report at which the
[44:50]
Watson report was published. Was discussed and questions and answers
[44:55]
were presented and answered by the consultants. Thank you. You're
[44:59]
welcome, Mr. Bamford. Questions from the committee. Thank you. Thank
[45:04]
you, Mr. Bamford, for coming back. Interesting video. I quite
[45:10]
enjoyed that, actually. Thanks for coming in tonight. We're going
[45:14]
to move on to our next delegation, which is also
[45:16]
a group delegation. It is item 3.4. The group is
[45:21]
Nick and Elise Zamora who are presenting on behalf of
[45:26]
Greenwood community association as Pickering residents. On PLN 1325, which
[45:32]
is also the Northeast Pickering secondary plan. Good evening. Good
[45:37]
evening. How are you? Oh, there we go. We got
[45:41]
your presentation up, and you do have ten minutes to
[45:44]
delegate together. You might go ahead. Thank you. And we
[45:47]
also are delegating on, I think it's, 4.4 as well.
[45:52]
We can jam it all together if you like. Yeah.
[45:55]
Awesome. Thank you. You bet. So, thank you. Very much
[45:58]
for giving us the time to speak with you again.
[46:00]
We are here about a year. Ago. And just wanted
[46:04]
to start with a statement. And somebody once said, once
[46:08]
upon a time, there was a hamlet called Greenwood. But
[46:13]
this is something we don't want to hear. And we're
[46:16]
hoping we're here today to talk about. Some recommendations that
[46:21]
we hope will make sure that we don't hear that
[46:23]
statement ever. So. It was about a year ago that
[46:28]
we came to this group and we spoke about collaborating
[46:31]
and engagement, and we're going to bring you an update
[46:35]
on how that's gone, so. Far from a perspective of
[46:37]
northeast pickering and from a perspective. Of Greenwood. The Greenwood
[46:43]
community. So first off, you can go to the next
[46:46]
slide, please. Growth should be balanced and for the better.
[46:53]
We are committed as a community and we've been active
[46:56]
in the Pickering official plan. At the public information. Engagement
[47:03]
events. And in fact, I found them extremely informative and
[47:10]
really appreciating meeting other residents. Of pickering and their input.
[47:15]
When we were here a year ago, we advocated for
[47:17]
growth that was sustainable, that it was affordable. For taxpayers.
[47:21]
That we learned from past projects, that we learned from
[47:24]
experts, that we take advantage of the gifts that Pickering
[47:27]
has a natural and cultural heritage that we sustain. A
[47:33]
balanced rural and urban lifestyle for current and future generations
[47:39]
and that we are going to support. The existing but
[47:42]
strained agricultural industry, hopefully, so that it is not so
[47:46]
strained. We also believe that the northeast Pickering lands should
[47:51]
stay agricultural, that that is an industry, that is worth
[47:56]
growing, and there can be some very creative ways of
[47:59]
doing that. But we also believe there is really no
[48:02]
credible business case, and not one that we've seen yet
[48:04]
to further expand. Land designation for development that would include
[48:09]
northeast Pickering. And finally, we presented a vision that where
[48:14]
Greenwood could play a role as Pickering's natural and cultural
[48:18]
heritage hub. And at least do you want to kind
[48:22]
of provide a bit of an update from the next
[48:24]
slide for sure. There we go. Sorry. So, despite significant
[48:32]
public feedback, The secondary plan for northeast Pickering is still
[48:36]
being pushed forward without a sound business case and without
[48:39]
community support. Let's be precise about what's happening. There's no
[48:43]
financial analysis, nothing showing. Whether Pickering can even afford this.
[48:47]
The entire plan is built upon a developer led vision.
[48:51]
Bild scenario two a, not one. Guided by urban planning's
[48:56]
best practices or public interest, it assumes we must urbanize
[49:00]
northeast, pickering, to meet pop. Population targets, but that's not
[49:03]
accurate. In fact, Pickering's own housing strategy says the opposite.
[49:07]
Let me quote directly. There is sufficient capacity within existing
[49:11]
designated greenfield areas and the built up area of Pickering
[49:15]
to meet the city's population and housing needs to 2051.
[49:20]
Without requiring the urbanization of northeast Pickering land that's from
[49:24]
the city's housing strategy and action plan 2021 to 2031
[49:28]
on page three. So the idea that northeast Pickering must
[49:33]
be developed, it isn't supported by evidence. It's. A myth,
[49:36]
and it's not in the data, and it's not in
[49:38]
our collective interests. What the plan actually does is push
[49:41]
35% to 60% of Pickering's growth into the greenfield zone.
[49:46]
That would more than double the city's size in 25
[49:49]
years. In a place without. Any preexisting infrastructure to support
[49:53]
it and the cost, our natural and cultural heritage erased.
[49:57]
Are groundwater, drinking water and flood mitigation put at risk,
[50:01]
our wildlife and ecosystems destroyed or pushed into conflict with
[50:04]
humans and our class one farmland bulldozed for warehouses filled
[50:09]
with robots. Or high. Turnover rate jobs. And once these
[50:13]
lands are gone, future generations can't get them back. Next
[50:18]
slide, please. So I threw up a couple of quotes,
[50:21]
and hopefully the mayor recognizes these quotes. We're looking for
[50:28]
true engagement. And these quotes indicate, obviously, that's everybody around
[50:34]
here, everybody who's on this call. In this meeting, and
[50:38]
I want to really emphasize some of the keywords. Building
[50:41]
connections, sharing knowledge. And all in the favor of contributing
[50:47]
to the city's success. Which is clearly a goal of
[50:51]
the current official plan. And I particularly like. The quote
[50:56]
around ratepayers associations that the residents get a chance to
[51:00]
collaborate with its neighbors. Discuss local opportunities and challenges for
[51:06]
the community. And all for the sake of let's build.
[51:09]
A better future. For us. The Greenwood has resurrected its
[51:15]
ratepayers association. Which is strong and has a healthy voice,
[51:20]
and that's why we're here today. The next slide, please.
[51:24]
Is. Providing what we think about when we think of
[51:28]
collaboration. I'm stealing a bit from the best practices from
[51:34]
the city of Hamilton, because. It had some really interesting
[51:40]
elements that I think might be useful in adapting the
[51:43]
current official plan. Process. Want to emphasize the fact that
[51:48]
this is a four element process. On the bottom you
[51:52]
have inform and then across you've got consult, involve, collaborate
[51:57]
in the various stages. Of public engagement. Now, this is
[52:01]
an overall model that was borrowed from the international association
[52:05]
of public participation. It's a canadian chapter. And in each
[52:11]
one of these, the city of Hamilton has made promises.
[52:15]
And on the bottom, under inform. The promises are they
[52:19]
will ensure that the citizens are aware and knowledgeable about
[52:23]
the project. That you are able to provide input. And
[52:28]
that you'll be aware of any decisions or recommendations that
[52:31]
have been made. So this is about. A shared engagement.
[52:38]
A sharing of information. When we look at the collaborate
[52:41]
on the right, I'm going to go all the way
[52:42]
to there and emphasize underneath the promise. The promise is
[52:46]
that they will ask for our advice, which we see
[52:49]
that and in those public engagements. That is awesome. That's
[52:52]
happening. Our concern is what happens with that information. In
[52:57]
Hamilton's promise, they incorporate. They will incorporate your advice into
[53:01]
the project as much as possible, and they'll provide feedback
[53:05]
to the citizens on how their advice was contributed to
[53:08]
decisions and recommendations. So traceability, that's what I want to
[53:12]
make sure. Because when it comes to change management. In
[53:15]
fact, that's what this is about. Is understanding that future
[53:18]
state and having a trust in the process and that
[53:21]
level of engagement. Is really important, and I think there's
[53:25]
the model and there's more details on the model, but
[53:27]
I think those are the key elements that we would
[53:29]
really encourage the city to think about adding next slide,
[53:32]
please. So the other is. Of course, I talk about
[53:37]
the trusted process. The city council here was brought into
[53:44]
was voted in by citizens because of your abilities, integrity
[53:47]
and character. What does that mean for us as citizens?
[53:52]
That means we're looking for. An authentic and transparent and
[53:57]
a reliable process and engagement. And if I zero in
[54:00]
on transparency, this is about sharing information openly and candidly,
[54:05]
that. There are not unrecognizable processes that make their way
[54:10]
on or off. The planning process, that there is regular
[54:15]
constructive feedback that is actionable. That there is an encouragement
[54:21]
of open dialogue, where ideas are generated by citizens, but
[54:25]
they're not wasted and thrown away. And on a reliability.
[54:30]
It's really just as plain as it says there. Walk
[54:32]
the talk. It's about when commitments are made and talked
[54:36]
about, their follow through on that expertise is used when
[54:39]
decisions are made. And that ultimately the future. Is all
[54:45]
about the citizens and where we're going, and not just
[54:48]
about if the developers are able to bring some money
[54:51]
to the table or they've got an agenda on their
[54:53]
own. Some sort of urgency. So if we flip to
[54:57]
the next slide. Excellent. So we're here tonight because Greenwood
[55:03]
is at the front lines of these decisions, and. Frankly,
[55:07]
right now we're uncertain about our future. This is our
[55:10]
current experience. Yes, we have had kind and productive meetings
[55:13]
with the mayor and the city staff, and it was
[55:15]
a good start. But still no action has followed. The
[55:22]
loss of our postal code during the pandemic hurt deeply.
[55:25]
And now another Greenwood community is being created right next
[55:28]
to us without any consent or any. Connection to our
[55:32]
hamlet. We even lost the hamlet designation in a recent
[55:36]
zoning bylaw. Quietly and without any real. Discussion the Greenwood
[55:40]
Community center is being demolished with no plan to replace
[55:44]
it, and it was the heart of our community. The
[55:47]
new Pickering Heritage and community center, instead of supporting Greenwood,
[55:50]
treats us like any other applicant. There's no special consideration
[55:54]
for our historic groups like karate Club or the weavers
[55:57]
who serve the city for over 50 years. We've heard
[56:00]
that the word heritage may even be removed from the
[56:03]
name and replaced with Dorsey and our proposal to become
[56:07]
Pickering's heritage hub. It's still not acknowledged. Not embraced, but
[56:10]
we are looking forward to picking it up. We're not
[56:13]
exaggerating when we say that the dismantling of a thriving
[56:16]
community feels to be in full swing. Next slide, please.
[56:22]
So, in summary, We're looking for. An authentic and collaborative
[56:30]
engagement process. Hoping to kind of see that commitment to
[56:34]
promises on both sides. Being transparent. And providing and having
[56:39]
an even playing field. Being reliable so that when commitments
[56:44]
are made that they're followed through on. And ultimately that
[56:47]
citizens, when they come up with their ideas that they
[56:50]
see them, they see them. In the plans, and if
[56:54]
there's an adjustment, then we understand why they've been adjusted
[56:57]
that best practices and business cases are going to be
[56:59]
used as we move forward in our planning. And that
[57:03]
there is accountability, which means, as I said, back to
[57:06]
the financials, because that's, a big concern of all citizens
[57:10]
that we take advantage of Pickering's gifts. We spoke about
[57:13]
the urban and rural balance. It's there. The farmland, the
[57:16]
amazing history of natural heritage. And ultimately the energy. We
[57:21]
don't have. The citizens. Of the city. We're not being
[57:26]
paid to do these things. It's because we love where
[57:29]
we live, and we want to see it be even
[57:31]
better as we move forward, so that kind of commitment,
[57:33]
taking advantage of things and of our energy. We're hoping.
[57:39]
Will be utilized, but not wasted. Next slide.
[57:49]
Let's end with questions not regarding dialogue, but for commitments.
[57:56]
What promises can you make to us tonight? Will you
[57:58]
commit to a collaborative, evidence based process for this growth
[58:01]
strategy and the official plan, will you ensure development happens
[58:05]
in the right places in the right way and in
[58:08]
the right order, with financial implications fully accounted for. Will
[58:14]
you support a phasing strategy for the Northeast, Pickering? One
[58:17]
that's guided by. Actual research and fiscal analysis as recommended
[58:21]
on page 137 of the growth strategy itself. Will you
[58:26]
support our collaborative engagement with the planning department to develop
[58:30]
and incorporate shared ideas? We're not here to resist change.
[58:34]
We are here to help shape it and to ensure
[58:36]
that change reflects both our values and our commitments. Long
[58:39]
term well being. We want the community to do well.
[58:43]
We want in, and let's get this right together. Thank
[58:46]
you. Questions. All of the above, right? I just want
[58:56]
to make sure that you didn't have a second presentation
[58:59]
since. We joined the ten minute. Yeah, absolutely. Okay. Fantastic.
[59:04]
Well done. I'm going to open the floor for both
[59:07]
of you to take questions from committee, if anyone would
[59:10]
like. To chime in. Mr. Pickles, please. Go ahead, councilor.
[59:17]
Thanks for the presentation. And. There has been. A number
[59:26]
of. Public opportunities. I know you've been out to a
[59:29]
couple of them yourselves, and I was. Out to unfairly
[59:32]
recently at the Greenwood Community Center. So have you been
[59:36]
engaged in all of those, and are you advising. You've
[59:40]
had at least one person from Greenwood at every single
[59:42]
one of the meetings, okay? So that's good. So you're
[59:44]
participating in the many public opportunities that's. Good. So you
[59:50]
spoke about the community center in Greenwood. Being torn down
[59:56]
and not replaced. But then in your next point, you
[59:58]
spoke to. The Pickering Heritage and Community Center. So that
[1:00:05]
has a lot more amenities, public amenities. Than the aged
[1:00:11]
and. Unaccessible. Greenwood Community center, so I'm not sure. Where
[1:00:18]
you're having concern that one is being removed and not
[1:00:21]
being replaced because there is a brand new community center
[1:00:23]
built. That seems to be the misconception we've heard. From
[1:00:26]
a number of people. When people from Greenwood have discussed
[1:00:29]
it seems to be like people think that building. As
[1:00:34]
I mentioned, at that point, there's been no designation for
[1:00:37]
anything to actually be available. To support our community and
[1:00:41]
to replace what the building is doing for us right
[1:00:43]
now. Right now. It has permanent space for the weaving.
[1:00:53]
Infrastructure, their looms. We have full access for all of
[1:00:56]
our community events. People regularly use it. So all of
[1:01:02]
the space and availability and anything we use it for
[1:01:05]
now is actually not being replaced. And to clarify. We've
[1:01:11]
put in a request. For time and events, and we're
[1:01:15]
waiting to hear back on those things. But. As we
[1:01:20]
say, that community center is used on a regular basis
[1:01:24]
for so many things, ad hoc. And it has a
[1:01:26]
long history. And we've spoken about the fact that we
[1:01:29]
have, we do. I can list them all if you'd
[1:01:34]
like. Talk about the scouting. The regular hockey rink that
[1:01:39]
we have the ability to host events and to cook
[1:01:44]
food. To have our own activities. It's a building that.
[1:01:50]
We're able. To raise money for the Pickering Rec association.
[1:01:55]
So those meetings have come on, but we've. Talked about
[1:01:58]
a replacement building that doesn't look exactly like that, but
[1:02:02]
something that allows us to do some of these events.
[1:02:06]
But. We've had this. We've said this over and over
[1:02:08]
again. It is not a replacement. For groups like the
[1:02:12]
weavers. We cannot. There's no commitment. Around hockey and other
[1:02:18]
activities, et cetera. We can go on. But there's no
[1:02:21]
commitment as like a discrete community for agreement about that
[1:02:25]
building itself. But. I will say there will be a
[1:02:28]
lot more. Community amenities and use in the new building.
[1:02:32]
We'll sort that out with staff as that comes along.
[1:02:36]
The weavers we spoke to, and I know the mayor
[1:02:39]
spoke to a number of times. The issue is they
[1:02:42]
need a large, dedicated space for the looms. If I
[1:02:46]
got the word, right? Which we just can't take up
[1:02:50]
in a new facility because it can be used for.
[1:02:52]
So many other people. But anyway, let's keep the dialogue
[1:02:55]
going. You're coming to? Public meetings. We are working with
[1:02:59]
staff about the use of. The. Community center. And thanks
[1:03:04]
for coming out tonight. And I'm sure. Staff will have
[1:03:09]
more to say as we get to the item itself.
[1:03:12]
So thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else in
[1:03:16]
the committee have a question? Councilor Robinson? Thank you very
[1:03:20]
much, Madam Sheriff. That was a great presentation. Thank you,
[1:03:23]
guys. Thank you. Just quickly. How many people are coming
[1:03:27]
out and participating at these meetings that you've had? It
[1:03:31]
depends on which ones. Typically. When we have our. Greenwood
[1:03:39]
Community association meetings anywhere from 50 to 40 people. That's
[1:03:46]
a pretty good turnout. That's impressive. Very impressive. And I
[1:03:50]
have another question. Why do you believe that this plan
[1:03:54]
is reflecting vision of developers rather than the will of
[1:03:58]
the people. I believe you had said that. You see
[1:04:03]
us being a developer's vision? Because. When we looked at.
[1:04:10]
Any plan that's been submitted. It was actually through. The
[1:04:15]
developers. They proposed the plan and then had three to
[1:04:17]
pick from. Even the person on staff who. Was actually,
[1:04:25]
I think half or majority of his salary was also
[1:04:29]
paid by the developers. Well, I'm going to say that
[1:04:31]
specifically. You're going to hear that coming up, probably because
[1:04:35]
as we indicated, there's a history of the back and
[1:04:37]
forth between, and it did feel like a bit of
[1:04:40]
a shell game between the region and the city, and
[1:04:44]
there were Dec. Decisions. And the decision at one point
[1:04:48]
was to go to not include northeast Pickering and then
[1:04:51]
all of a sudden there's a new plan that's put
[1:04:53]
on the table that's put on. By planners, and it
[1:04:58]
didn't go through. A process like we're going through now
[1:05:02]
to have it evaluated by the community and. That's actually
[1:05:06]
the process at one that the regional council agreed to
[1:05:11]
the brand new plan. That showed up. And that's the
[1:05:14]
thing that kind of provides a traceability around that. And.
[1:05:21]
It certainly hasn't. I haven't seen it been included. In
[1:05:24]
this particular process where the community could weigh in and
[1:05:27]
say, does that make sense? And that's why we're really
[1:05:30]
emphasizing the fact that thinking about. Is that necessary? Right
[1:05:35]
now is really important because we haven't really even asked
[1:05:39]
citizens. All right. Thank you very much for those. I
[1:05:43]
really appreciate the two of you being here today. And
[1:05:45]
thank you for your insight. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you,
[1:05:49]
Councilor Robinson. Anyone else in committee? If not, I do
[1:05:55]
have one question myself. Just one of the. Final summary
[1:06:00]
points that you also had brought up in your presentation,
[1:06:03]
which I echo. My fellows, I thought was excellent. You
[1:06:08]
did have one line in there. About the naming convention
[1:06:11]
for PHCC changing to include. In our last councils. That,
[1:06:18]
actually. Was defeated and the question was sent back to
[1:06:21]
staff to refer that back for. Additional naming inclusions and.
[1:06:29]
We did push to have the word heritage put back
[1:06:32]
in there, so that will be coming back. Before council
[1:06:36]
at the end of the month with some additional. Name
[1:06:39]
recommendations being brought before council. I'm not sure if you
[1:06:42]
were aware of that. No. Does that mean that that
[1:06:47]
issue is gone, or does it mean it just will
[1:06:49]
come back? Again, a number of us on council flag
[1:06:52]
that as being an issue for us as well. We
[1:06:55]
have called it thcc. And a naming request was changed
[1:06:59]
because we did ask our staff to undertake. An exercise
[1:07:04]
on naming rights for our facilities, so it was well
[1:07:07]
within their purview to do that. It just wasn't sitting
[1:07:11]
right with me personally and some of the other members
[1:07:13]
of council. That we didn't have the name quite right,
[1:07:15]
so quite confident staff will come back with some options
[1:07:18]
for us that. People feel. We've heard you, and that
[1:07:23]
will be included. Great. Thanks. I have a quick question,
[1:07:27]
sort of a follow up. The fact that. We indicated
[1:07:31]
that. There is another community that's been called Greenwood. That
[1:07:36]
is serious. Is there any reaction to that? Any thoughts
[1:07:38]
on that? Any advice on that? So as chair. This
[1:07:44]
is not generally back and forth on debate with questions
[1:07:47]
from a delegate back to council. What we can do
[1:07:50]
is if anyone else on council who hasn't spoken would
[1:07:53]
like to. Ask that question back. But there's no staff
[1:07:57]
involvement at this point. So what you could also do
[1:08:01]
is submit that question directly. Back. To any of us
[1:08:07]
on council, and we can have staff direct that and
[1:08:10]
answer that question. Thank you. Thanks. Sense. Okay. Nice to
[1:08:14]
see you both. Thank you for coming back. We appreciate
[1:08:17]
your community involvement in representing Greenwood. And. We are going
[1:08:22]
to move on to our next delegate, who's also staying.
[1:08:26]
On northeast Pickering secondary plan. We are going to welcome
[1:08:29]
James Blair, Pickering resident. Good evening, Mr. Blair. As soon
[1:08:35]
as I see you pop up on my screen here.
[1:08:38]
You will also have five minutes with which to delegate.
[1:08:41]
There we go. We're getting your presentation ready. Good. We're
[1:08:45]
good to go. All right, Mr. Blair, you do have
[1:08:51]
five minutes to begin your delegation. Do you want
[1:09:01]
to let him know that we can't hear him? Yep.
[1:09:07]
There we go. Now we've got. Thank you very much,
[1:09:09]
councilor. Cook and assembled. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, I'll get
[1:09:17]
directly into it. This is in regards to northeast Petra
[1:09:19]
and I'm. Concerned about the agricultural impact assessment itself. I've
[1:09:22]
just thrown together a quick slide here. To keep the
[1:09:25]
points concise, the idea of getting it right, because I
[1:09:28]
do truly believe we will not have a second chance
[1:09:31]
here in the city of Pickering if we allow what
[1:09:33]
is going on or to take phase. In the east
[1:09:37]
side of Pickering. It's going to metastasize itself across the
[1:09:41]
whole official plan. That's my concern. So if we go
[1:09:44]
to the second slide, please. Andrew, these are some key
[1:09:49]
things that I pulled out. Of the plan, and I
[1:09:52]
was quite concerned by the two indications that I put
[1:09:55]
in red. I would wonder if there's somebody at some
[1:09:58]
point either on council there or city staff, that you
[1:10:01]
have that could provide any indication. What are the layman's
[1:10:05]
terms of these two? Points in red, I'm concerned. It
[1:10:09]
basically suggests that. If I'm reading this, as I believe
[1:10:13]
it is, that there is not much we can do
[1:10:16]
to put agriculture not at the second step, opposed to
[1:10:20]
building. And I see that as a very big concern.
[1:10:23]
And it mentions here. The second one in red. Future
[1:10:27]
developments. We need to consider the mitigating impacts on agriculture.
[1:10:30]
Not the impact of agriculture on community development. And so
[1:10:36]
I see that. And again, I would appreciate. Having a
[1:10:39]
bit more insight onto this slide, or specifically those two
[1:10:41]
points. Andy, could I ask you. To move to the
[1:10:44]
second slide as well. Or the third slide. Pardon me?
[1:10:48]
In a recent town hall meeting that you folks had
[1:10:52]
to engage the public. There is a question that it
[1:10:59]
seemingly through this report, still is not answered. In the
[1:11:03]
spring of 2023, 200 participants showed up as reaper. So
[1:11:06]
this is what we heard. We need to engage directly
[1:11:09]
with farmers in agriculture. Communities support small and large scale
[1:11:12]
operations. Integrate opportunities such as ecotourism. Education. That stuff is
[1:11:18]
great. But what is some of these engagements? I've. In
[1:11:22]
the last two and a half weeks, I've taken a
[1:11:24]
task to connect with as many scaled farmers as I
[1:11:28]
can. And. I have not got one farmer. Specifically farming
[1:11:34]
families that have been in the areas for, I would
[1:11:36]
say, two to three generations. Nobody can actually give me
[1:11:40]
a direct time and date that the city of kickering
[1:11:43]
has ever reached. Out to them to ask what can
[1:11:45]
we do to help? And as I said here, what
[1:11:48]
type of support is being rendered to the agricultural community.
[1:11:52]
So I find it concerning. That in 2023 we are
[1:11:56]
asking these questions. You'll see in one of the last
[1:12:00]
slides here. I've been kind of kicking. At this can
[1:12:02]
since 2009 2010. And nothing seems to be developing. If
[1:12:08]
in many ways it's actually getting worse, Andrew, can I
[1:12:11]
ask you to move to the next slide, please. So.
[1:12:16]
In the discussion. We are looking at. What are the
[1:12:18]
big ideas here? And again, there's a lot of talk,
[1:12:22]
and I would like to appreciate. Or mention my appreciation.
[1:12:27]
To the previous folks. They really hit the issue here.
[1:12:32]
Where is the metrics that something is actually taking place
[1:12:34]
here and the people that are putting forward ideas and
[1:12:37]
where concerns are actually being listened to. And there's some
[1:12:41]
type of substantial steps being put into practice where people
[1:12:45]
can see, okay? I see the work here. So I
[1:12:49]
would ask again, where are we with this? They're asking
[1:12:52]
here in 2023. That we need to get buy in
[1:12:56]
from active farmers. I'll ask for the next slide. Andy,
[1:12:59]
please. So. Going through. And again, here's a specific issue.
[1:13:09]
Talking about food security, maintain farmlands, the need for buffer,
[1:13:12]
distance in speaking with farmers. Which I found really interesting.
[1:13:17]
They've mentioned about the road allowances. They mentioned about the
[1:13:20]
equipment they need to move. They've mentioned about trees. Road
[1:13:24]
signage is actually being put in agricultural communities which actually
[1:13:27]
inhibit them using certain roads with their machinery because they
[1:13:31]
can't occupy the whole road. They can't move it to
[1:13:34]
the side and specifically with sprayers, combines and multi use
[1:13:38]
equipment. They're running, basically the possibility of knocking down signs,
[1:13:42]
which they're not interested in. Damaging their equipment and or
[1:13:45]
destroying public property. The last thing I would go to
[1:13:49]
say here, this whole, I think it was 670 some
[1:13:52]
page. Report or, sorry, 685 that I have noted here.
[1:13:57]
There was less than one full page dedicated. To agriculture
[1:14:01]
if we took out the two graphs, which you'll see
[1:14:05]
in the next slide. Is kind of interesting. It actually
[1:14:07]
speaks here. How? A special comment that I've had rated
[1:14:10]
the interest in specific consulting with existing communities, especially those
[1:14:15]
agriculture or in the food production area. Again, I don't
[1:14:20]
know and or who has been consultant. If we go
[1:14:22]
to the next side. Andy and Mr. Blair, you are
[1:14:26]
at your five minutes. Okay, I'll finish off with this.
[1:14:29]
One if it's possible. There is a concern. That what
[1:14:34]
is taking place here and. Who is actually listening to
[1:14:38]
who's being talked to. My main issue is. What is
[1:14:44]
actually happening in the city of Pifring and northeast pippering
[1:14:48]
that's? Going to set a template that is going to
[1:14:50]
roll to the west. That's my concern. Thank you, Ms.
[1:14:53]
Cook. You are welcome, Mr. Blair. Questions committee of the
[1:15:01]
delegate. Seeing none. I will. Thank you, Mr. Blair, for
[1:15:05]
your delegation. You're welcome. Have a good evening. You too.
[1:15:11]
Thank you for showing up. We will move on to
[1:15:14]
our next delegate, 3.7, which is Mr. Abdul Lamir Pickering.
[1:15:18]
Reset. Speaking as well. To report PLN 1625, which is
[1:15:24]
the Pickering official plan review, project update and completed growth
[1:15:28]
management study. Good evening, Abdullah. I'm just going to make
[1:15:31]
sure. You can hear us and see us. I can
[1:15:36]
hear you. Fantastic. And you have no presentation, correct. I
[1:15:41]
am the presentation. Well with that, Abdullah, welcome back to
[1:15:45]
our chambers. And you have five minutes. Thank you. My
[1:15:50]
name is Abdul Lamir. As you mentioned, I'm a resident
[1:15:52]
of ward. One pickering and the co chair of Stopspirl
[1:15:55]
Durham, a city planning advocacy organization here. Tonight representing myself
[1:16:01]
and over 2000 residents across Durham region through stop Sprol
[1:16:04]
Durham. Now, I did want to talk about. Report pLN
[1:16:07]
1625. Specifically, I was disappointed reading this report. Because I
[1:16:13]
feel that this report really singularly focuses on northeast Pickering
[1:16:18]
as the end all be all of all, future development.
[1:16:20]
And pickering, when we know that is not necessarily the
[1:16:24]
case, the population of Pickering is projected to go from
[1:16:27]
approximately 100,000 people right now to just over 250,000. People
[1:16:32]
by 2000 and. 51 so, of course, we need to
[1:16:34]
build more. We need more development to accommodate that growth.
[1:16:38]
But it must be done in a responsible and sustainable
[1:16:41]
way. Development in northeast Pickering is a bad idea. For
[1:16:46]
three main reasons. Number one, developing northeast. Pickering is a
[1:16:50]
textbook example of urban sprawl. Which is low density, car
[1:16:55]
dependent spread of housing and commercial uses into undeveloped fringe
[1:16:59]
areas beyond the urban boundary. These lands are far from
[1:17:03]
the urban center and pardon the colloquialism, these. Lands are
[1:17:06]
really in the middle of nowhere. Sprawl paves over farmland.
[1:17:09]
An ecosystem drives up traffic and greenhouse gas emissions, and
[1:17:13]
most critically. Leaves municipalities with costly roads, pipes and services
[1:17:19]
that outstrip the tax base. I fear that development into
[1:17:22]
Northeast pick ring will result in a significant unnecessary and
[1:17:26]
unfair tax burden for the people of Pickering and Durham.
[1:17:30]
Region number two. The Northeast Pickering lands are on declutters
[1:17:35]
creek. Headwaters and watershed. A watershed is an area that's
[1:17:39]
drained by a river and its tributaries. Healthy watersheds, support
[1:17:43]
biodiversity, reduced flooding, protect water quality and sustained drinking water
[1:17:48]
sources. Development on the watershed. And particularly in this case,
[1:17:52]
the headwaters of Cruthers Creek, which are underneath and adjacent
[1:17:56]
to the northeast bickering lens will result in flooding in
[1:17:59]
downstream Ajax and possibly in Pickering, according to the 2021
[1:18:03]
Toronto Region Conservation Authority Watershed study. And number three, perhaps
[1:18:09]
the most compelling reason. That development in northeast Pickering is
[1:18:13]
not a good idea is that it is wholly unnecessary.
[1:18:18]
We have enough land to meet our targets. Pickering can
[1:18:20]
meet its 50 51 growth targets without expanding into northeast
[1:18:24]
Pickering, the largely unbuilt seat and community alone still holds
[1:18:28]
room for approximately 70,000 more residents and 30,000. More jobs
[1:18:32]
while already planned. Intensification around the ghost station, Kingston Road
[1:18:36]
and South Pickering can add another 90,000 or so residents
[1:18:41]
and tens of thousands of more jobs when these capacities
[1:18:44]
are combined with the remaining greenfield parcels south of Tanton
[1:18:47]
Road and the fully service innovation corridor the city can.
[1:18:52]
Comfortably accommodate the approximate projected 150,000 additional residents and the
[1:18:57]
approximately 50,000 jobs to keep up with these projections. In
[1:19:03]
short, with higher density build out of existing land and
[1:19:05]
adherence to its own intensification. Policies. Pickering has more than
[1:19:09]
enough room, making northeast Pickering expansion a matter of choice
[1:19:14]
rather than necessity. These are all public figures from publicly
[1:19:18]
available materials, including the Durham region Growth Management study phase
[1:19:23]
two. The Alternative Land needs Scenarios Assessment summary report for
[1:19:27]
Durham region and the Perkin official plan review growth management
[1:19:31]
and urban structure. Discussion paper of November 2024. If all
[1:19:36]
goes well, God willing, I'm still going to be here
[1:19:38]
in 2051 and. In 2051, I'm still going to be
[1:19:43]
younger than most members of council are today. I bring
[1:19:46]
that up to make a very important point. That this
[1:19:49]
is not just an abstract visioning exercise for me and
[1:19:52]
people in my age group. And younger. It is a
[1:19:55]
very real situation that I and many others in my
[1:19:58]
generation will contend with and live through, and its ramifications
[1:20:03]
will affect us directly. The decisions of today. Will affect
[1:20:09]
me and my generation tomorrow. We have to live with
[1:20:11]
the very real consequences of the decisions made by all
[1:20:14]
levels of government today. Therefore, it is important to make
[1:20:19]
good, responsible, sustainable decisions, especially as it pertains to planning.
[1:20:24]
Such that they balance the needs of today without sacrificing
[1:20:28]
the needs of tomorrow. Developing northeast Pickering would not be
[1:20:32]
one such decision. And as such, I strongly urge counsel
[1:20:35]
to please consider alternatives that exist within the urban boundary,
[1:20:39]
such as. Intensification along transit corridors and fully building out
[1:20:44]
Satan. Let's think creatively and collaboratively in the context of
[1:20:49]
what is best for the people, the environment, and the
[1:20:53]
land of pickering, rather than being driven by those who
[1:20:57]
may wish to gain or profit at our expense. Chair
[1:21:01]
Cook. Members of council, thank you very much for your
[1:21:04]
time this evening and for the opportunity to address you
[1:21:07]
on this matter. Thank you, Abdullah. Questions of the delegate
[1:21:12]
from the committee. And seeing none. Thank you, Abdullah. Thank
[1:21:19]
you for being right on time. Pleasure seeing you again.
[1:21:22]
We will move on to our next delegate who is
[1:21:25]
also Pickering resident Eric Leecher also speaking on report, PLN
[1:21:30]
20 15 25 which is official plan amendment Opa. 23.
[1:21:39]
Four, which is in reference to 720 granite court. Eric,
[1:21:44]
I just want to confirm that we can. Hear you
[1:21:47]
and see you and confirm that you are not pulling
[1:21:50]
up presentation this evening. Yeah. I do not have a
[1:21:54]
presentation tonight. Okay, perfect. And we can hear you, so
[1:21:57]
I will. Commence with your five minutes. You may go
[1:21:59]
ahead. Okay. Thank you, council, for letting me have this.
[1:22:01]
Time. I just want to bring up a couple of
[1:22:04]
points about. The development of. 720 granite. The number of
[1:22:12]
parking spots. I want to start with that. The reassessment
[1:22:18]
that I've seen in the presentation also that was handed
[1:22:21]
out. In an email, I noted that the number of
[1:22:25]
spaces has gone up. So this would, for me, it
[1:22:29]
would reflect. That number of cars would go up. This
[1:22:35]
is stemming from the last council meeting which was regarding.
[1:22:40]
The traffic issues that people were complaining about. There was
[1:22:44]
many different things that people were wrapping around. As far
[1:22:48]
as the access coming off of granite, I saw the
[1:22:52]
renderings with the two lanes. Coming around the corner. I
[1:22:56]
also want to put a note that nothing was ever
[1:22:59]
addressed being a resident. On the opposite side being. On
[1:23:04]
the Oklahoma side, that if you do put a double
[1:23:08]
lane on the granite side during rush hour. That gives
[1:23:13]
almost no opportunity for anybody leaving. On the Oklahoma site
[1:23:18]
to get around the corner. And if anybody knows anything
[1:23:20]
about traffic. Around rush hour, it does get backed up
[1:23:24]
really quickly. From Bailey back to the Oklahoma. Granite area.
[1:23:30]
So the double lane going around the corner, that's advantageous
[1:23:33]
for the people. From the granite side, but the Oklahoma
[1:23:36]
side. Almost has gridlock for us. Also another point for
[1:23:42]
traffic. I've heard everything for the building. The amendments that
[1:23:48]
I hear for the building, the. Number of units, the
[1:23:54]
changes in the units. As much as they emphasize that
[1:23:58]
we brought down the number of units. It doesn't look
[1:24:02]
like. The style. Of. The units that are actually going
[1:24:09]
in there is going to bring down the number of
[1:24:11]
residents going in there. Thus factoring that it doesn't sound
[1:24:15]
like anything has changed to the number of people that
[1:24:17]
are actually going to be living into that building, even
[1:24:20]
though it's come down two. Stories. It doesn't sound like
[1:24:24]
there's going to be any less people going to be
[1:24:26]
living in that building. Another point that I also like
[1:24:30]
to make. Is the reasoning for a condo in the
[1:24:36]
actual area. Just actually taking a walk over across the
[1:24:41]
highway. I've noticed that. The retail area. Around that area,
[1:24:49]
there is a proposal going over there. For, I think,
[1:24:53]
three to five buildings, condo buildings, going over there, that's
[1:24:56]
going to take out that plaza. So I'm just trying
[1:25:00]
to understand that. You have a proposal of all those
[1:25:05]
condos going up over there, yet you want another condo?
[1:25:08]
On the other side. I do not see anything that
[1:25:10]
is helping the infrastructure. Of whites road. The overpass and
[1:25:17]
the number of exits coming off the 401. If you're
[1:25:20]
talking about rush hour. If anybody has actually seen rush
[1:25:24]
hour. In the last at least couple weeks, coming off
[1:25:28]
the Whites Road exit has been absolutely horrendous and that's
[1:25:31]
without any changes. Now, I've noticed also that the exit
[1:25:36]
for Brock Road had an issue with going north. And
[1:25:40]
thus forced a lot of people to go off at
[1:25:41]
whites, if that is any indication of the number of
[1:25:44]
people that are going to be coming off of Whites
[1:25:46]
Road before these complexes go. Up. Any resident would just
[1:25:51]
rip their hair out just thinking about. The traffic that
[1:25:55]
we're going to see. And I don't even know. If
[1:26:00]
that's like, the area is going to actually even support
[1:26:01]
that many people coming around. There. Also, I noticed that.
[1:26:08]
Another presentation. Somebody was mentioning about the 407 opening up.
[1:26:13]
Just recently. If you think Brock Road is a good
[1:26:17]
exit to go up to the 407 people are now
[1:26:21]
starting to use White's road. To also go up north
[1:26:25]
and start to go across Taunton to go up rock.
[1:26:29]
So people are going to be using both exits. To
[1:26:33]
actually facilitate themselves to get up to that. 407 now.
[1:26:36]
So I think the traffic pattern changes with that 407
[1:26:39]
change is going to be causing a lot of different
[1:26:41]
issues with that, too. And then lastly, like I say,
[1:26:45]
with infrastructure, If infrastructure has not changed or is not
[1:26:49]
going to be changing around the area. I don't. Think
[1:26:51]
that any new buildings are going to be able to
[1:26:53]
be supported by the current infrastructure. That's around here right
[1:26:57]
now. I think that is everything that I wanted to
[1:27:01]
address. And you are right on time. Perfect. Sure. I
[1:27:06]
appreciate that. Questions of the delegate from the committee. And
[1:27:12]
seeing none. Thank you very much for your delegation this
[1:27:14]
evening. Welcome. We will move forward with our next delegation,
[1:27:19]
which is a group. Delegation. We are an item. 3.9.
[1:27:25]
This is a group of landowners, Rakesh Gupta and Mohit
[1:27:27]
Gupta, with respect to northeast Pickering. Which is PLN 1325.
[1:27:33]
Good evening. Oh, there we go. We have your presentation
[1:27:36]
up because. This is a group delegation. You do have
[1:27:38]
ten minutes to present. And I can see you. Let's
[1:27:42]
just make sure we can hear you before I start.
[1:27:44]
My timer. Hello? Can you hear me? Yes. Perfect. You
[1:27:48]
may go ahead. Thank you. Good evening. Chair. Council member.
[1:27:52]
And member of the planning and development committee. Thank you
[1:27:55]
for giving me this opportunity to speak my name is
[1:27:58]
Mohit Gupta and my family owns roughly eleven acre on
[1:28:01]
the east side of Salom. Road between 7th concession and
[1:28:05]
highway. 407. My purpose here tonight is to voice support
[1:28:09]
for the plant's complete community vision and to suggest a
[1:28:13]
few practical measures that will help small, independent owners like
[1:28:16]
me take part fairly. Next slide. Thank you. So as
[1:28:25]
you can see, my part of fits where the new
[1:28:28]
roads, parks and the proposed east. West transit border will
[1:28:33]
converge. Clear. Upfront development guidelines will help keep small parts
[1:28:38]
of the mind workable and smoothly integrated. Into the overall
[1:28:42]
plan. Next slide, please. Here are some suggestions that I
[1:28:48]
believe will make the process more fair, workable for small
[1:28:52]
landowners. Like myself. I would like to suggest that we
[1:28:57]
have one independent, small landowner seat to the technical steering
[1:29:01]
committee. The decisions balance all interest. Two to circulate every
[1:29:06]
draft map, cost, table and meeting invite to all affected
[1:29:09]
owners at no charge and to release a final preferred
[1:29:12]
plan map which schedule c cost table ideally 60 days
[1:29:17]
before council adoption. Three give each owner a parcel level
[1:29:23]
overlay of the preferred plan and enable land swap options.
[1:29:27]
Before any acquisition. Four to keep an open book. Cost
[1:29:31]
disclosure. And payment only at the building permit stage versus
[1:29:37]
upon rezoning. And five to allow small parcels to develop
[1:29:43]
or partner voluntarily without for sale and provide city led
[1:29:46]
mediation or phase approval if neighborhood plan talks. Stall. In
[1:29:52]
short, I support the plan. And I'm simply asking that
[1:29:55]
a few safeguards. Be included now. So independent owners can
[1:29:59]
move forward confidently and help bring the shared vision for
[1:30:02]
a complete mixed youth. Community to life. Thank you for
[1:30:05]
your time. Thank you very much, Mr. Gupta. That was
[1:30:15]
short and sweet. And I see that we have councilor.
[1:30:17]
Pickles with the first set of questions. Deliot. Mr. Pickles.
[1:30:23]
Thanks Mohit, for your presentation. Have you met? With our
[1:30:29]
planning staff. And talked about. Your. I'll say perspective. And
[1:30:37]
comments on how you might fit into that process. Yes,
[1:30:41]
I have exchanged a few emails, and up until now.
[1:30:45]
It was quite early. The final details weren't put in
[1:30:50]
place, so we were waiting for some more progression on
[1:30:53]
the overall plans, which. We now see are happening. So,
[1:30:57]
yes, now we would like to be more involved. And
[1:31:00]
open that dialogue. Okay, so you would be amenable to
[1:31:04]
councilor, but. Arranging such a meeting to have a discussion
[1:31:10]
with our planning staff. Yeah, that would be very appreciated.
[1:31:15]
Yes, we will ensure we follow up with you. Thank
[1:31:18]
you. Thank you council. Thank you, Councilor Pickles. Anyone else
[1:31:23]
in the committee questions? Okay, seeing none. Thank you very
[1:31:28]
much. Mr. Gupta. Interesting perspective. I'm sure there's a lot
[1:31:31]
of people out there who hadn't considered. Small landowners like
[1:31:36]
yourself, so I thank you for bringing that forward. Into
[1:31:40]
the mix and we will say good evening. Thank you.
[1:31:44]
You're very welcome. Next on three point ten. Is Helen
[1:31:47]
Brenner returning? Helen Brenner, who's been with us multiple times.
[1:31:52]
Nice to see you again, Helen. You are also speaking
[1:31:55]
on Pickering's official plan review, project update and completed growth
[1:31:59]
management strategy. And I do believe you are not pulling.
[1:32:03]
Up a presentation, so. We will just make sure that
[1:32:06]
we can hear you. Andy, do we have sound for
[1:32:11]
Helen? Helen, you're still on mute. Perhaps we could reach
[1:32:20]
out to her, Andy, to make sure that. Ellen knows
[1:32:26]
that it's her delegation time. Sure thing. I'll reach out
[1:32:29]
to her. In the background. We'll just give it a
[1:32:32]
minute, folks, just to see if we can raise Helen.
[1:32:35]
If. Not. What we can do is move on. To
[1:32:39]
our next delegation and then come back to Helen.
[1:32:58]
Right. Then, in the interest of time. While Andy attempts
[1:33:07]
to reach. Helen Brenner is our delegation. We will circle
[1:33:13]
back to her and I will see if Mr. James
[1:33:16]
Grundy, who's? Our next delegation is also available on the
[1:33:19]
line. See if. We can raise one of the other
[1:33:24]
individuals. Mr. Grundy, are you with us? Okay, perfect. I
[1:33:30]
can see you. Let's just make sure we can take
[1:33:32]
you off mute. And I will make note to circle
[1:33:36]
back to Helen once Andy indicates whether he can raise
[1:33:39]
her. Thank you for coming in tonight, Mr. Grundy. We
[1:33:42]
do have you speaking to Northwest plan. Secondary update as
[1:33:45]
well. You are on mute. So let's just make sure.
[1:33:51]
You can get yourself off mute. Or
[1:34:01]
I can assist with that. See if I can unmute
[1:34:05]
you, sir. Hi. Kent, you are going to have to
[1:34:09]
unmute yourself. We
[1:34:19]
seem to have lost Mr. Grundy. I can see him
[1:34:22]
on the video, but I can't hear him. No. I'm
[1:34:30]
not having a lot of luck here. That last two
[1:34:31]
delegates. James, are you able to hear us? You are.
[1:34:36]
Are you able to take yourself off mute so that
[1:34:38]
we can do your delegation? It's a little microphone. It's
[1:34:43]
probably got a little flash through it. It's. Probably in
[1:34:45]
the upper top right of your screen. There you go.
[1:34:51]
Thought we had you for a second there. How's that?
[1:34:56]
Yes. There you go. Okay. Perfect. Wonderful. Okay. This is
[1:35:01]
fantastic. We've got both Helen, who will be next, and
[1:35:04]
Mr. Grundy, now that we've confirmed. You. We will move
[1:35:07]
forward with your delegation. You do have five minutes to
[1:35:11]
begin. Thank you very much. Good evening. My name is
[1:35:18]
Jim Grundy. I'm a longtime resident of Greenwood and. A
[1:35:21]
member of the Greenwood Community Association. I'm here to discuss
[1:35:25]
the financial implications to the taxpayers of the city of
[1:35:28]
Pickering in the event that lands a northeast pickering where
[1:35:31]
to be developed. My understanding is that the minimum number
[1:35:34]
of new residents to live in this development would be
[1:35:37]
approximately 45,000. And with no maximum number at this point
[1:35:41]
in time. Based on a review of the verain website,
[1:35:45]
the number of new residents would be in excess. Of
[1:35:47]
100,000. So basically, they double the size of the current
[1:35:50]
population of the city of Pickering. As a bit of
[1:35:54]
background, I think we should take a look at Pickering's
[1:35:56]
current financial situation as we look at moving forward with
[1:35:59]
northeast Pickering or not. I went back to the city's
[1:36:03]
2025 budget presentation made by Stan Carloski, the director of
[1:36:08]
finance and treasure. He stated that the city's capital forecast
[1:36:11]
for 26 to 34 is not financially sustainable as it
[1:36:15]
relies on an excessive amount of debt to fund these
[1:36:18]
projects. This high level of debt will have an impact
[1:36:21]
on the city's debt capacity. As measured by the annual
[1:36:24]
repayment limit plan. Capital expenditures for the 26 to 34
[1:36:29]
period estimated at one point. 14 billion, keeping in mind
[1:36:34]
that the budgeted number does not include any capital costs
[1:36:36]
for the proposed development of the northeast Pickering lands. The
[1:36:41]
most recent audited financial statements that are publicly available December
[1:36:45]
23 indicate long term debt for the city to be
[1:36:48]
approximately 39 million, and with that growing in 2026 to
[1:36:53]
300 and 2300. And 12 million. 727% increase from 2024
[1:36:59]
to 2026, along with a 374% increase in debt servicing
[1:37:05]
driven primarily by the proposed seat and recreation complex and
[1:37:08]
library. The Director of finance indicated in his 2025 budget
[1:37:13]
presentation that capital projects will have to be deferred, revised,
[1:37:17]
reduced in size to meet the financial budget. The next
[1:37:20]
term of council, Pickering will probably have one of the
[1:37:23]
highest debt per capita among all. Municipalities in Ontario. As
[1:37:27]
we all know, the capital project that is driving the
[1:37:29]
significant increase in 26 is the. Seat and rec complex
[1:37:33]
and library. At an estimated cost of 242,000,000. 69% to
[1:37:39]
be funded with DC funding and the balance funded by
[1:37:42]
the city. Given the comments from the director of finance
[1:37:45]
and treasurer noted above. It was not no surprise when
[1:37:48]
a special meeting took place on April 22, where staff
[1:37:52]
were requesting a pause on this project. Until later this
[1:37:55]
year. Given the economic turmoil caused by tariffs from the
[1:37:58]
us administration along with federal and Ontario elections. For whatever
[1:38:02]
reason. It was good to see this project. Pause not
[1:38:05]
so good for the seat and residents, but certainly good
[1:38:07]
for the city of Pickering, taxpayers as a group. Given
[1:38:11]
the 15% to 20% estimated. Development completion of Seaton to
[1:38:15]
date. The development charges collected to date are not there
[1:38:18]
to fund this project and funding the project with debt
[1:38:22]
is not sustainable. Having watched the video of the special
[1:38:26]
Council meeting of April 2225 again, I did learn that
[1:38:29]
the Chestnut Hill rec center needs to be replaced within
[1:38:31]
the next five years. And this might have been one
[1:38:34]
of the motivating factors to move forward with Seed and
[1:38:36]
rec project. Timing and services related to the Northeast Pickering
[1:38:41]
land development. I felt it was important to provide this
[1:38:44]
financial background about the city of Pickering's current financial situation
[1:38:48]
when looking at taking on more significant development beyond Seaton.
[1:38:52]
Given that the Seaton project has provided all of us
[1:38:54]
with some tough learning when it comes to the pace
[1:38:57]
or lack. Thereof of build out. So now let's turn
[1:39:01]
our minds to when the proposed Northeast Pickering Land development
[1:39:05]
project might commence. Mayor Ash indicated at a meeting with
[1:39:09]
the Greenwood Community association in March 25 that the shovels
[1:39:12]
could be in the ground within six years, so that
[1:39:16]
would require both water and sewer services being brought to
[1:39:18]
unservice farmland. In the not too distant future who will
[1:39:22]
pay the cost per providing these services? Also, it is
[1:39:27]
my understanding that Durham region's current water treatment facilities will
[1:39:30]
not handle this. Population increase and will require further investment
[1:39:34]
to increase capacity, something that is not in their plans
[1:39:37]
for the next ten years. Keep close eye on the
[1:39:40]
Durham region portion of your property tax bill. Moving forward.
[1:39:43]
The cost of these services will be paid by all
[1:39:45]
the taxpayers of Durham region. As for the infrastructure costs
[1:39:49]
related to the northeast, Pickering lands being fire, parks, library,
[1:39:53]
bylaw, transportation, community centers, et cetera, et cetera that would
[1:39:58]
normally be covered by development. Charges. I would expect that
[1:40:00]
there will be a timing issue as well as to
[1:40:03]
when the full belt. Full build out of the NEP
[1:40:06]
lands occurs and the cost for the infrastructure will need
[1:40:10]
to be incurred. So who will fund the timing issue
[1:40:13]
over the decades of development? Major Ash suggested at our
[1:40:16]
March 25 meeting that the developers will need to fund
[1:40:19]
all the infrastructure related to the development of the northeast
[1:40:22]
Pickering lands through development charge credits. Well, that would be
[1:40:27]
welcome news to the city of Pickering. Cox pairs. I
[1:40:30]
expect that the developers may not be willing to take
[1:40:32]
on all or a portion of this financial burden. Unless
[1:40:36]
there's a pot of funding from either the federal or
[1:40:38]
provincial governments to fund urban sprawl infrastructure that I'm not
[1:40:42]
aware of at this point in time, I would offer
[1:40:45]
the opinion that the city of Pickering is not in
[1:40:47]
a position either now or in the future to fund
[1:40:50]
the required infrastructure for the northeast Pickering lands without putting
[1:40:54]
an undue stra. Strain on both the city of echoring
[1:40:58]
taxpayers and the Durham region taxpayers for water and sewer
[1:41:01]
services. So where do we go from here? Prior to
[1:41:06]
spending any more money on external consultants, I think it
[1:41:09]
is time to undertake a full detailed financial analysis business
[1:41:13]
case of the development of the Northeast Pickering lands that
[1:41:17]
would involve the developers the adjacent landowners, communities such as
[1:41:22]
Greenwood who are on the front line in the city
[1:41:24]
planning staff if we. Are not able to make this
[1:41:26]
proposed development mark work from a financial perspective for all
[1:41:30]
involved, then it's time to move on from this proposal.
[1:41:33]
As you may have heard from some of the other
[1:41:35]
delegations this evening. Given the significant cost of taking raw
[1:41:39]
farmland with no services and trying to turn it into
[1:41:42]
a city within the city. I think we should take
[1:41:44]
a look at development within the city of Pickering where
[1:41:47]
the services and some infrastructure already exist. And finally, there
[1:41:51]
was mentioned in the report of a phasing strategy. Which
[1:41:54]
I am fully in support of. And when this ever
[1:41:57]
moves forward, thank you very much. You're very welcome, Mr.
[1:42:02]
Grundy. I am remiss. I should have noted that you
[1:42:06]
had ten minutes on your delegation because. You had. Two
[1:42:10]
submitted. So that notwithstanding, you do have an additional four
[1:42:14]
minutes remaining of time unless you have concluded both your
[1:42:17]
presentations. On. We're good. Okay, fantastic. And I will turn
[1:42:22]
it back to committee to ask questions of the delegate.
[1:42:26]
And that is councilor pickles. Hi, James. We've communicated a
[1:42:32]
number of times, so thank you for participating this evening.
[1:42:36]
You made a lot of good points. I just wanted
[1:42:38]
to revisit a couple of things. I don't think you
[1:42:42]
meant to say that. Our chestnut Hill Recreation center needs
[1:42:47]
to be replaced. I think what you might be referring
[1:42:50]
to is that the swimming pools themselves have to be
[1:42:54]
refurbished. Therefore, we want to have the new pools and
[1:42:57]
the Satan Recreation center in place before we have to
[1:43:01]
take the other ones out to refurbish them. Are you
[1:43:03]
aware of that? That isn't what I heard. In the
[1:43:08]
video I watched today. But you could be right, okay.
[1:43:13]
And you referred to. Who was going to build the
[1:43:18]
infrastructure. In northeast Pickering. And you didn't think it would
[1:43:22]
be the developers, and I'll tell you, the developers would
[1:43:24]
probably not want to. But you're aware, in the case
[1:43:27]
of Seaton that that's, in fact, what the developers are
[1:43:30]
doing. They're building much of the road and other infrastructure.
[1:43:36]
There on behalf of the region of the city, and
[1:43:38]
they get credits to development charges for that. But in
[1:43:41]
fact they are building it. I didn't know if you
[1:43:43]
were aware of that. Yeah, I was actually aware that
[1:43:45]
they were doing the roads. I watched the development charge
[1:43:49]
study presentation. Today and the consultant. And I understood that
[1:43:54]
because there's a different development charge, a lower one for
[1:43:57]
season than the rest of pickering, correct? And I just
[1:44:01]
wanted to go back to. You were supportive of phasing.
[1:44:05]
Can you tell? Us quickly. Why you would support phasing
[1:44:08]
what you like about it. Well, I think the reality
[1:44:11]
is, my understanding of it is you're not trying to
[1:44:14]
do it all at once. You bite it off in
[1:44:15]
chunks. And you do one chunk, see how it did,
[1:44:20]
see what you learned from it, and then you. Move
[1:44:21]
on, potentially. Or not, to the next one. Okay. Thanks
[1:44:26]
again, James. Any other comments from the committee to ask
[1:44:30]
for the delegate? Okay, thank you. Thank you, James, for
[1:44:34]
coming in. Appreciate your comments. Thank you. You're very welcome.
[1:44:44]
Helen, we're going to go back to you. Let me
[1:44:47]
make sure that. We've got. You, Ms. Brenner. No relation
[1:44:53]
to Councilor Brenner. As we like to say when Helen
[1:44:56]
appears before us. Andy, were you able to reach Helen
[1:45:00]
to confirm her delegation? Okay. She's coming in again. Coming
[1:45:09]
in again. There we go. Hi, Helen. Hello? There you
[1:45:15]
go. We can hear you now. Okay. I seem to
[1:45:18]
be having technical problems. I'm sorry. Good evening. Thank you.
[1:45:23]
Chair Cook, you can go ahead. We can hear you
[1:45:26]
and see you and. You do have five minutes to
[1:45:28]
speak on your delegation, which is also on Pickering's official.
[1:45:32]
Plan review, you can go ahead. Great. Well, thank you
[1:45:34]
very much and good evening, everybody. I'm Helen Brenner. I'm
[1:45:37]
resident of Pickering and co lead of Stop Sprawl. Durham,
[1:45:40]
which Abdullah spoke to. Earlier, and I'm very pleased to
[1:45:44]
be here to speak this evening. I am here to
[1:45:46]
raise serious concerns about how the northeast Pickering lands were
[1:45:50]
added to the urban boundary, a decision not rooted in
[1:45:54]
transparent planning, public consultation, or environmental stewardship. Let's start with
[1:46:00]
the facts in 2018. The region launched in Vision Durham,
[1:46:05]
a comprehensive review of the regional official plan to guide
[1:46:08]
growth to 2051. Staff developed five land needs assessment scenarios,
[1:46:15]
non included northeast Pickley. Yet long before that planning work
[1:46:19]
concluded efforts were to develop these lands were already underway.
[1:46:24]
In June 2021, two years before the region finalized its
[1:46:29]
new official plan, Pickering Council directed staff to begin a
[1:46:33]
secondary plan for a proposed community in northeast Pickering aimed
[1:46:38]
at supporting. A future official plan amendment. So development planning
[1:46:44]
was moving forward for lands not included in any official
[1:46:48]
growth scenario at that time. And here's how we got
[1:46:52]
there. Way back in 2014, Dorsey development began working closely
[1:46:57]
with Pickering and Durham region to promote a 4000 acre
[1:47:01]
community called Brain. In June 2020, Dorsey Development submitted a
[1:47:07]
request for an MzTO the city of Pickering supported it.
[1:47:11]
Durham region opposed it. Citing planning concerns. Ajax also raised
[1:47:17]
objections. In his July 2020 letter to pick ring, Mayor
[1:47:23]
Collier warned of, quote, justified and real concerns regarding downstream
[1:47:28]
flooding impacts associated with urbanization of the headwaters of Crothers
[1:47:33]
creek, unquote. In late 2022, Mayor Ash sent another letter
[1:47:39]
to the province. Requesting an MZTO for Northeast pick ring
[1:47:43]
that did not succeed. Then came the turning point in
[1:47:47]
the regional process. In May 2022, Durham's planning commissioner recommended
[1:47:53]
scenario four, which was identified through the envision Durham process,
[1:47:58]
emphasizing compact, walkable, transit friendly communities. It met growth targets
[1:48:05]
and didn't require expansion into northeast pick ring. Instead, Durham
[1:48:10]
Council adopted build scenario two A, which included 6178 acres
[1:48:16]
of new community land. Far more than the 2348 acres
[1:48:23]
recommended by the staff through the envision durham process for
[1:48:27]
scenario four. This wasn't just a numbers issue. Scenario four
[1:48:31]
exceeded density targets, achieving. 65 people in jobs per hectare
[1:48:37]
as opposed to. The scenario. Two a at 57 jobs
[1:48:42]
and people per hectare. A memo from then commissioner Brian
[1:48:46]
Bridgeman. Warned that scenario two, a failed to follow Envision
[1:48:51]
Durham's evaluation framework. Lack transparency, promoted low density sprawl and
[1:48:59]
higher emissions. And undermined farm and climate goals. Planning staff,
[1:49:05]
advisory committees and the public, including stops for all Durham
[1:49:10]
all raised concerns. Yet on May 25, 2022. Regional council
[1:49:16]
voted 16 to 1111 in favor of scenario two a
[1:49:20]
with councilor pickles and ash voting a res. Resounding yes.
[1:49:26]
Why? Because scenario two a was. The only path to
[1:49:30]
approve the 4000 acres needed for the Pickering, the northeast
[1:49:35]
Pickering development. Without it those lands would not meet the
[1:49:40]
growth plans planning tests. This was not evidence based planning.
[1:49:46]
It appears. To have proprietained developer interest. Interests over sound,
[1:49:50]
transparent planning. Today, northeast Pickering secondary plan continues. Des. Despite
[1:49:57]
lacking a foundation in any transparent, publicly vetted process, That
[1:50:03]
erodes public trust and raises serious concerns about integrity and
[1:50:08]
land use decisions. So I leave you with the following
[1:50:13]
what is the cost of development in northeast Pickering to
[1:50:17]
taxpayers? To infrastructure and to our climate future. We asked
[1:50:24]
for this information back in 2022. When we delegate it
[1:50:28]
then, it has never been provided. I urge council to
[1:50:32]
demand this data now. Responsible planning demands transparency and accountability
[1:50:39]
to the taxpayers. The people of Pickering deserve better. We
[1:50:43]
ask that council show integrity, courage and commitment to real
[1:50:47]
planning, not politics. Thank you very much. I appreciate your
[1:50:52]
time. Thank you very much. Ms. Helen. Any questions of
[1:50:56]
the delegate from members of committee this evening. Thank you
[1:51:00]
very much. Thank you, Helen, for coming forward with your
[1:51:04]
comments. We do appreciate it. That concludes our list of
[1:51:10]
delegates. And before we move on, There has been a
[1:51:13]
request to take. A short five minute bio break since
[1:51:16]
we've been at this now almost 2 hours. So we
[1:51:21]
are going to call a five minute break. Mover secondary
[1:51:25]
to agree. I'm going to go with Maurice and Lisa.
[1:51:32]
Who are councilor Robinson and councilor Brenner? As moving. That.
[1:51:36]
And all in favor? Ten minutes, madam chair. I just
[1:51:39]
want, for clarification. Do they say five minutes or ten
[1:51:41]
minutes? Ten minutes, sir. Ten minutes. Ten minutes. So we
[1:51:46]
are. Going to come back at the top of the
[1:51:48]
hour. We will resume just before 09:00 so for those.
[1:51:53]
Taking. Got their swatch. Watch out. 858. We will resume.
[1:51:57]
We'll see you then.
[2:01:43]
All right. Welcome back. We're coming up to 09:00. And
[2:01:47]
when we started this journey this evening. There was a
[2:01:50]
request. Duly moved and seconded from councilor Brenner with support
[2:01:58]
from councilor Robinson, to. Alter our agenda this evening to
[2:02:02]
move up item 4.4, to move it up to the
[2:02:08]
top of the order, which will require a vote in
[2:02:12]
support of two thirds of majority, which in this case,
[2:02:14]
since there's only. Six of us tonight will require a
[2:02:15]
vote of four. So duly moved and seconded on a
[2:02:20]
request to alter the agenda to bring it forward. If
[2:02:22]
I could call the question. All those in favor. And
[2:02:26]
we have 412345, Counselor Butt. Thank you for that. All
[2:02:31]
right. Councilor Brennan, I do believe that you provided the
[2:02:36]
clerk with a motion. Andy, if I could. Ask you
[2:02:40]
to perhaps put that up on screen. For all of
[2:02:43]
us to follow along. And Councilor Brenner, if you would
[2:02:47]
like to read that out, please. And note that it
[2:02:53]
is seconded by Councilor Robinson. Thank you. I'm asking that
[2:02:59]
the official plan amendment OPA 230, zero, four p and
[2:03:04]
zoning bylaw Amendment application. 1023. Submitted by 133-4281 Ontario Limited
[2:03:12]
for the lands located at 720 Granite Court be refused,
[2:03:17]
and that should the official plan amendment OPA 23004 POPA
[2:03:23]
23. Four p and zoning bylaw amendment application A 1023.
[2:03:31]
ZBA a 1023 submitted by 133-4281 Ontario Limited for the
[2:03:38]
lands located at 720. Granite court be appealed to the
[2:03:43]
Ontario Municipal Ontario Land Tribunal that the council authorized city
[2:03:48]
staff its outside legal council and outside experts in the
[2:03:51]
fields of planning, transportation, environment, urban design and other specialties
[2:03:56]
as may be requested, to present and defend council's position
[2:03:59]
on Opa. 230 zero four P and a 1023 at
[2:04:05]
the Olt. If I might speak to it, madam chair.
[2:04:13]
You're muted. You're muted. Thank you. Just for those at
[2:04:20]
home. Noted, of course. Councilor Brenner, you can speak. To
[2:04:22]
this, but. We're only seeing the first two items in
[2:04:26]
the motion. It's not clear. We can't see the latter
[2:04:32]
part, but. You can speak to that now, Councilor brother.
[2:04:36]
Thank you very much, madam Chair. I don't want to
[2:04:40]
prolong. This. I'd like to put this dog out of
[2:04:45]
its misery. If I can use a paraphrase. Basically. The
[2:04:52]
situation as it sits. We have received a letter from,
[2:04:56]
and I want to start with that. First, we've received
[2:04:58]
a letter from Limbrook Industries on Granite court. And along
[2:05:05]
with all the concerns that we have heard from residents
[2:05:09]
throughout this process. And I want to start first with
[2:05:12]
businesses because Granite court is critical in terms of employment
[2:05:16]
base, in terms of trying to work to achieve. A
[2:05:22]
balanced approach to our non residential taxes, so. When you
[2:05:27]
get a group of companies that have been the backbone
[2:05:30]
for many, many years, and this municipality saying we don't
[2:05:35]
agree. It would behoove us not to hear and listen
[2:05:39]
to what they're saying. They are concerned that will have
[2:05:43]
significant impact regarding the transportation of goods. From the various
[2:05:50]
industries along granite cord. Yeah, I know that. There's been
[2:05:53]
a traffic study. I'm not an expert, but I am
[2:05:58]
relying on the expertise and the knowledge of our businesses.
[2:06:04]
These are multimillion dollar businesses that know what they're doing.
[2:06:09]
They would not normally object. To anything that pertains to
[2:06:14]
planning and residential if they did not believe it would
[2:06:17]
be detrimental. And I have to concur with them. It
[2:06:21]
will be detrimental. I do not want to see us
[2:06:25]
lose the confidence of the business communities. Granite court with
[2:06:31]
one of our first industrial core areas. That was trident
[2:06:35]
by the city of pickering. When it was built. I
[2:06:39]
get it. I understand what the land use is. And
[2:06:44]
what it says currently. But I also know that in
[2:06:48]
these circumstances, That it would behoove us not. To support
[2:06:54]
business. I remind all members of committee that. While. The
[2:07:01]
applicant may be citing the provincial policy statement as it
[2:07:04]
relates to housing. There are a couple of factors that
[2:07:08]
don't quite fit into that one is first and foremost.
[2:07:12]
Jobs, jobs, jobs. And that's what industry does in our
[2:07:17]
city, and that's what business does in our city. Secondly,
[2:07:22]
this is not the Kingston Road corridor. I know that
[2:07:25]
we've had many, many debates. And we'll continue to have
[2:07:27]
healthy debates regarding intensification along Kingston Road and in particular
[2:07:33]
the city center. That's where development needs to happen when
[2:07:37]
we talk about intensification. This really does not fit into
[2:07:43]
the community. Earlier tonight, we had a presentation, not about
[2:07:46]
this, from Craig Bamford, and there was that short little
[2:07:50]
video. We would be creating a community that would be
[2:07:53]
cut off. Yes, it would be able to cross. The
[2:07:57]
street and walk into another community. But this would be
[2:08:00]
isolated. This would be. A residential complex. In the middle
[2:08:07]
of an industrial area. That is not good planning. And
[2:08:13]
then finally. There was no affordability. I heard nothing throughout.
[2:08:21]
This process that would suggest to me that this was.
[2:08:25]
Going to help alleviate our rental crises, help alleviate the
[2:08:30]
lack of affordable housing in terms of the middle areas.
[2:08:33]
I heard nothing. So for all of those reasons, I'm
[2:08:38]
opposed. And I want to thank my seconder. For supporting
[2:08:41]
this and also the councilors that have also been getting
[2:08:45]
the same communications that I have been getting from the
[2:08:48]
community. And ask for your support to defeat this tonight.
[2:08:52]
And, madam chair, I'll ask for a recorded vote. Recorded
[2:08:56]
vote noted. Thank you, Councilor Brenner. Other members of committee
[2:08:59]
wishing to speak to this. Councilor pickles. Thank you, madam
[2:09:07]
Chair. I have to say, I'm a bit on the
[2:09:11]
fence on this one. Mr. Kyle. I keep saying. I
[2:09:19]
keep thinking of Dr. Kyle at the region. Sorry. Mr.
[2:09:22]
Bentley. If the staff report. Supports this residential development on
[2:09:31]
this piece of land, correct? That's correct. So. If it
[2:09:39]
isn't? Residential. Or maybe the question is what form of
[2:09:44]
residential. Or other use. Could staff conceive. Would be appropriate
[2:09:52]
for the site audit. Be commercial, because I know we've
[2:09:56]
had a proposal. For commercial data that wasn't received by
[2:09:58]
the neighborhood. Or could it be an industrial use? If
[2:10:05]
council refuses this this evening, what would you suggest goes
[2:10:08]
there? I think you're asking us to speculate, councilor, to
[2:10:12]
some degree, but we can. Give some context. I believe
[2:10:14]
there was a previous nonresidential application and maybe Neilish can
[2:10:18]
speak to that. That wasn't that long ago. Thank you,
[2:10:22]
Mr. Bentley. Councilor Pickles. If councilor chooses to deny these
[2:10:27]
applications, the current zoning permits for commercial plaza on the
[2:10:30]
site. So Foodstore retail stores that would be the default.
[2:10:34]
Sort of current uses. The applicant could come back. And
[2:10:39]
look to do a rezoning application for a residential residential
[2:10:43]
development in accordance with our official plan policies. That may
[2:10:47]
be a townhouse type development or a staff type of
[2:10:49]
development with a reduced overall density. So that would be
[2:10:53]
another option that they could come back or look to
[2:10:56]
do alternative sort. Of land uses, like office buildings or
[2:11:01]
something along that line. If I recall, wasn't the previous
[2:11:06]
application for a major food store? Or retail. There was.
[2:11:14]
A concern to the neighborhood. And I think even in
[2:11:17]
this report, it cited that vehicle movements, traffic. Would be
[2:11:24]
eight times greater than. What this proposed residential would be,
[2:11:29]
so it wasn't well received by the neighborhood either. Am
[2:11:32]
I correct? That is correct. There were multiple iterations. There
[2:11:36]
was originally a residential proposal for high density that was
[2:11:40]
turned down subsequently. Later, there was. To do a commercial,
[2:11:46]
and then we received the site plan application to do
[2:11:48]
the commercial component as well. That plan was sort of
[2:11:53]
abandoned eventually. So now the April has come back to
[2:11:56]
relook. At it for a residential development. You're correct. From
[2:12:01]
a transportation and traffic perspective. Commercial development would generate. Significantly
[2:12:07]
more traffic than a residential development, and typically the pattern
[2:12:11]
of traffic flows are different. Compared to a residential and
[2:12:17]
a commercial development as well. What if it were converted
[2:12:22]
to more of. A commercial industrial use like. The industrial
[2:12:31]
plaza to the west. Another Landbrook or something like that.
[2:12:36]
When you introduce commercial and residential or industrial residential within
[2:12:40]
the same land use that there may be land use
[2:12:42]
compatibility issues. From that context perspective, There could be an
[2:12:48]
opportunity to do mixed use development, some residential and some
[2:12:51]
commercial on that property. In accordance with their official plan
[2:12:55]
policies. But all of them, all of those type of
[2:12:59]
developments do generate some form of traffic and a level
[2:13:02]
of traffic. It is a developable parcel of land. At
[2:13:06]
the end of the day. Okay. Thank you for that.
[2:13:17]
I'll probably support Councilor Brenner in this, but I'm very
[2:13:20]
close. To being on the fence, and I'll probably have
[2:13:22]
some. Further discussions between now. And the council meeting, but
[2:13:29]
I'll wait to hear from other members of the committee
[2:13:32]
before. I make my final decision this evening. Thank you.
[2:13:36]
Thank you, Councilor Pickles. Anyone else on committee? Councilor robinson.
[2:13:44]
Yes. Thank you, madam Chair. I think this is a
[2:13:49]
great proposal. To finally put this to rest. I mean,
[2:13:53]
the people have been speaking about this for the last
[2:13:55]
couple of years. How much they do not want to
[2:13:58]
have this here. I'm going to come with a different,
[2:14:00]
a little bit of a different approach than councillor Brenner
[2:14:03]
did. More of safety. As a resident who lives right
[2:14:08]
here in the immediate area, someone who drives this intersection
[2:14:11]
every single day and sees firsthand what's happening on the
[2:14:14]
ground. I don't need a consultant's traffic model because I
[2:14:19]
live the reality, and this proposal is a disaster waiting
[2:14:24]
to happen. In my opinion, as it goes through, you
[2:14:27]
will be putting lives at risk. The traffic study provided,
[2:14:31]
I think, is flawed. It's out of touch and it's
[2:14:34]
frankly insulting to anyone who drives these streets. Here, in
[2:14:37]
this neighborhood, they say traffic congestion is acceptable. But of
[2:14:42]
course they do, because they're the ones that are profiting
[2:14:45]
from the project. And I really don't want to sugarcoat
[2:14:48]
this because I just think that. Is a lot of
[2:14:51]
Bs. The truth is, cars are already backed up. Sometimes
[2:14:55]
they're backed up all the way to the storage facility.
[2:14:59]
I have, like 40 cars in front of me. Sometimes
[2:15:01]
just when I'm going to the school. The left turns
[2:15:05]
require multiple green light sometimes to get through the intersection.
[2:15:10]
And even though they want to put in a double
[2:15:12]
left lane, it's going to cause a lot of accidents
[2:15:15]
on that corner from people making right turns with the
[2:15:17]
advance going from the opposite direction. Emergency vehicles would be
[2:15:23]
trapped because there is so much congestion. And residents. Your
[2:15:30]
constituents. They're stuck in gridlock with no solution in sight.
[2:15:33]
And what really happens? In this community is when there's
[2:15:35]
a minor accident on the 401. It doesn't. Even have
[2:15:38]
to be a major one. It could just be a
[2:15:40]
minor one. Kingston Road gets gridlocked. Bran at Twainville, Rose
[2:15:44]
bank, white throat all the way over Rouge mount. Get
[2:15:47]
all lucked up and residents. Can't even get out of
[2:15:50]
their driveways. I've sat there for ten minutes trying to
[2:15:53]
get out of my driveway and there's. Been other times
[2:15:56]
where I've just gone to the catholic school and it's.
[2:15:58]
Taken me almost 50 minutes to get home, which normally
[2:16:02]
takes less than 60 seconds. Well, two minutes. Really? It's
[2:16:07]
because West Shore and South Rosebank, they become parking lots.
[2:16:11]
Now you want a 252 units and hundreds of more
[2:16:15]
cars right on the choke point. I think it's reckless.
[2:16:18]
And I think it's dangerous. And from there, it even
[2:16:21]
gets worse because there's only two ways in and out
[2:16:24]
of Seth Rose bank. Two. Ways. That's it. So we
[2:16:28]
also know at the other entrance, At Kingston Road and
[2:16:31]
Rouge Mount. They want to put up a couple of
[2:16:34]
condo towers there as well. So you're basically boxing people
[2:16:40]
in. If we go ahead with this, you're cutting off
[2:16:43]
escape routes, and in the event of a fire, a
[2:16:46]
crash, or even a nuclear emergency, people will die because
[2:16:51]
you will not be able to get out. And that's
[2:16:54]
not an exaggeration. That is a reality when roads are
[2:16:56]
bl. Blocked and time is running out in those situations.
[2:17:01]
So this isn't about traffic flow, this is about public
[2:17:05]
safety. And it being a failure in the making. West
[2:17:09]
Shore doesn't want this south rose bank. Residents. They clearly
[2:17:13]
don't want this. Knowing in the community has asked for
[2:17:17]
this. So. Why do we even have zoning bylaws if
[2:17:23]
developers can just walt in, ask for 165% density increase
[2:17:28]
and get a green light. What is the point of
[2:17:30]
even having these bylaws? Zoning bylaws are supposed to protect
[2:17:33]
us. They're meant to reflect our community's. Vision, our infrastructure
[2:17:38]
limits and our. Emergency preparedness. If we keep bending them,
[2:17:44]
then they're going to mean nothing. This proposal isn't a
[2:17:47]
gentle intensification, as they call it. It's irresponsible. It's overdevelopment
[2:17:52]
in a choke point corridor during the time when we
[2:17:54]
need smart growth, not developer windfalls, we should be building
[2:17:58]
communities and not congesting them. And I would really hope
[2:18:03]
that we can get all of council's support on this
[2:18:06]
and. For what you were speaking to before about other
[2:18:10]
uses in the area, I mean, sure, a great little
[2:18:12]
townhouse complex would be great in that area. Or, yes,
[2:18:16]
maybe even a grocery store if we could figure that
[2:18:19]
dynamic out because. There are no grocery stores in this
[2:18:23]
area. Seth, of the 401. But those are just my
[2:18:27]
suggestions. But thank you very much, madam Chair, for your
[2:18:29]
time. I appreciate it. And thank you very much, Councilor
[2:18:32]
Brenner, for bringing this forward. Thank you, councilor. Robinson. Really
[2:18:36]
great and valid points there, councilor, but I did see
[2:18:39]
you with your hand. Up as well. Yes, ma'am. Thank
[2:18:43]
you. Just. My few cents on this one here. I
[2:18:47]
believe the award counselors are not in favor of. This
[2:18:51]
application. And if we can recall this, I think at
[2:18:54]
the time of our council chambers, When many residents. With
[2:18:59]
the same application came in, and there were many, many
[2:19:01]
delegates who spoke against this application here. So I think
[2:19:06]
one of the delegates, when I spoke on it, there
[2:19:08]
hasn't been much changes other than maybe, perhaps slight adjustment
[2:19:12]
to the building and structure itself. And I quite agree
[2:19:16]
with councilor Brenda when he speaks about our businesses, I
[2:19:20]
think. They've been here, and I think we want to
[2:19:23]
be loyal to them, and we want to make sure
[2:19:25]
that we honor them, because I think many businesses are
[2:19:29]
out there and have been there for quite some time,
[2:19:31]
so I am going to support Constant Brennan's motion here
[2:19:35]
tonight. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you, councilor, but. I
[2:19:40]
just have one point as well that I think the
[2:19:43]
majority of us have already touched on. And councilor Robinson
[2:19:48]
brought forward is the density. Fundamentally, I have always had
[2:19:53]
an issue. When we see requests to make significant. Alterations
[2:20:00]
to density and in this particular. Recommendation if you read
[2:20:05]
the initial. Number one. The request is to increase the
[2:20:11]
maximum net residential density from 80 to 213 units per
[2:20:16]
hectare. That is more than. Double. I mean, that is
[2:20:20]
a significant increase, from 80 to 213. That's not gentle.
[2:20:26]
That is high intensification in an area, as my colleagues
[2:20:30]
have pointed out. Is really not optimal to handle. A
[2:20:36]
significant density increase like this. And I pointed this out
[2:20:40]
before and made comments to our planning department that once
[2:20:43]
we open this door. An increased density of this nature
[2:20:48]
for one particular development. Where does it begin or where
[2:20:51]
does it end rather, because it changes the ceiling of
[2:20:53]
what is the art of the possible when we're. Talking
[2:20:56]
about density, so I have a fundamental issue with that.
[2:20:59]
I won't belabor. The point. I think we all know
[2:21:02]
where we are on this, and Councilor Brenner. Has requested.
[2:21:06]
A recorded vote. So, madam. Oh, I'm sorry. Councilor pickles.
[2:21:09]
Yes, sir. At the beginning, one councilor Brunner began speaking.
[2:21:17]
You had made comment that you didn't see the entire
[2:21:19]
motion on the screen. I've got it. Okay, I see
[2:21:24]
it. So there is items one too. There isn't any
[2:21:27]
others, and I'm. Not missing anything. You're not missing anything?
[2:21:30]
No. I apologize. It's the view that I have as
[2:21:33]
chair of the meeting. It's just a slight clarity I
[2:21:35]
wanted. To make sure I wasn't missing anything. Thank you.
[2:21:37]
I appreciate that. Thank you for taking care of me.
[2:21:41]
Madam Clerk, if I could ask you to take the
[2:21:44]
recorded vote role, please. Councilor brenner. On refusal. Yes. Councilor
[2:21:52]
butt. Same on refusal. Yes, councilor Cook. Yes. On this
[2:21:58]
proposed motion, which is a refusal. Yes. Councilor pickles. Yes.
[2:22:03]
Councilor Robinson. On refusal. Yes, Mayor hash? Yes. Madam Chair.
[2:22:10]
That's carried unanimously. Thank you all for your participation. We
[2:22:14]
are going to go back to the regular order of
[2:22:17]
things. We do have three additional items this evening. That
[2:22:22]
are on our agenda. So we are going to go
[2:22:25]
back to what would now be item 4.1, which. Is.
[2:22:32]
Our recommendation from our directors. City development and CBO report
[2:22:37]
PLM 1325 and with that. We do have a delegation.
[2:22:43]
From paul lowe's, who is the principal for sgl planning
[2:22:47]
and design, inc. In reference to pln 1325. And paul.
[2:22:55]
You are free to begin your delegation. I see we've
[2:22:57]
got. Your proposal up. Let's just make sure we can
[2:23:01]
hear from you. Yes. Can you hear me? Madam chair.
[2:23:04]
We can. Thank you very much, sir. You can go
[2:23:06]
ahead. Fantastic. Thank you. Good evening, madam chair, members of
[2:23:10]
planning committee. My name is Paul Lowe's. And I'm a
[2:23:13]
principal of SEO planning and design, and we've been retained
[2:23:16]
by the city of Pickering as a project managers for
[2:23:19]
the Northeast Pickering secondary plan study. So we've been working
[2:23:22]
closely. With city staff over the last couple of years
[2:23:25]
on moving. This secondary plan forward. So next slide, please.
[2:23:32]
Thank you. So just so everybody's aware, and I'm sure.
[2:23:34]
Certainly, sure you are. Because we've been at this for
[2:23:37]
a while. The project area, of course, is in northeast.
[2:23:41]
Pickering. As shown on the map in the brown area.
[2:23:45]
It comprises approximately 16 land. And these lands, as you've
[2:23:51]
heard earlier tonight from other delegates, were included in envision.
[2:23:54]
Durham the Durham Region official plan as a settlement area
[2:23:58]
boundary expansion with the intent to accommodate growth to 2051.
[2:24:03]
So what we're doing is the next step. Now, that's
[2:24:06]
included. In the urban area as a settlement expansion. We're
[2:24:10]
looking at trying to create what the land uses will
[2:24:12]
be the secondary plan. The more detailed lanyards for this
[2:24:16]
new community. Next slide, please. So what is the outcome
[2:24:20]
of the project? Well, is to develop detailed land uses
[2:24:24]
and a framework. For how these lands will develop. It
[2:24:32]
will create. A new complete community comprising both of residential
[2:24:36]
community lands, those supporting lands of commercial parks, community facilities
[2:24:42]
as well as employment opportunities. And. It's been developed through
[2:24:48]
detailed work of environmental servicing and transportation work, including a
[2:24:53]
subwashed study that's still ongoing. More fulsome servicing and transportation
[2:24:58]
work. Will be undertaken for the preferred plan that will
[2:25:02]
be presented to you tonight. Next slide, please. So where
[2:25:07]
we're at is in phase two. Phase one? Was development
[2:25:14]
of vision and principles and we had a pic. Public
[2:25:18]
information center in phase one, then phase two, we developed
[2:25:21]
a whole series of background studies and we came up
[2:25:24]
with three land use options and evaluation criteria, which I'm
[2:25:27]
going to briefly. Present to you tonight. And we had
[2:25:29]
another public information center last year on that, and now
[2:25:33]
we've been evaluating those options and come up with a
[2:25:35]
preferred land use option, which. We're going to have a
[2:25:39]
third pic later this month. The next phase. Phase three
[2:25:43]
will be developing the secondary plan policies and the detailed
[2:25:46]
land use schedule. Having. A public statutory public meeting at
[2:25:51]
that time, and then finally having council adopt the secondary
[2:25:55]
plan in phase four. Next slide, please. So, as I
[2:25:59]
said, we've had two public information centers so far, one
[2:26:02]
in May 2023. One in March 2024. We presented those
[2:26:07]
alternatives. So far we've had responses from over 200 people.
[2:26:14]
What we've heard so far was items such as prior
[2:26:17]
toys of protection, not your heritage. Ensure balanced mix of
[2:26:20]
employment and residential. Promote a walkable downtown, which means creating
[2:26:25]
a walkable downtown. And sure, Greenwood community, which we have
[2:26:28]
heard about tonight, is well connected. We've also heard about
[2:26:31]
trying to create a transition in housing form. Forms and
[2:26:34]
density between the new urban area and the existing Greenwood
[2:26:38]
community. Promote east west connections to address traffic engagement, indigenous
[2:26:43]
communities, and promote commercial employment uses along 407. Next slide,
[2:26:48]
please. More specifically on the three concepts, things that we
[2:26:53]
heard. On each of the concepts. I won't go through
[2:26:56]
each. Matter. But what we heard was support and option
[2:27:01]
one for Centralized regional center and walkability. Support for more
[2:27:07]
concentrated amenities. Option two. We heard support for walkability along
[2:27:13]
the medium density corridors, which you'll see. We also heard
[2:27:16]
support for integration of employment areas adjacent to Highway 407
[2:27:20]
interchanges and concept three we heard about. Support for straddling
[2:27:25]
the employment along Highway 407. Also preference for smaller parks
[2:27:30]
for walkable communities. So we've heard a lot of input.
[2:27:33]
That we've taken into account in our review and evaluation
[2:27:36]
of the options. Next slide, please. Before I get into
[2:27:40]
the options, I just want to recap. Some of the
[2:27:43]
key elements we've presented before. One is the vision, and
[2:27:46]
the vision hasn't changed since the phase one, which is
[2:27:49]
the area is to be a holistically planned the complete
[2:27:52]
community focusing on well being, sustainability of the natural environment.
[2:27:58]
Accomplished through innovative approaches to community center design, really alternative
[2:28:02]
approaches to community design stewardship. And it's to be a
[2:28:06]
multi, multi generational community, economic, diverse community, vibrant public spaces
[2:28:11]
and walkable neighborhoods. And this is really important because it
[2:28:14]
is separate from the rest of pick, ring and it
[2:28:16]
really needs to. Stand on its own. As a unique,
[2:28:20]
standalone, complete community. Next slide, please. And as part of
[2:28:25]
that phase one, we developed a series of principles. As
[2:28:30]
you see here, multigenerational, vibrant public spaces connected, walkable land
[2:28:34]
stewardship, economic diversity. Those principles have guided us through the
[2:28:38]
development of the options and the evaluation. Next slide, please.
[2:28:43]
So we've developed three land use concepts last year, which
[2:28:46]
we presented to the public at our last pic, and
[2:28:51]
these were based on three different themes generally. One was
[2:28:55]
a more of environmental focused, although. All options contain the
[2:29:03]
same amount of protected natural features. Second was the transit
[2:29:07]
focused and the third was a neighborhood focus. So I
[2:29:09]
just want to quickly walk you through those options, and
[2:29:11]
then quickly. Walk you through our preferred option. So, next
[2:29:14]
slide, please. What you find similar in all options. Is
[2:29:18]
that based on Envision Durham? We had to provide for
[2:29:21]
basically a minimum of 45,000 persons and 4300 jobs in
[2:29:26]
the community areas. Meeting a minimum density of 52 persons
[2:29:31]
and jobs overall, the community actually can achieve on all
[2:29:35]
three of these options in around 70,000 people, so we're
[2:29:38]
well in excess of the minimum that vision derm envisioned.
[2:29:42]
We also were providing for 6600 jobs in the employment
[2:29:46]
area. Now that employment area definitions change, but basically was
[2:29:51]
to accommodate 249 ha as identified through envision. Durham. What's
[2:29:57]
also the same in all options is a natural heritage
[2:29:59]
system, as you see here. Which has been developed through
[2:30:01]
the subwatershed study that's underway, and it's entering phase two
[2:30:05]
of the subwatership study. We also have a minimum of
[2:30:09]
approximately 62 parkland that we calculated based on parkland dedication.
[2:30:14]
Requirements. And we're also envisioning a higher order transit along
[2:30:18]
Highway 407. Or as you can see some of the
[2:30:21]
options north of 407 on a new transit quarter, so
[2:30:25]
let's walk through quickly. Those three options. Next slide, please.
[2:30:29]
First of all, the concept one, which is an environmental
[2:30:31]
focus, what we're trying to do here is preserve and
[2:30:34]
enhance as much as possible in natural hair system. So
[2:30:37]
you see a lot. Fewer collector roads. Them trying not
[2:30:42]
to across the natural heritage system and keep that natural
[2:30:45]
herrier system more. Unaffected. We have one large residential community
[2:30:51]
north of Highway 407 and. A smaller residential community around
[2:30:56]
Greenwood, which is a much lower, it would be much
[2:30:58]
lower density around that area and the linear employment area
[2:31:01]
on the south side of 407. We have a center,
[2:31:05]
regional center at 7th concession in Salem, basically, where the
[2:31:10]
regional Fisher plan vision Derma already had a regional center.
[2:31:15]
So recognizing that, and then we have a very large
[2:31:19]
park, community park right next to it in a high
[2:31:22]
school, so real central location for community facilities and our
[2:31:27]
higher density mixed use development. The parks are generally located
[2:31:32]
adjacent to the natural hair system. To build on that
[2:31:34]
green space and new collectors provide connectivity to larger blocks,
[2:31:39]
but you'll see a lot fewer of them than in
[2:31:41]
other options. Go to option two, please. Next slide. An
[2:31:47]
option two or concept two. We call it transit focused,
[2:31:50]
and so it's focused on a couple of matters. One,
[2:31:53]
we have. East West New arterior road north of Highway
[2:32:00]
407 between 407 and 7th, concession. This will be a
[2:32:03]
transit spine in this location. And then you'll see a
[2:32:08]
lot more collector Nartera roads creating a real fine grid
[2:32:11]
of collecting arterial roads to create more transit supportive through
[2:32:14]
busways. So it's a kind of opposite of option one
[2:32:18]
in terms of the amount of collector roads. So creating
[2:32:20]
that dense network. You also see two separate employment areas
[2:32:24]
in this one. Adjacent to Lake Ridge Road and the
[2:32:28]
interchange there and adjacent to Westney Road and a potential
[2:32:31]
future interchange in that location. And the central area being
[2:32:36]
all one community rate right through from highway seven up
[2:32:39]
to the 8th. Concession. Next slide, please. In concept three,
[2:32:44]
the neighborhood focus option. This option. What we've done is
[2:32:50]
created basically two communities, a southern community, which is around
[2:32:55]
Greenwood and Long highway seven and then employment on north
[2:33:01]
and south sides of 407. Take advantage of wherever that
[2:33:05]
new interchange may be, whether it's at Salem or at
[2:33:07]
Westney. And focus. Focusing that on the employment along the
[2:33:11]
highway to take advantage of that visibility. This option. Rather
[2:33:15]
than one regional downtown center, we've come up with three
[2:33:19]
different community nodes. Two in the north. Community. One in
[2:33:24]
the southern community, you see one's long Salem. The other
[2:33:27]
two are along. The 7th concession. And a few or
[2:33:31]
more roads than option one, but fewer new roads than
[2:33:36]
an option. Two. So, next slide, please. So from those
[2:33:42]
concepts, we presented those to the public last spring. A
[2:33:47]
year ago March. We've been working on the subwatershed study
[2:33:51]
in that time. And we also been evaluating the options.
[2:33:54]
So we created up a series of criteria based on
[2:33:58]
the five principles that I outlined earlier, and we've evaluated
[2:34:03]
those options. And the preferred option is not necessarily concept
[2:34:06]
one, two or three. But it ended up being a
[2:34:09]
hybrid of each, and I'm not going to go through
[2:34:12]
in detail the evaluation criteria at all, because it's quite
[2:34:14]
lengthy and it's in our report, but I'm just going
[2:34:16]
to highlight some of the criteria in the next slide.
[2:34:19]
Please. So you'll see in each one. We've got the
[2:34:23]
principles, like multigenerational, and then we have a series of
[2:34:26]
criteria under it. Connect in walkabille. That principle. A series
[2:34:29]
of criteria. Next slide, please. The same.
[2:34:39]
for the other three principles we have criterion measures for
[2:34:43]
each that went into in a detailed evaluation matrix and
[2:34:48]
what we had did in that valuation it was identified
[2:34:50]
the key elements In each concept that really we wanted
[2:34:48]
to bring out and bring forward into a preferred option,
[2:34:52]
so we go to the next slide, please? Next slide
[2:34:55]
results and the preliminary preferred concept. I say preliminary because
[2:34:59]
we need public input on this. This may still change
[2:35:01]
with through public input. We've already seen some tonight. There
[2:35:05]
are some correspondence you received from some of the landowners,
[2:35:09]
and we'll hear more from the public in our pic,
[2:35:11]
so this may change a little bit, but. Really? Let
[2:35:16]
me focus on a couple of the key elements. One,
[2:35:18]
we thought a centralized regional center. We call it a
[2:35:21]
regional center because it's not downtown Pickering, but it's going
[2:35:25]
to be a new downtown centered to this area, and
[2:35:28]
that's along Salem Road, the second major concept is this
[2:35:33]
new east west transit corridor. So bringing the transit. That
[2:35:37]
new future higher order transit up from Highway 407 onto
[2:35:40]
a new east west Artura Road. Which is seen the
[2:35:43]
dashed black line halfway between general. Halfway between 407 and
[2:35:47]
the 7th concession. It shows, ending at Lake Ridge, but
[2:35:51]
it will actually extend over and line up with a.
[2:35:56]
Avenue. As in Whitby and Brooklyn. It'll line up nicely
[2:36:01]
with that. You'll also see that 7th concession. Extending into
[2:36:06]
whippy. Will then line up with Columbus Road, so veer
[2:36:10]
down and line up with Columbus Road, so. There'll be
[2:36:14]
a continual extension between Whippy and Pickering for these new
[2:36:17]
roads. We also have one large employment area rather than
[2:36:22]
multiple or two and rather in south we've. Straddled along
[2:36:26]
407. It seemed to be the more preferred alignment. And
[2:36:32]
then we have medium density and mixed quarters proposed along
[2:36:35]
the collector roads. What I'm going to do is just
[2:36:39]
briefly walk you through each of those elements, so it's
[2:36:41]
a little bit easier to understand because there's a lot
[2:36:43]
going on this maps. We're using the same. Also highlight
[2:36:46]
we're using the same designations that are in your official
[2:36:50]
plan, so we're using those same designation categories except for
[2:36:54]
the regional center, which is new. So let's go through
[2:36:56]
the next slide, please. So, as I indicated, center to
[2:37:00]
the community regional center will be. The downtown permit the
[2:37:03]
highest densities, widest range of use. Uses commercial, institutional, cultural,
[2:37:09]
really to create that walkable downtown. In this new community.
[2:37:14]
Next slide, please. Then we have two community nodes. We
[2:37:20]
put those on as basically like barbells on that. Transit
[2:37:24]
cord or each end of the transit order. Maybe in
[2:37:27]
the future those might be a major transit station areas.
[2:37:31]
There's some comments. Maybe we're missing them further in the
[2:37:34]
north. Maybe we need another. Community center to the north.
[2:37:38]
From one of the comments from the landowners, they might
[2:37:40]
be right. It does. Really waited along that transit quarter.
[2:37:46]
Maybe we need to move one of those up for.
[2:37:47]
Their north. But the objective is to try and create
[2:37:51]
these three centers of higher densities. Commercial retail uses that
[2:37:55]
can morph over time, intensify over time. When the higher
[2:38:00]
order transit comes along that transit spine. Next slide, please.
[2:38:05]
Then we have a mix along that transit quarter. We
[2:38:07]
have mixed corridor, which is one of your. Designations in
[2:38:09]
your official plan. It's really promoting a broad range of
[2:38:12]
higher density. Residential and mixed juices, so it provides lots
[2:38:19]
of flexibility along that transit quarter for lots to happen
[2:38:22]
in terms of activities. We also have a bit of
[2:38:27]
Salem to the south, just north of highway seven. Up
[2:38:32]
to east west collector Road. Next slide, please. Then we
[2:38:36]
have a business area. So I indicated to you that
[2:38:39]
Vision Durham called for 249 employment. Now under the provincial
[2:38:44]
planning statement. We can't permit some of the uses we
[2:38:50]
used to permit in the employment area, restaurants. Offices, personal
[2:38:54]
service. We can't permit that. Under Vision Durham. That was
[2:39:00]
estimated to be about 10% of the land area, or
[2:39:02]
about 20% of the employment. So we've created new designation
[2:39:05]
called Business Area. To accommodate that, we put it on.
[2:39:08]
The south side of the transit quarter, recognizing that this
[2:39:11]
area may intensify over the future. But provided for that
[2:39:14]
broader range of uses and provides a buffer between the
[2:39:18]
residential and the. Employment to the south. Next slide, please.
[2:39:23]
So then the next area is the prestige employment. We
[2:39:27]
go, which is a long highway 407 south of that
[2:39:30]
business area down to a new east. West collector road
[2:39:33]
that really provides a buffer between the residential to the
[2:39:37]
south and the employment provides a nice land use bar.
[2:39:40]
Fern transition between the two areas. Next slide, please. And
[2:39:46]
we have the higher density areas. We have a series
[2:39:48]
of high density areas, one mostly along 7th concession because
[2:39:51]
we see that as another important east west transit area.
[2:39:55]
So we identified that and then next slide, please. And
[2:39:58]
then the high density air, of course, is apartments. Key
[2:40:00]
intersections. And then. Along all of our arterial and collector
[2:40:04]
roads, decrying. Create a transit supportability. It's a mix of
[2:40:09]
medium density uses. We mix of townhouses, other multiplexes, apartments.
[2:40:14]
Broad range of ground related and higher density uses to
[2:40:18]
really support. That transit. Next slide, please. And then the
[2:40:25]
remainder of the area is low density area. So you'll
[2:40:28]
see that there's. A couple of new collector roads, an
[2:40:32]
extension of arterials. The other one I didn't mention is
[2:40:35]
a new east west collector Road at the north end.
[2:40:40]
As well as a couple of smaller. Collectors and arterials
[2:40:45]
to link up, so make sure we have a porous
[2:40:49]
system. As dictated by our transportation consultant. I also have
[2:40:53]
failed to mention on all three options and into the
[2:40:56]
preferred. You'll see. There's a bypass of Westney Road around
[2:41:00]
Greenwood. Greenwood? Hamlet so provide that. That's been planned for
[2:41:04]
a long time. In vision, Durham. We're reflecting that. West
[2:41:10]
of that area, you can see a nice transition of
[2:41:13]
lower density area surrounding that hamlet to try and protect
[2:41:17]
that character of that hamlet. Next slide, please. So what's
[2:41:22]
next? Well, the next is. We're going to have a
[2:41:29]
pic. In a couple of weeks. We're then going to
[2:41:34]
be preparing our secondary plan policies, making any changes that
[2:41:37]
we hear. From the public. On this preferred plan. Find
[2:41:41]
an exile transportation and servicing studies. The subwatershed study will
[2:41:44]
go into the next phase. And then we'll be having
[2:41:46]
a statutory public meeting in the fall of 2025. And
[2:41:52]
that's finished. Madam chair of the presentation. Thank you. Thank
[2:41:57]
you very much, Mr. Lowe's. That was certainly a lot
[2:42:00]
of information to digest. Certainly was. Very cohesively put together,
[2:42:08]
though. I appreciate that. So that means that. We can
[2:42:15]
now ask questions of you as the delegates. I'm going
[2:42:17]
to open it up. I'm going to start a list.
[2:42:20]
Councilor, but followed by councilor Brenner. Yes. Thank you, madam.
[2:42:25]
Chair. Thank you for your presentation. Louis, I want to
[2:42:28]
ask you in terms of heritage. Lands you talk about.
[2:42:36]
Do we know in terms of how much, what is
[2:42:38]
the hectors in terms of heritage lands? That we have.
[2:42:46]
I can't recall off the top. It's in our report.
[2:42:47]
are you referring to natural heritage natural heritage But there
[2:42:51]
is extensive natural heritage identify through the subwatership study. But
[2:42:55]
I'm sorry. I don't have that right at the tip
[2:42:57]
of my fingertips. No worries. Certainly can provide. That too,
[2:43:00]
if you need it. When you did a public engagement.
[2:43:05]
Previously. Obviously. Concept one, concept two, concept three were presented
[2:43:10]
to them. Right. Do you have any numbers? In terms
[2:43:13]
of how the public reacted to those three concepts. We
[2:43:18]
have a summary report that's available. I believe it's online.
[2:43:22]
Of that public consultation, so there wasn't any voting of
[2:43:25]
it. We had people work together in small groups at
[2:43:29]
small tables and identified what they liked, disliked, and how
[2:43:33]
they would like to change each of the options. So
[2:43:35]
we had really good feedback on that. But. It wasn't
[2:43:38]
like a voting of one versus two versus three. It
[2:43:41]
really was identical, and what they liked and disliked of
[2:43:43]
each option. So your vision, when you talk about slides,
[2:43:47]
about the visions, you talked about sustainability. You talked about
[2:43:51]
it, that it stands alone. When you talk about standalone.
[2:43:56]
What do you mean by standalone? Could you elaborate on
[2:43:59]
that, please? Yeah. Certainly. Through you, Madam chair to a
[2:44:03]
counselor. This new community. Will not be attached to seat,
[2:44:09]
and it will not be attached to Soth Pickering. It
[2:44:12]
will be attached in small part to the expansion of
[2:44:15]
Brooklyn, but other than that, it's. Really going to be
[2:44:17]
a standalone new community. As part of the city of
[2:44:21]
Pickering, but separated from the rest of the urban area
[2:44:25]
and Pickering. So we really need to make sure. We
[2:44:30]
create a sustainable, complete community in that people get their
[2:44:33]
day to day, weekly needs in this community. Sure, they're
[2:44:36]
going to go shopping in downtown Pickering, should they go
[2:44:39]
shopping elsewhere? But really? You don't want everybody having to
[2:44:42]
leave this community and drive to get things they need.
[2:44:45]
So there's employment in this community. There's going to be
[2:44:49]
jobs in this community, there's going to be recreation in
[2:44:50]
this community that's going to be shopping in this community,
[2:44:53]
you need to make sure it's a full sum community
[2:44:55]
which for people to live and work and play in
[2:44:58]
this community. We had a delegation tonight, and I think.
[2:45:04]
If I can stand corrected. I think they talked about.
[2:45:08]
The watershed areas and flooding. Maybe, perhaps. If that development
[2:45:14]
takes place in there, would you share your feedback in
[2:45:18]
terms. Of flooding and how and watershed areas. Would you
[2:45:23]
want to reflect something on that? Certainly. Thank you. To
[2:45:27]
you, madam chair to the councilor. So that subwater should
[2:45:29]
study. That's being undertaken by Montrose, and there's a committee
[2:45:33]
that includes the Toronto region conservation authority here, ca includes.
[2:45:38]
A ton of ajaxes involved, the regions involved, and what
[2:45:42]
it's looking at is not only the protection of natural
[2:45:44]
heritage, but exactly that. The flooding issues and. How do
[2:45:48]
we minimize flooding? How do we control that? How do
[2:45:51]
we provide the correct stormwater management to make sure that.
[2:45:56]
There's no impacts downstream from this new community. Right in
[2:46:01]
terms of engagements now. How many? I believe you've done
[2:46:05]
two engagements prior to this. Correct? And a third on.
[2:46:09]
The 18th. That's great. How many more to come? After
[2:46:14]
that, it's the statutory public meeting in the fall. So
[2:46:18]
the public still risen? Still. Have opportunities to moisturize. Give
[2:46:25]
their feedback. In such quite a few. Yeah, it's two
[2:46:29]
more for sure. Okay, very well. Thanks for addressing my
[2:46:32]
question. Thank you, madam Chair. Thank you, Councilor Butt. Councilor
[2:46:38]
Brenner. You are next to my list. Thank you. Very
[2:46:41]
much, madam chair. Mr. Loz, I want to start first
[2:46:49]
with. When you presented in your report, you had three
[2:46:54]
concepts. And. I want to ask you first about. The
[2:47:01]
I guess it would be concept one. And if I
[2:47:04]
understood correct, concept one had more of an had more
[2:47:07]
of an environmental focus to it, would that be correct?
[2:47:11]
I should say the council. That is correct. Although all
[2:47:14]
three options had the same natural heritage system. Protected. But.
[2:47:23]
What option one did. It had fewer crossings of it,
[2:47:25]
and we had a few restoration areas. We identified as
[2:47:28]
well. When you were preparing. I'm going to call it
[2:47:31]
your hybrid, which is. Your recommended concept. When you were
[2:47:37]
preparing that. Was any consideration given to how to incorporate
[2:47:42]
any of the agricultural lands, any of the class soils.
[2:47:48]
Into. The vision. If you put forward. I see your
[2:47:54]
meditation councilor? No. And I'll say that because these lands
[2:47:59]
were all. Identified for urban uses. There's not anticipated to
[2:48:05]
be. Any protection, any protection within that new urban area
[2:48:10]
of agriculture land. So agricultural continuation of agricultural lands. Now,
[2:48:15]
that's not to say that urban agriculture can occur, community
[2:48:19]
gardens can occur. That type of thing. But. We're looking
[2:48:24]
at this as a full urban community. And trying to
[2:48:28]
maximize densities. For hitting the housing required housing. That the
[2:48:35]
municipality and the promise are looking for. With that. The
[2:48:39]
higher the density you have, the more you're protecting agricultural
[2:48:42]
lands outside this. Area. Maybe. It's not for me to
[2:48:47]
debate with you. I know that. So let me try
[2:48:49]
this. For a question. Then, from what you just explained.
[2:48:54]
And understanding that there's no agricultural lands within the areas
[2:48:57]
that you are presenting tonight. Where those lands abut agricultural
[2:49:03]
lands. How do you see the transition from the agricultural
[2:49:09]
lands to where the developer lens will go? I mean,
[2:49:13]
they're going to connect the. Absolutely. Madam chair to the
[2:49:19]
council. You're absolutely right. There is going to be an
[2:49:23]
interface, particularly on to the north. To the south. And
[2:49:28]
somewhat. To the west. Although there's some more green belt
[2:49:33]
and natural features to the, to the west, but there
[2:49:36]
will be agriculture interfaces, and we'll have to have policies
[2:49:39]
to deal with agulture. Interfaces. We'll also have policies on
[2:49:43]
phasing because we recognize this community is not all going
[2:49:47]
to happen one year, there's going to be agriculture that's
[2:49:50]
going to remain on those lands until the community fully.
[2:49:53]
Develops over. A period of time and we need to
[2:49:56]
create phasing policies ensure that that agricultural land can continue
[2:50:00]
to be used for that purposes until it's needed for
[2:50:03]
that urban usage. So we'll have policies that talk about
[2:50:06]
that agriculture interface and the phasing of development. In the
[2:50:11]
area as you're going forward. In the next phase, you'll
[2:50:14]
be developing those type of policies that would be part
[2:50:17]
of this, right? Thank you. The next question I had
[2:50:22]
had to do. With the, I guess it was the
[2:50:25]
concept that you have incorporated, and that would be the
[2:50:28]
high order transit the east west. That would be parallel
[2:50:32]
to the Highway 407. Can you elaborate a little bit
[2:50:36]
more on where they will connect outside the city of
[2:50:40]
Pickley? Because if you rightfully point out. This abuts more
[2:50:45]
to the Brooklyn community, which would be whitby, than it
[2:50:48]
does to South Pickering or into Seaton. So do you
[2:50:53]
envision that the high order transit would have connectivity links,
[2:50:56]
for example, to the college and university. As across as
[2:51:01]
Simcoe. Do you envision that it would go to the
[2:51:03]
hospital as an example that's badly needed on the border
[2:51:07]
of Brooklyn in the city of Picarin. Council. Yes, exactly.
[2:51:12]
So the transit right now is proposed by the provinces
[2:51:15]
along the highway 407. What? We're suggesting where? When it
[2:51:20]
enters northeast, Pickering. From the west, it veers up to.
[2:51:23]
Long. This new transit corridor goes along this new transit
[2:51:26]
quarter, hits Lake Ridge, and then. Comes down back to.
[2:51:32]
Highway 407 and Highway 412. But I think the great
[2:51:37]
opportunity is to bring it down Lake Ridge. Road by
[2:51:39]
the new hospital, then along highway seven and then back
[2:51:42]
up to 407. So you'll. Be able to access this
[2:51:45]
new hospital as well, and it can continue further east
[2:51:49]
towards the college at Semco along highway four. Hundred and
[2:51:53]
seven. Great. Thank you. Madam chair, if I could just
[2:51:57]
give a little bit more information to Councilor Brenner. On
[2:52:00]
that point. Councilor Brenner, there's been conversations with the region
[2:52:04]
regarding this. Transit way corridor as well. Especially with looking
[2:52:09]
at how the synergies between DRT and to York transit
[2:52:14]
to the west could also. Fit into all of this.
[2:52:19]
Your question is valid in terms of the connectivity from
[2:52:21]
northeast Peerkerin to South Pickering and that is something that
[2:52:24]
is under consideration between the consulting group that the north
[2:52:29]
pickering developers have hired. And they partnered with the developers
[2:52:33]
in Brooklyn to look at it. North Pickering, North Durham
[2:52:37]
transit study and all of this is being considered as
[2:52:40]
part of that. Thank you. The final question that I
[2:52:45]
have has to do more with the intensification. As you
[2:52:50]
pointed out, there was quite a change in terms of
[2:52:53]
the original. I guess one of the concepts that looked
[2:52:56]
at low to medium density housing designation. And it's now
[2:53:02]
gone to the. High density in terms of high rise
[2:53:06]
development. When you referenced that. And I'm going to paraphrase
[2:53:12]
what I thought you said, in a sense that. Northeast
[2:53:15]
pipeline would have more in common with Brooklyn than it
[2:53:19]
would, obviously, than it would with Sud. Pickering and Seaton.
[2:53:23]
That being said, if I'm correct, How do you see
[2:53:26]
high rise development? Fitting in abutting Brooklyn. To the best
[2:53:33]
of my knowledge, I haven't seen. The magnitude of high
[2:53:37]
rise developments that are being proposed. In your preferred concept
[2:53:43]
in Brooklyn, which basically has it standing on its own.
[2:53:48]
I see you. To the councilor. So where we've shown
[2:53:51]
the high densities along the 7th concession. Which was identified
[2:53:55]
in one of the previous options as a regional corridor
[2:53:57]
and was identified in vision. Durham as a regional corridor,
[2:54:00]
so that. Going with the regional official plan, going by
[2:54:06]
the wayside and being incorporated in your official plan. We
[2:54:08]
looked at different designations running the colony regional corridor, the
[2:54:11]
same intent of the regional corridors for higher density development,
[2:54:15]
you'll find the same thing. In the Brooklyn expansion area,
[2:54:19]
and I'm actually working for the town of Whitby. On
[2:54:21]
the Brooklyn expansion area and along Columbus Road. We also
[2:54:25]
have. Ad intersections of higher density development being proposed along
[2:54:29]
Columbus Road, which would connect in the proposals to connect
[2:54:33]
it in with. The 7th concession. So you'll see that
[2:54:37]
continuation of medium density and then higher density at key
[2:54:41]
intersections. At those key transit locations. In both Brooklyn expansion
[2:54:47]
area and in northeast Brickering. Have you had feedback on
[2:54:52]
this concept? From the town of Whitby. Yes, and it's
[2:54:57]
available for the public to comment on now on their
[2:55:01]
website. Can you share with us what the feedback was
[2:55:03]
from the town itself? We had a public meeting last.
[2:55:12]
Pic last November. And the final preferred is out, with
[2:55:16]
statutory public meeting being planned for October. So it hasn't
[2:55:20]
gone to council with council endorsement. The town of Whitby
[2:55:25]
comment on. This concept? Or is that what you're referring
[2:55:29]
to? On the Brooklyn concept. The Brooklyn official plan. Northeast
[2:55:36]
Pickering, since it butts the town of Whitby. Have public
[2:55:39]
comments. Yeah, the big comments. That's what I meant. Sorry.
[2:55:42]
I'm sorry. That I'm confused. There has been no comment
[2:55:47]
about northeast pickering at the tunnel would be yet. Okay,
[2:55:51]
thank you very much. Thank you, madam chair. And I
[2:55:53]
appreciate the latitude of the questions. And thank you, fias.
[2:55:56]
For stepping in to clarify as well. Excellent questions. Thank
[2:56:00]
you, Councilor Brenner. Any further. Councilor Robinson and Councilor Pickles.
[2:56:06]
I see you. Okay. Councilor Robinson. Thank you very much.
[2:56:09]
Madam chair, just one quick question. Have you quantified the
[2:56:13]
traffic impact on the streets in Ajax, like throughout West
[2:56:17]
Knee and Salem at all. For the people that are
[2:56:20]
moving north south. Through you, madam chair to the councilor.
[2:56:25]
So the background transportation report was done at the beginning.
[2:56:29]
Of phase two. Just so the existing conditions and some
[2:56:31]
of the issues right now, we're doing a translation study
[2:56:35]
on the preferred option, so we'll be looking at that
[2:56:37]
exact matter. About the impact on the existing transportation network.
[2:56:41]
So that's being undertaken right now on this. Preferred. Option.
[2:56:44]
Okay, and when do you think we might be able
[2:56:45]
to get the results of that? Would that be four.
[2:56:48]
We go move ahead with any more meetings. Will you
[2:56:51]
have that? Not before the open house. On the 18th,
[2:56:57]
but before your statutory public meeting. For sure. Yes. Okay,
[2:57:00]
great. Thank you very much. Thank you, madam chair. You're
[2:57:03]
very welcome. Councilor Robinson, councilor Pickles. Thank you, madam Chair.
[2:57:11]
And thank you, Paul, for the presentation. Very thorough. So
[2:57:15]
what we have in front of us tonight is to
[2:57:18]
receive this report. And then forward it to. Public. Sorry.
[2:57:23]
To the public agencies, landowners. Others engage in the process.
[2:57:29]
So really, we're continuing the public consultation process. Would that
[2:57:35]
be correct? Councilor? Absolutely. That's what we're doing. Getting into
[2:57:39]
the next phase of that. And you heard a number
[2:57:42]
of comments this evening from delegates. And I think you've
[2:57:49]
heard some comments. From committee members. And you'll be hearing
[2:57:53]
some more comments, I'm sure. So, to be clear, the
[2:57:56]
comments you received tonight are both from the delegates and
[2:58:00]
from members of committee will be taken into account. As
[2:58:05]
you proceed through this process. Madam chair to the council.
[2:58:09]
Absolutely. That's a key element of the process. And then
[2:58:12]
there will be. In addition to all that consultation, there
[2:58:16]
be a statutory public meeting held in the fall. Once
[2:58:20]
again, where people can provide comments. Absolutely. I want to
[2:58:27]
clarify what the scope. Of this work is. So this
[2:58:33]
is a secondary plan. So if I want to put
[2:58:37]
that in, Layman turns. What I say that we're designing
[2:58:42]
what the build out of the community would look like.
[2:58:46]
How it would function and perhaps a little bit about.
[2:58:51]
The time frame. Or that it would be undertaken. Would
[2:58:56]
that through you, madam chair to the councilor. Yes, that's
[2:58:58]
a good way to. Put it. I would also add
[2:59:00]
a caveat. It will be at a high level, so
[2:59:03]
we start with the regional official plan. It just says
[2:59:05]
this is community employment. Now we're going. To move down.
[2:59:10]
Into some more detail. After the community plan, there's going
[2:59:12]
to be a series of neighborhood plans that are going
[2:59:14]
to get really down in the detail of what that
[2:59:17]
little neighborhood is going to look like. And then the
[2:59:19]
developers will come forward with their draft plans of subdivision.
[2:59:22]
So it's a step of getting more and more detail.
[2:59:25]
So we're starting at a high level and we're refining
[2:59:28]
it and getting to a greater level of detail as
[2:59:31]
we go along through the process, as we get closer.
[2:59:34]
To actually building out the community. That's correct. Okay. Just
[2:59:40]
before I ask some more questions, I want to go
[2:59:43]
back to what it is not. So it's not within
[2:59:46]
the scope of the study to reconsider. The provincial approval
[2:59:52]
of the urban area or the regional approval of the
[2:59:55]
urban area. We've had a couple delegates tonight. Say. More
[3:00:02]
or less. Scrap the whole thing. Take it out of
[3:00:06]
the urban area. That's not part of the scope of
[3:00:09]
this project. Would that be fair to say? That's correct,
[3:00:13]
yes. Okay, so just back to this level of doing
[3:00:17]
more detail as we go along. A couple of the
[3:00:20]
delegates spoke to phasing. Can you tell us what phasing
[3:00:29]
would mean in the context of the secondary planner implementation?
[3:00:33]
Of a secondary plan. And whether you agree with it
[3:00:36]
or not. Certainly. Chair to the councilor. So phasing, what
[3:00:42]
we usually do is we look at. The extension of
[3:00:45]
infrastructure. So we're going to need new trunk water mains.
[3:00:49]
We're? Going to need trunk sewers, we're going to need
[3:00:51]
new roads built, and we need to make sure the
[3:00:54]
development is in line with that extension of those roads,
[3:00:57]
so we may say that. In this neighborhood. This is
[3:01:01]
all the infrastructure you need to bring on to bring
[3:01:03]
that neighborhood on. And we'll have that parsed out for
[3:01:09]
each of those new neighbors to say what? Infrastructure needs
[3:01:11]
to be phased in line. We'll also be looking at
[3:01:14]
schools and parks. We need those to come on at
[3:01:16]
the same time, so that's usually the phasing. We look
[3:01:19]
at? What is all the infrastructure? Community facilities, public uses
[3:01:24]
that we need. In each of those neighborhoods to be
[3:01:27]
brought on when. It's to be developed. Okay, so you
[3:01:33]
support phasing, and that's probably language we might see. As
[3:01:38]
the study. Progresses. That's correct. Yes. In your presentation. You
[3:01:47]
spoke of Greenwood a number of times, and I wanted
[3:01:49]
to go back. There was a couple. Of delegates from
[3:01:52]
Greenwood. And. I forget how they express it, but they
[3:01:56]
were concerned that the hamlet of Greenwood was being. Erased.
[3:02:03]
That's probably not the word they use, but I'll say
[3:02:05]
race. But yet. You mentioned Greenwood a number of times.
[3:02:10]
So in the secondary plan as it's developed, You still
[3:02:15]
see Greenwood as a recognized. Definable community. That will have
[3:02:22]
some special attention. Paid to preserving its nature. Or at
[3:02:29]
least I'm hoping. Let me put it that way through
[3:02:32]
you, ma'am. Chairing a counselor. Yes. And I see this,
[3:02:35]
councilor pickles, I see this very much. Like White Valley
[3:02:39]
as I did the Seaton. Secondary plan. And neighborhood plans
[3:02:44]
for the city. We paid special attempts to wait for
[3:02:47]
to make sure that seaton developed that Weightville Hammock was
[3:02:51]
be able to maintain and maintain that key historic character
[3:02:54]
it has today, so we'll be looking the same thing
[3:02:56]
at Greenwood, although. It's just the secondary plan doesn't include
[3:03:00]
it. We'll have policies on. That, to talk about that
[3:03:03]
transition to ensure that that Greenwood hamlet remains as a
[3:03:06]
hamlet and. Continues a hammlet and what uses maybe need
[3:03:11]
to be. Maybe there's a little neighborhood center to help
[3:03:13]
provide a little bit more commercial uses to the residents
[3:03:17]
of Greenwood. Just in a new urban area. So we'll
[3:03:20]
be looking at that and how to transition to make
[3:03:22]
sure that Hammlet is maintained and protected. If I can
[3:03:26]
just add to the commentary as well, councilor Pickles. I
[3:03:31]
recognize some of the concerns raised by the residents there
[3:03:34]
and just wanted to clarify a couple of things. First
[3:03:36]
of all, Greenwood does have status in the official plan.
[3:03:41]
Currently amongst a bunch of other. Rural settlements. But just
[3:03:47]
in the context of our consolidated zoning bylaw, which council
[3:03:50]
may be aware we had gone through that process. And
[3:03:55]
with the previous zoning bylaw, the hamlet of Greenwood had
[3:03:59]
a particular zone v for village. Zone within that previous
[3:04:04]
bylaw framework. And through our consolidation work, the village zone
[3:04:10]
was actually consolidated within the restructured residential zones. Certainly staff
[3:04:16]
would be interested in considering perhaps an exception to that
[3:04:20]
zoning bylaw. If that's of interest. That was something. That
[3:04:25]
was done quite some time ago for. Kinsail in an
[3:04:28]
older set of bylaws. So that's something that could be
[3:04:30]
done to provide a little more clarity, but it still
[3:04:34]
remains within. The new consolidated zoing ball. I just want
[3:04:38]
to clarify that. Thank you, Mr. Mendelia. I was going
[3:04:40]
to come back to you later because I do think
[3:04:42]
there is some confusion. By the delegation with respect to
[3:04:45]
the consolidation of the zoning bylaws. And the OP exercises
[3:04:51]
and the secondary plan exercises, so Greenwood is not being
[3:04:54]
erased from. The scope of our planning exercises. So, Paul,
[3:05:00]
I just had one more question. Although. Greenwood. Any of
[3:05:08]
the committees like to see it preserved. I want to
[3:05:11]
be clear that. We're still weirdly identifying. A bypass. The
[3:05:19]
west Neuro bypass through Greenwood. That remains part of the
[3:05:24]
time frame. And I guess. Would be considered when we
[3:05:28]
talk about phasing and traffic studies to ensure that the
[3:05:31]
hamlet isn't overrun by traffic. Correct. Good way to put
[3:05:35]
it, yes. That will be addressed through the transportation study
[3:05:41]
to look at and when we do the neighborhood plan.
[3:05:43]
For that area. Be a little bit more detail when
[3:05:45]
that's going to occur. Okay, well, I'm not sure our
[3:05:50]
delegations are still online at this late hour, but. Hopefully
[3:05:54]
that clarifies some of the concerns that they had. And
[3:05:57]
thank you for answering my questions, Paul. Thank you. Welcome.
[3:06:01]
Thank you, Councilor Pickles. I have two questions. Unless mayor
[3:06:08]
ash also has comments to make otherwise. I will ask
[3:06:12]
my two questions. So I'll be fairly expedient. With the
[3:06:17]
three concepts designs presented. Paul, you noted that. Your preferred
[3:06:25]
concept. Is the one that will receive the studies. So,
[3:06:30]
to councilor Robinson's point. Traffic studies on Salem, how will
[3:06:35]
they be looked at? And I'm assuming that these studies
[3:06:38]
will only be done based on the preferred concept you're
[3:06:40]
bringing forward. So my question is. Thus, of those three
[3:06:44]
concepts, what if that's not the one that the public.
[3:06:48]
Prefers. Personally, and I liked your number one the best.
[3:06:52]
I'm not so thrilled with the other ones, but that
[3:06:54]
would also mean that as we move forward in this,
[3:06:57]
there will be no studies applicable to the alternate concepts
[3:07:00]
that were presented. Is that fair to say? In part.
[3:07:04]
We're having our pic. In a week and a half.
[3:07:11]
We'll hear from the public whether, what they think about
[3:07:13]
their concept. We've heard from one of the delegates. Letters
[3:07:17]
from the landlords. They don't like all the art. The
[3:07:19]
collector roads. So our transportation consultant will take that into
[3:07:22]
account and look at that and say, yeah, I still
[3:07:24]
think we need those. Or. No, you're right, we don't.
[3:07:27]
Or. Whatever the public may say in terms of what
[3:07:30]
they think. Of the preferred, so we still have time.
[3:07:34]
To take that into account, make some refinements and make
[3:07:37]
sure that. The final option that we present to at
[3:07:40]
a statutory public meeting is fully documented. And evaluated by
[3:07:46]
those transportation and servicing studies. And that's what I should
[3:07:50]
study. So we still have time to make sure that
[3:07:52]
all lines up appropriately. Okay. Thanks very much, Paul. You
[3:07:56]
actually answered my next question. In your response there. So
[3:07:59]
I have no additional questions. Which means we've exhausted the
[3:08:03]
speakers. List. So we will move forward and we need
[3:08:08]
to move this and second it in order to get
[3:08:11]
it on the floor in order to receive for information.
[3:08:14]
Do I have a mover and seconder? Councilor Pickles and
[3:08:17]
councilor butt. Councilor pickles, as mover councillor Butt. As seconder.
[3:08:22]
So we will open up this motion now for. Further
[3:08:26]
questions and debate, and I'll start a list. The first
[3:08:28]
is councilor Pickles. Followed by Councillor Bhatt. Thank you, chair
[3:08:34]
cook. I wanted to address a couple of matters to
[3:08:39]
Mr. Bentley. And I think it's important to take a
[3:08:44]
step back here. Two steps back. Mr. Bentley, I think
[3:08:49]
a lot of people, a lot of residents are of
[3:08:52]
the misconception that. The mayor of the city and its
[3:08:57]
council decide. We want a whole bunch more people in
[3:09:01]
Pickering. And we need to go expand our boundaries and
[3:09:03]
build and build and build and do this, but. It's
[3:09:06]
really a top down process. The province does provincial among
[3:09:10]
federal government does. Then the province looks at what the
[3:09:14]
trends are, how many people are being attracted to Ontario,
[3:09:17]
how many people are going to be attracted to the
[3:09:19]
greater Toronto area. And they try to prescribe where that
[3:09:23]
population is going to be, how people are going to
[3:09:26]
be housed. And. They do good or bad jobs, depending
[3:09:31]
how things like that work, but basically. This process is
[3:09:35]
top driven. And it's been made mention of. Pickering has
[3:09:40]
been directed that by 2051 there's going to be about
[3:09:45]
250,000. People. In region of Durham and city of Pickering.
[3:09:49]
It's now your responsibility to figure out how that's going
[3:09:52]
to be accomplished and where they're going to go. Am
[3:09:55]
I correct? In saying that it is a top down
[3:09:59]
process. It's not a bottom up process. When it comes
[3:10:02]
to determining the ultimate populations of municipalities. Yeah, Casper. Because
[3:10:07]
I think that's some fair comments. We're definitely getting clear
[3:10:10]
direction. From the province that we need to provide more
[3:10:12]
housing and accommodate. Increased population and all of that stuff.
[3:10:18]
And we are also working with Envision Durham, which was
[3:10:21]
approved by regional council. It was approved by the province.
[3:10:25]
And that's in place. We work on that basis to
[3:10:29]
keep on going with. This. Okay. Thank you. I want
[3:10:34]
to speak a little bit about Greenwood because, and I
[3:10:37]
know you jumped in and I. Appreciate that, Mr. Penley,
[3:10:39]
but. I think in our official plan. Is not Greenwood
[3:10:47]
clearly identified as a hamlet in community, and that's going
[3:10:51]
to remain that. Way. In our official plan. But there
[3:10:56]
was another parallel process going on with respect to the
[3:10:59]
consolidation of bylaws. There were many zoning bylaws in pickering,
[3:11:05]
and we're coming up. We're consolidating them. Do you think
[3:11:09]
there's maybe a misunderstanding there? About. The racing. Of the
[3:11:17]
hamlet of Greenwood that it exists in our official plan.
[3:11:20]
We've heard from the northeast peckering plan, it will continue
[3:11:23]
to exist as identifiable. Community, although in the consolidated zoning
[3:11:28]
bylaws, it was somewhat assumed. So. Can you provide a
[3:11:31]
little clarity there because I think a couple of the
[3:11:33]
delegations legitimately had a concern, but I think they might
[3:11:37]
have mixed up two processes. And you've already spoken to
[3:11:41]
this a little bit, but I'm giving you a little
[3:11:42]
more opportunity. I'll try and provide a bit more. Yes.
[3:11:47]
Just again, to reiterate. The current official plan identifies Greenwood
[3:11:53]
and that surrounding area. We call it settlement five. In
[3:11:56]
our official plan. And I can certainly welcome planning staff
[3:12:00]
if they want to add more content here. But as
[3:12:03]
far as I understand it, that's the intention, to keep
[3:12:05]
that. Existing area recognized within those documents. And again with
[3:12:11]
our consolidated zoning Bilay review process, looking for opportunities to
[3:12:15]
consolidate all the bylaws into one user friendly bylaw. The
[3:12:20]
intention is really to make things easier. To work with.
[3:12:25]
However, you may recall. I think. There was hundreds and
[3:12:30]
hundreds of exceptions within the zoning bylaw to recognize some
[3:12:34]
existing conditions and that sort of thing. So there could
[3:12:38]
certainly be an opportunity to recognize an exception within the
[3:12:42]
zoning bylaw that recognizes a bit more clearly. Greenwood again.
[3:12:46]
That's been done before and years past. But it wasn't
[3:12:51]
eliminated. It just was consolidated under a bigger umbrella of
[3:12:55]
residential. Permissible uses, so I hope that provides a bit
[3:12:58]
of clarity about what was done. Separate process there will
[3:13:02]
be an opportunity. When we finish the Pickering forward official
[3:13:06]
plan review process and have a new official plan in
[3:13:09]
place. There will be an opportunity to revisit the zoning
[3:13:14]
bylaws to have regard for any adjustments or updates that
[3:13:19]
have been made to the Pickering official plans. I hope
[3:13:21]
that provides a bit of context. So. The community of
[3:13:25]
Greenwood is identifiable. Community is still there, and it's going
[3:13:28]
to continue to be there. Yes. Okay. The consultant made
[3:13:34]
mention of another. Public information meeting coming up. I'm not
[3:13:38]
sure he mentioned the date, but it's June 18. June
[3:13:42]
18 that's correct. So one organization, and I don't think
[3:13:46]
it's a secret to note their name. Land over landings
[3:13:49]
happens to coincidentally have their annual general meeting on the
[3:13:53]
same date. So some of their membership and some of
[3:13:57]
their followers, I suppose, are not going to be able
[3:14:00]
to attend that public information meeting. You and I have
[3:14:03]
spoken a couple of times, and I've spoken with the
[3:14:04]
mayor and spoken with land over landings. Following this meeting.
[3:14:10]
And presumably they could have come on here tonight and
[3:14:12]
viewed the presentation and heard some of the discussion, but
[3:14:15]
if they have any. Additional comments, questions or want to
[3:14:19]
have a discussion. We're able to reach out with them
[3:14:23]
and make some sort of arrangement, noting that they had
[3:14:25]
a conflict that evening. A scoped presentation or a discussion
[3:14:30]
with them. To allow them the same opportunity that they
[3:14:37]
happen to miss because of the conflicting of the two
[3:14:39]
dates. That would be correct, yes. We're certainly happy to
[3:14:42]
follow up with the appropriate representatives. With land of our
[3:14:45]
landings after this meeting, not tonight, but tomorrow. Or soon
[3:14:50]
thereafter and certainly welcome their input. Whatever we land on,
[3:14:55]
if they're comfortable. Either through teams or if they want
[3:15:00]
a meeting of some sort. We can certainly discuss that
[3:15:03]
and what that looks like. As an alternative to the
[3:15:06]
June 18. Any information that we'd be providing would be
[3:15:10]
very similar to what would be provided this evening and
[3:15:13]
on the 18th as well. Okay. Much appreciated. And. My
[3:15:19]
last comment or question, madam chair, and I just want
[3:15:21]
to go back to what the consultant said, and that
[3:15:24]
is that this is a continuing process of public consultation.
[3:15:29]
We've noted a number of upcoming public consultation opportunities and.
[3:15:35]
That this continues to go from a higher level to
[3:15:37]
a lower level, and there be many opportunities. For public
[3:15:43]
consultation before any shovel hits the ground and any plan
[3:15:47]
is approved that there'd be many opportunities, Mr. Bentley. Would
[3:15:50]
that be correct? Yes, and I believe Paulos had mentioned
[3:15:54]
that. Earlier this evening that there'd be at least two
[3:15:56]
opportunities, and perhaps a third one if we are able
[3:15:59]
to fashion another meeting with lender landings. In this context,
[3:16:03]
and certainly outside of those structured meetings, We're more than
[3:16:08]
happy to take any additional feedback or commentary. From the
[3:16:13]
public as well. Thank you.
[3:16:22]
Oh, that's it for me, madam. Chair. Thank you. Yes,
[3:16:25]
thank you. Cancer. Bike. Can you hear us? Yeah, now
[3:16:33]
I can hear you. That's fine. Thank you. Madam chair.
[3:16:39]
Mr. Bessley, if I can probably have your. Maybe, perhaps
[3:16:43]
other staff member could maybe answer. A couple of my
[3:16:46]
questions, too, as well. From the delegation that we had
[3:16:50]
on the Greenwood community. They addressed in terms of the
[3:16:54]
Greenwood Community Hall. Will be demolished. We know that there
[3:16:59]
is a new community center being built, and I think
[3:17:02]
they also mentioned that they had credit club, they had
[3:17:05]
scouting, they had other events, birthday parties, community. Events that
[3:17:10]
the community was using. Even if, though, that Greenwood Community
[3:17:15]
center is being demolished, maybe you want to speak to
[3:17:18]
it. I know the answers. What are we being replaced
[3:17:23]
with and what will the Greenwood community will have access
[3:17:26]
to? Well. I think it was kind of spoken to
[3:17:31]
earlier this evening, but the pickering or the PHCC's? Pickering
[3:17:34]
Heritage Community center, which is under construction, I believe is
[3:17:37]
intended to be that option. To serve the Greenwood community.
[3:17:42]
My understanding and I see Marissa's put her camera on
[3:17:45]
feel. Free to chime in. I believe there's been some
[3:17:47]
active discussions between the city. And members of the Greenwood
[3:17:52]
community to try and find some solutions as it relates
[3:17:54]
to that, but I haven't been directly involved in that.
[3:17:56]
And perhaps if Marissa wants to chime in. And add
[3:17:58]
some more details that might be appreciated. Certainly through the
[3:18:02]
chair to councilor Butt, the director of community services has
[3:18:07]
been. In discussions with agreement recreation association for some time
[3:18:13]
to facilitate the transition of their activities from the Greenwood
[3:18:16]
Community center to the Pickering Heritage and community center. Of
[3:18:21]
course, that form would take a little bit of a
[3:18:24]
different shape than it currently does in the sense that
[3:18:26]
PHCC will be. Operated and managed by the city. However,
[3:18:30]
we want to ensure that the activities that they're used
[3:18:33]
to enjoying at the Greenwood Community Center. Are activities that
[3:18:37]
we can offer through the city. And so we continue
[3:18:40]
to have those discussions and it does include. Their continued
[3:18:45]
participation in the community grant program that they currently participate
[3:18:49]
in. It allows them to receive funds from the city.
[3:18:53]
And then those funds go towards the rental of the
[3:18:56]
Greenwood Community center in the future, it would be the
[3:18:58]
rental of the Pickering heritage community center to operate. Those
[3:19:03]
community hamlet activities. They're used to having, whether they be
[3:19:07]
community events or festivals, so. We are in conversations with
[3:19:12]
them to facilitate that transition. And enable similar uses at
[3:19:17]
the new facility. But there is no at any point
[3:19:21]
that we will probably take away from any of the
[3:19:25]
activities. They do presently in order to accommodate in our
[3:19:29]
new facilities. So we're looking at the suite of activities
[3:19:33]
that they normally run to see what we can accommodate
[3:19:36]
and our intent. Is to facilitate and accommodate all those
[3:19:40]
that we can. There is, as was mentioned earlier, A
[3:19:46]
challenge in accommodating the weavers, as the weavers would like
[3:19:49]
the weavers would like dedicated space, and this facility is
[3:19:52]
going to be open to all users, and so there
[3:19:54]
isn't an opportunity to provide them with dedicated space. We
[3:19:57]
have a space for them. But it won't be dedicated
[3:20:01]
space. So we're continuing those discussions. But if they have
[3:20:04]
a dance class or. I understand they've had karate operating
[3:20:08]
there for a number of years and we'd love to
[3:20:11]
speak to the karate instructor and maintain that arrangement. We
[3:20:16]
just want to have those discussions to facilitate that transition.
[3:20:19]
Okay, that's great. Thank you. Ms. Maurice for addressing that.
[3:20:26]
Mr. Bentley, I know the questions about watershed came up
[3:20:30]
in one of the delegates. And when we built a
[3:20:34]
new subdivision, we take every proaction. Action preventive in terms
[3:20:41]
of flooding watershed. I know city does and have done
[3:20:46]
a good job. In terms of looking after and maintaining
[3:20:50]
a watershed area, maybe could you speak a little bit
[3:20:53]
on that. How this process works. So thank you, councilor,
[3:20:59]
but. It's been an ongoing process, and as you heard
[3:21:03]
this evening, there is a working group that's comprised of
[3:21:06]
a bunch of different. People with interest in this, including
[3:21:11]
the town of Ajax. And going through that, and with
[3:21:15]
conservation authority at the table, it's important to have that.
[3:21:17]
Expertise there. In the room working through that process. And
[3:21:22]
that's still ongoing. I see Fiaz has put his camera
[3:21:24]
on to maybe add some more details there, but certainly
[3:21:28]
it's important to identify with the preferred scenario. That's ultimately
[3:21:33]
chosen to. Address impacts from flooding and how that could
[3:21:38]
be mitigated through the design of the community. But Fias,
[3:21:42]
if you want to add in more to that, please.
[3:21:44]
Sure. Through you, madam chair. To councilor, but councilor, but
[3:21:48]
you can appreciate that the area of Northeast pick Green
[3:21:51]
there's. A lot of focus around the watershed work. And
[3:21:55]
so when we initiated the process for hiring SGL and
[3:22:00]
the planning experts, Paul Lowe's and his team. One of
[3:22:04]
the things we made sure we did was to bring
[3:22:06]
in the subject matter experts to help us with the
[3:22:08]
scope of work when it came to watershed study works.
[3:22:13]
And other similar studies. And the TRCA is really. The
[3:22:18]
experts in understanding what are the necessities, what are the.
[3:22:23]
Mitigating factors. And another critical piece to that, especially related
[3:22:26]
to Pickering, was our neighbors and Ajax. So we engaged
[3:22:29]
our neighbors in Ajax, and we made sure we sat
[3:22:33]
down with them and went through the process. Of how
[3:22:35]
the watershed study would ultimately be driven, the scope of
[3:22:39]
work. And to date. We are having ongoing dialogue with
[3:22:46]
the town of Ajax, their staff, and along with the
[3:22:48]
other stakeholders, who have raised it as a concern. But
[3:22:52]
ultimately, when you bring in the subject matter experts to
[3:22:54]
help you with the scope of work, help you work
[3:22:57]
with your consultant and city staff and staff. Across the
[3:23:01]
region, especially in the. Town of Ajax. It really helps
[3:23:05]
eliminate some of the concerns that people may have and
[3:23:08]
that's the approach we've taken and we've seen it work
[3:23:11]
with our relationship building. On this matter with the count
[3:23:14]
of Ajax. So the town of Ajax is fully engaged.
[3:23:19]
Yeah, that's great. Thank you, Fias, for addressing that Madam
[3:23:22]
chair. Those are the questions. I had. Thank you. Appreciate
[3:23:24]
that. You're welcome, councilor. But Councilor Brenner of two. Thank
[3:23:30]
you very much. Madam Chair. Through you to our staff.
[3:23:36]
And then I have some comments as well. Mr. Bentley.
[3:23:42]
Am I correct in understanding tonight is a motion to
[3:23:44]
receive? The report, correct? Yeah. So specifically to receive for
[3:23:51]
information. That would enable us to share that with the
[3:23:55]
commenting agencies and other interested parties to comment on this.
[3:24:02]
I understand correctly, because this is. An important question that
[3:24:06]
I'm asking you very specifically. Is tonight also the. Opportunity.
[3:24:13]
That while we're receiving the report. That staff will be
[3:24:17]
taken away. Comments that we have heard tonight, be it
[3:24:21]
from members of committee. Or and from the public delegations,
[3:24:24]
would that be correct as well? Yes. Despite the June
[3:24:30]
18 meeting coming up, this is another equal opportunity. For
[3:24:35]
comments that we've heard this evening, to take that in
[3:24:37]
and factor that in. So absolutely. Hey with that, then.
[3:24:41]
What I would like to get from you is some
[3:24:43]
assurances that, number one, That the staff are taken away
[3:24:50]
and will in fact provide information regarding and it would
[3:24:54]
raise by councilor pickles, and it was raised by the
[3:24:57]
public. A phasing. Of northeast Pickering. That the comments that
[3:25:06]
were made is you can't do it all at once.
[3:25:10]
So some elaboration and clarification in terms of a policy
[3:25:13]
that, in fact builds the phasing component in number two.
[3:25:19]
I would like to see something that talks about the
[3:25:21]
transitioning from agricultural lands to the urban envelope of northeast
[3:25:26]
Pickering. There's the acknowledgment that it's there, but I would
[3:25:31]
like to see some policies that are built into it
[3:25:35]
that talk about the transition, the transition there's no point
[3:25:39]
in having agricultural lands on one side of the road,
[3:25:42]
having urban develop on the other side of a road
[3:25:44]
because the agricultural lens aren't going to survive. So transition.
[3:25:48]
Transitioning is really key and critical to see that. The
[3:25:53]
other part. That I would like to see, having just
[3:25:57]
recently come back. From a visit to Granville island in
[3:26:00]
Vancouver. I would like to see some policy clarification. As
[3:26:03]
it relates to design guidelines. When I think of what
[3:26:08]
I saw in Vancouver in particular, I saw a mesh
[3:26:12]
of high rise developments that had interesting designs. That were
[3:26:18]
pieces of art, the way they were designed. As an
[3:26:21]
example, they abutted other medium. Density housing. But always they
[3:26:28]
had policies in place that talked about housing, farm. Architectural
[3:26:33]
control. I recognize that the planning act does not give
[3:26:36]
us that power, but I would like to see some
[3:26:38]
policies that will certainly encourage it. And I certainly know
[3:26:42]
that from dialogue with the Dorsey people from northeast Pickering
[3:26:46]
that is certainly receptive to looking at creative designs that
[3:26:50]
make this a very unique community. Finally, what I would
[3:26:53]
like to see. Is. Included in that would be something
[3:26:59]
that talks about massing as well. I'd like to see
[3:27:04]
something that while we're going to be doing intensification going
[3:27:06]
to be tribe and achieving. The targets. I'd also like
[3:27:11]
to get some idea in terms of massing of some
[3:27:14]
kind of controls and footprint size. So that there's a
[3:27:18]
range of not just slim and trim, but also the
[3:27:23]
opportunity to. Have flatter and more, I guess more medium
[3:27:29]
type density as well, but all blending together. Do I
[3:27:34]
have assurances that that, in fact, will be part of,
[3:27:36]
or can be part of. Where staff look at incorporating
[3:27:42]
that into policies for consideration. Not asking me to commit
[3:27:46]
to anything tonight. I'm asking for assurances that you've. Heard
[3:27:49]
loud and clear. The importance of that. Council. Brenner. I've
[3:27:54]
been taking notes as you've been speaking, and we've. Got
[3:27:57]
the video recording that we can refer back to. We
[3:27:59]
will definitely be taking this. Back to our team. Wonderful.
[3:28:02]
And the other question that I do have. And it
[3:28:06]
has to do with the high order of transit, and
[3:28:08]
I know that. The consultants did comment and FIas did
[3:28:12]
comment. While it's outside of the North Pickering area. Do
[3:28:17]
we? And I guess this would be more our staff.
[3:28:20]
Either Fiaz or yourself, Mr. Bentley. We are still pursuing.
[3:28:27]
I'm hoping to have a high frequency. Hike Wood rail
[3:28:33]
station in the city of Pickering in Greenwood or Green
[3:28:37]
River. Do we see this as tying into that as
[3:28:41]
part of the high order transit quarter system and how
[3:28:44]
do you envision that to look like? Yes. Do you
[3:28:47]
want to take that? Sure. Thanks, Kyle. Through you, madam
[3:28:50]
chair to Councilor Brenner. Councilor Brennan, that's a great question.
[3:28:53]
Something that I anticipated you asking tonight. If you can
[3:28:58]
imagine the fact that the high frequency rail system. We
[3:29:03]
are anticipating that to be on the existing right of
[3:29:07]
way of the Havelock line that does intercept the 407
[3:29:11]
right of way, which is on the south side. So
[3:29:13]
the work that has been done is to see how
[3:29:16]
there could be synergies between both of those systems. Now,
[3:29:21]
As you can appreciate. We are in the infancy stages
[3:29:25]
of understanding where the highest. Rail is going to operate
[3:29:31]
through and whether or not picking will be successful in
[3:29:35]
getting a station. Stop or not with respect to the
[3:29:38]
transertway corridor. It's always been as a policy document, going
[3:29:43]
back to the early 2000s with respect to Seaton and
[3:29:46]
the 407 Yi expansion through Durham. So we're hoping that.
[3:29:51]
Transitway corridor could serve the purpose it's always meant to
[3:29:55]
serve, and that is to help with not only bringing
[3:29:59]
traffic from the south to the north of transit users,
[3:30:02]
but also traffic from the north to the south as
[3:30:05]
well. You have the GO transit station on the south
[3:30:08]
side of Pickering, Amber trying to see how the two
[3:30:11]
can. Work together and adapt with each other, but that's
[3:30:15]
definitely something that we've had. Conversation with MTO, Metrolinks, and
[3:30:20]
obviously. With the Alto team, which is the team that
[3:30:23]
is federally running the high frequency speed. High speed. Rail
[3:30:27]
project now. Thank you very much, Fiaz and thank you,
[3:30:31]
Mr. Benton, for your comments and your response to mine
[3:30:36]
with that. Sorry. And councilor Brunner, just one more point.
[3:30:38]
I wanted to just. Add to what Kyle mentioned. As
[3:30:44]
part of the last question, when it comes to the
[3:30:46]
phasing of Northeast Pickering, I just want to make sure
[3:30:49]
that it's clear that. The phasing of a community like
[3:30:53]
northeast Pickering is driven by the infrastructure that comes to
[3:30:56]
the community. So. There has to be a phasing process
[3:31:00]
in place for infrastructure, for water, sanitary utilities and all
[3:31:05]
those other key elements to help drive growth, so. It's
[3:31:09]
almost. A confirmed idea that exists when it comes to
[3:31:14]
these types of new urban and boundary expansions. Where you
[3:31:17]
have to phase the development, and we're seeing that right
[3:31:19]
now in Seaton. As well. Where? Seat? The servicing and
[3:31:23]
all the different elements are being expended from the east
[3:31:25]
to the west. To get a scene up and running
[3:31:28]
so we can expect a scene for northeast Pickering as
[3:31:30]
well. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bentley. And thank you
[3:31:34]
very much. Fiaz with that madam chair, I guess my
[3:31:38]
comments on this basically are very simple. Tonight is to
[3:31:42]
receive a report for information I have no problem supporting
[3:31:45]
receiving for information. With the caveat and understanding that we
[3:31:50]
do have that commitment from staff that we're far from
[3:31:53]
the end of this journey and. There's still opportunities. Whether
[3:31:58]
we to either disagree with it. But you can't disagree
[3:32:00]
with something until we know. What the final product is
[3:32:03]
going to be proposed. So tonight is to receive your
[3:32:06]
information. And I'm certainly prepared to do that. I look
[3:32:11]
forward to hearing how staff have incorporated. The very important
[3:32:15]
comments that we heard from the community tonight and from
[3:32:18]
also members of this committee. Great. Thank you, Councilor Brenner.
[3:32:22]
Thank you very much. You're very welcome. And. With that.
[3:32:27]
We will call the vote. Unless, councilor Robinson, you did
[3:32:31]
want to comment. Before you move on to comments, and
[3:32:33]
I am going to remind this council we are at
[3:32:35]
the bottom of the hour. We have 30 minutes until.
[3:32:37]
We will need to call for an extension and we
[3:32:40]
have not completed this item and have two more remaining.
[3:32:44]
So before we hit the top of the hour, I
[3:32:46]
may interrupt the next delegation in order to. Ask for
[3:32:50]
an extension. Go ahead. Councilor Robinson, you have the floor.
[3:32:53]
Super. Thank you so much. It's no surprise that I
[3:32:58]
am against this. And I'll give you some reasons why,
[3:33:02]
and I'm hoping that they make them. Into the comments
[3:33:04]
as well. The first one is because Seaton is nowhere
[3:33:08]
near being fully built out. Satan's only approximately 20% to
[3:33:13]
25% built out based on recent growth reports and development
[3:33:17]
activity. Thousands of residential units, employment lands and mixed use
[3:33:21]
spaces are already approved in service, but. They're still sitting
[3:33:26]
undeveloped. There is ample capacity at Seaton to meet Pickerings
[3:33:31]
near and midterm housing and employment needs without touching northeast
[3:33:35]
peckering. There's no population pressure that justifies immediate expansion. Developing
[3:33:44]
northeast Pickering before Seaton is built out with strange city
[3:33:48]
resources. That would undermine smart growth principles. It will increase
[3:33:53]
the burden on taxpayer payers to service new, fragmented, fragmented
[3:33:57]
communities and is going to accelerate farmland loss, any environmental
[3:34:03]
disruption unnecessarily. And that, as we know, we've all been,
[3:34:08]
there's been a lot of talk. And concerns about that.
[3:34:12]
The proposed development relies heavily on infrastructure. That is not
[3:34:17]
yet built or funded. They're talking about type C arterial
[3:34:21]
roads that are proposed. But that remains conceptual. Transit plants
[3:34:27]
are not supported or confirmed by agency involvements or financial
[3:34:31]
commitments. Water, wastewater and stormwater systems will need to be
[3:34:36]
constructed from the ground up because they are not there.
[3:34:39]
And there's no clear plan for expanding fire, police or
[3:34:43]
emergency medical services for the area as well. For the
[3:34:48]
environmental impact that it's going to have, although. One of
[3:34:53]
the concepts a label as being environment focused. The plan
[3:34:58]
includes road crossings through the natural heritage system. Fragmentation of
[3:35:04]
ecological corridors and restorate words like restoration and compensation areas
[3:35:10]
that appear to offset rather than prevent environmental loss, I
[3:35:16]
think we should be cautious of plans that present development
[3:35:19]
as environmental protection without. A transparent ecological impact study. Or
[3:35:25]
conservation authority endorsement at this time. And then there's the
[3:35:30]
farmland. We hear a lot. Of talk about the farmland.
[3:35:33]
This area includes some of Dura region's most productive agricultural
[3:35:37]
land according to the city's own agriculture impact assessment. Irreversible
[3:35:43]
conversion of farmland is expected. And in the time when
[3:35:48]
food security and local food systems are critical. Protecting arable
[3:35:52]
land must remain one of our top priorities here in
[3:35:56]
pictoring. The preferred land use concept was shaped in part
[3:36:02]
by landowners input, not by the community. Many of whom
[3:36:06]
are developers or their land speculators. While stakeholders engagement is
[3:36:12]
important, the balance or inflows must be transparent, and I
[3:36:15]
think it needs to be equitable. There is concern that
[3:36:20]
economic interests have overshowered community feedback and shaping this financial
[3:36:25]
layout. And then. If you want to talk about the
[3:36:31]
lack of financial transparency within this report, like who's going
[3:36:34]
to find the necessary infrastructure and services will exist. Will
[3:36:37]
existing taxpayers be asked to subsidize this growth, or what
[3:36:41]
happens if development outpaces revenues? Long term financial liability must
[3:36:46]
be clearly identified before council makes a decision. That's going
[3:36:50]
to bind future budgets. We're already stressed in that department
[3:36:55]
already. That's pretty much all I really want to say.
[3:37:01]
I think that. A responsible approach to this would be.
[3:37:06]
To proceed very cautiously. I think we need to reassess
[3:37:11]
community needs, and I think we need to ensure full
[3:37:14]
transparency before we're committing to something that is going to
[3:37:17]
be an irreversible. Irreversible development. So I would like to
[3:37:25]
get a recorded vote with this. I know we're just
[3:37:28]
receiving. It today, but I'd still like to have a
[3:37:30]
recorded vote if I'm madam. Chair and madam clerk. Thank
[3:37:34]
you. You are welcome and recorded vote is always in
[3:37:37]
order. Before we move to that, I do just have
[3:37:41]
one comment. As well. I won't belabor the point because
[3:37:45]
I think all of my colleagues have made. Outstanding points.
[3:37:49]
Surrounding the entire issue. I've said it before, I have
[3:37:53]
some fundamental issues with how. We. Expend our boundaries and
[3:37:59]
change things permanently. I would also like to point out
[3:38:02]
one of the key points in the report, since we
[3:38:04]
didn't really dig into reading some of that. Just so
[3:38:07]
the public is aware that item three. Point. 33 in
[3:38:12]
a report. Notes that envision Durham was passed by the
[3:38:16]
regional council in September 2024, and then in January of
[3:38:20]
2025, the province announced that the region would be deemed.
[3:38:25]
As an upper term municipality. With no planning. Responsibility, which
[3:38:31]
means that the final approval. On all of the plans
[3:38:35]
that we are discussing today. Remain the purview of the
[3:38:38]
province, and there the final arbiter of approval on this.
[3:38:41]
That being said, I am going to support this because
[3:38:45]
it is received for information. I think it is important
[3:38:47]
that we continue with public input and continue to hold
[3:38:52]
the public meetings on this. So that we can continue
[3:38:55]
to have that dialogue. As it's very important. Just one
[3:39:01]
other further question that I'm unclear on. I'm not sure
[3:39:04]
if this is a Kyle point or politics is for
[3:39:08]
you. I noted. There was a question on indigenous consultation.
[3:39:15]
That has been completed, yes. And we will continue to
[3:39:19]
engage them as we move through the next couple of
[3:39:21]
public information sessions. I can speak to that a little
[3:39:26]
bit. Councilor Cook. Certainly. The city of Pickering, we're committed
[3:39:32]
to fostering a meaningful engagement. With msifn miss sagas of
[3:39:36]
skug island, first nation and. It's been a journey. It
[3:39:41]
continues to be, and certainly. We've got an agreement working
[3:39:45]
with msifn. For them to be at the table and
[3:39:50]
to provide comments input to us. And this structured engagement
[3:39:54]
in that way, and we continue to do that. So
[3:39:58]
we will continue in the coming weeks as well. To
[3:40:03]
make sure that we're hearing what they have to say
[3:40:05]
and that we're factoring that into our review of this
[3:40:08]
fiat. Did you want to add anything to that? Yeah.
[3:40:11]
Sure, madam chair. We have had communications with. The first
[3:40:18]
nations. From the onset, we've continued to have dialogue. Through
[3:40:23]
our consultant, Sgl. And Dylan as well. And we are
[3:40:28]
also having dialogue through. The idea that. We will continue
[3:40:35]
to have the consultation. And the communications with the MSifn.
[3:40:41]
Not only through this process of the next couple of
[3:40:44]
months, but also following. The approval of the northeast. Pickering
[3:40:52]
secondary plan and moving forward, and then eventually. That responsibility
[3:40:57]
becomes far greater for the landowners group as well. For
[3:40:59]
them to have continued dialogue with MsIFn as well, and
[3:41:04]
all the other first station crews, because that is something
[3:41:07]
that the city has requested. As part of our. Ongoing
[3:41:11]
commitment to work with the first nations because we feel
[3:41:14]
it's critical. But as part of the city driven process,
[3:41:18]
which is the secondary plan we are committed to doing.
[3:41:21]
That, and we will continue to have the open dialogue.
[3:41:24]
But following the northeast pickering secondary plan process, When it's
[3:41:29]
really driven by the landowners. We encourage, and I've asked
[3:41:34]
landowners to have that memorandum of understanding, to have a
[3:41:38]
commitment. To work with them and to listen to their
[3:41:41]
concerns as well as you heard our consultant talk. About
[3:41:44]
neighborhood planning and subdivision planning and all those different factors
[3:41:47]
that would happen after the fact. We have asked our
[3:41:50]
landowners to make sure that the first. Nations are part
[3:41:53]
of those conversations as well. Great. Thank you for that.
[3:41:57]
Madam Clerk, I believe councilor Robinson called for recorded governments.
[3:42:01]
If you could kindly take the role. Councilor Robinson. No.
[3:42:06]
Councilor Brenner. Yes. Councilor butt. Yes. Councilor pickles. Yes, Mayor
[3:42:16]
Ash. Yes, madam Chair. That's carried five to one. Thank
[3:42:22]
you, Madam Clerk. Now, before we move on to our
[3:42:25]
next item, which is 4.2. We do have. Joint delegation.
[3:42:31]
For an extension. Yes, thank you. Moving for an extension.
[3:42:35]
I was seconding that motion. Thank you for the clarity.
[3:42:38]
On that. So for the audience at home, councilor Bot
[3:42:41]
has just moved. An extension seconded by Councilor Brunner, and
[3:42:47]
we're going to vote on. That it does require a
[3:42:49]
majority to extend 1 hour to midnight, which is as
[3:42:52]
late as this. Meeting can go. So, all those in
[3:42:55]
favor? And we have one opposed. So that carries. We
[3:43:00]
are going to carry on. All right. Thank you for
[3:43:04]
that. Hopefully we still have our next two delegates on
[3:43:09]
the line. For item 4.2, which is Jamie Cook and
[3:43:13]
Bobby Gotier. Jamie Cook? No relations myself. His managing partner,
[3:43:20]
a land planning in land economics at Watson and associates
[3:43:23]
economist, and joining him as Bobby Gotier from WSP and
[3:43:27]
they will be speaking on Pickering official plan review. Gentlemen.
[3:43:32]
Okay, your presentation is up. You may go ahead. Thank
[3:43:37]
you and good evening. Can you hear me okay? Yes,
[3:43:40]
absolutely. We can hear you fine, thank you. Thank you.
[3:43:43]
So, good evening, madam chair members of council. It's a
[3:43:45]
pleasure to be able to speak to you tonight to
[3:43:47]
present you the draft or, sorry, the final results of
[3:43:51]
our Pickering City Pickering growth management strategy. If we could
[3:43:56]
go to the introduction. Slide on slide two. So just
[3:44:00]
to start off, we were retained back in 2024 along
[3:44:05]
with WSP to develop a growth management strategy for the
[3:44:08]
city of Pickering, and the purpose of the study is
[3:44:11]
to comprehensively assess the city's long term population, housing and
[3:44:15]
employment growth outlook. Looking at the 2051 we've also looked
[3:44:19]
at residential. Intensification opportunities as well as an assessment of
[3:44:24]
urban land needs. To that same time period. A key
[3:44:27]
component of the GMS is also to assess a series
[3:44:30]
of or provide a series of policy recommendations as well
[3:44:33]
as broad planning direction for the seat and employment area,
[3:44:36]
which I'll speak to. Next slide. So it's important to
[3:44:41]
first acknowledge that this Pickering GMS study was conducted within
[3:44:45]
the context of the current provincial planning policy framework. So
[3:44:48]
back in 2024, in October. The new provincial planning statement,
[3:44:55]
the PPS, came into effect. This document essentially integrates the
[3:45:01]
former growth plan for the greater golden horseshoe and the
[3:45:04]
2020 pps. Into one integrated document and. A key outcome
[3:45:10]
of that process was to ultimately provide a more outcome
[3:45:12]
based, less prescriptive approach to planning in Ontario. As you
[3:45:18]
mentioned earlier, it's also important to note that through. This
[3:45:23]
bill. Bill 185. A key outcome of that was the
[3:45:27]
removal of the Germ region as an aperture planning authority.
[3:45:32]
And so, as envisionderm, which is now approved, provides the
[3:45:36]
growth management framework to be integrated into the city's official
[3:45:40]
plan. Where appropriate. It is noted that, however, That significant
[3:45:47]
changes have occurred through the provincial planning framework since that
[3:45:49]
time, and so this work ultimately considers both envision Durham
[3:45:53]
as well as the recent provincial changes in developing the
[3:45:57]
city's gms and ultimately the direction to the official plan.
[3:46:02]
Next slide. So if we can go to slide five,
[3:46:06]
I wanted to provide a bit of an overview of.
[3:46:09]
The population, housing and employment growth forecast assessment. So as
[3:46:13]
part of this work, We did provide a very comprehensive
[3:46:18]
assessment of the city's long term population growth outlook to
[3:46:21]
the year 2051. And as it was mentioned earlier, the
[3:46:25]
top down process that's involved with doing this. It's ultimately,
[3:46:29]
in our opinion, a top down process, but also a
[3:46:31]
bottom. Up process. There is a lot of. Macro and
[3:46:35]
broader work that needs to be done first to understand
[3:46:38]
how the growth for pickering fits within the broader context
[3:46:41]
of Durham. And the GTA and beyond. And so we
[3:46:44]
did that comprehensive assessment, and we identified. That essentially. The
[3:46:50]
city is ultimately tracking. Closely to envision Derm and that
[3:46:54]
envisionderm population forecast 2051 is still an appropriate long term
[3:46:58]
projection for the city. We did some minor tweaking to
[3:47:03]
the near term projections, but ultimately. We're still planning for
[3:47:06]
256,400 people by 2051. That's an increase of about 152,600
[3:47:14]
new residents. That represents a growth rate of about 3.1%
[3:47:18]
annually, so it's a very strong. Population growth rate. Quite
[3:47:23]
a bit higher than the Durham region growth rate, which
[3:47:25]
is 2%, which is also strong. Growth rate, so. We're
[3:47:29]
looking at an area that's located within a very fast
[3:47:32]
growing. Larger city region. And it is one of the
[3:47:37]
fastest growing areas within that larger, fast growing area. So
[3:47:43]
to accommodate this amount of population, we've identified a need
[3:47:46]
for about 1840 additional households. Annually over the next 30
[3:47:50]
years. Through a variety of different types of low, medium,
[3:47:54]
and high density housing. On the next slide, I wanted
[3:47:58]
to just summarize the employment forecast. We've also conducted a
[3:48:01]
review of the city's long term employment forecast, and similar
[3:48:04]
to the population analysis, we have concluded that. The long
[3:48:09]
term. Employment forecast set out by Vision Durham is still
[3:48:13]
an appropriate long term forecast that identifies a total employment
[3:48:17]
base of 93,800 employees by 2051. That's an increase of
[3:48:23]
over 50,000 jobs between 2024 and 2051. It's an annual
[3:48:28]
growth rate of just under. 3%. Again, that's a strong
[3:48:33]
growth rate, higher than the average growth rate for the
[3:48:37]
region as a whole. And we've also identified an employment
[3:48:40]
activity rate, which is the ratio of jobs to population.
[3:48:43]
Of about 37%. And you can see that over the
[3:48:47]
long term, the activity rate. Is. Expected to stay relatively
[3:48:52]
stable. It's expected to grow over the near term, but
[3:48:55]
then fall gradually over the long term, as the population
[3:48:58]
ages, it puts downward pressure on that population. Employment to
[3:49:03]
population ratio as more people are leaving the labor force
[3:49:07]
pool. So it is. An encouraging sign that we do
[3:49:11]
feel that over the long term we will maintain that
[3:49:14]
relative average or ratio. The next slide gets into. Some
[3:49:20]
of the analysis that builds on these population, housing and
[3:49:23]
employment projections. So as part of this work, we conducted
[3:49:27]
a series of long term growth scenarios, and so, given
[3:49:31]
some of the recent interest in development of some of
[3:49:34]
the key strategic growth areas within the city. Areas like.
[3:49:39]
The city center and the Kingston Road corridor. And potential
[3:49:43]
higher densities for these areas. As well as. Higher development
[3:49:48]
potential in Seaton. We did conduct three long term growth
[3:49:52]
scenarios beyond just their scenario. One and vision derm scenario.
[3:49:57]
So those scenarios looked at higher rates of intensification as
[3:50:00]
well as potentially higher average greenfield density. Levels over the
[3:50:05]
long term, and these scenarios were not necessarily meant. To
[3:50:09]
ultimately provide a different outcome than envision derm, but we
[3:50:12]
did want to assess the sensitivity to show. How variations
[3:50:17]
in intensification and Greenfield density would affect the overall need
[3:50:21]
for urban lands within the city over the long term.
[3:50:24]
And so the three long term scenarios that we've prepared
[3:50:28]
are scenario one, which is essentially the envision derm scenario
[3:50:31]
that sets out a 40% intensification target and 52 people
[3:50:36]
in job. Jobs per hectare for community air expansion lands.
[3:50:40]
For scenario two, we increase that intensification target to 45%
[3:50:45]
and increase the overall greenfield density target to 65 people
[3:50:48]
in jobs per hectare. We also looked at a third
[3:50:52]
scenario which increased further increase the intensification target the 50%.
[3:50:57]
And kept the overall density target at 65 people in
[3:51:00]
jobs per hectare. And so. On the next slide provide
[3:51:06]
you the results of that work. Scenario one ultimately. Provides
[3:51:12]
us with the outcome of the envision Durham work, which
[3:51:15]
generates a land requirement of 948 ha. For community area
[3:51:22]
land. And I just want to back up for a
[3:51:23]
second. Then when we were looking at? Urban lands. We
[3:51:27]
generally divide these lands or allocate them into two broad
[3:51:30]
buckets. The first is community area lands, which is what
[3:51:32]
I'm speaking to now. So this is essentially where we
[3:51:35]
accommodate people. And jobs to support. To support the daily
[3:51:40]
function of residents. So that's retail, institutional uses and other
[3:51:44]
commercial uses. So these land numbers that I'm quoting now
[3:51:49]
refer to those community area lands. We also looked at
[3:51:52]
employment area lands, which is essentially where people work. And
[3:51:57]
we've heard a little bit about some of the changes
[3:51:59]
to the provincial policy with respect to the definition of
[3:52:02]
employment areas, the province is now taking a more narrow
[3:52:05]
scope or definition of employment area largely being industrial, with
[3:52:09]
some ancillary. And supportive uses that would be permitted, provided
[3:52:16]
that they are ancillary or accessory to the industrial use.
[3:52:19]
So those are the two broad buckets, and I'll just
[3:52:21]
get back to. This slide here. So the first slide
[3:52:24]
was or. Sorry, the first scenario was. If we can
[3:52:28]
go back. I'm going to just finish that slide. Thank
[3:52:31]
you. So the first scenario was the envision Durham scenario,
[3:52:35]
and then you can see in scenario two. When we
[3:52:37]
increase that intensification target to 45%. And the increase in
[3:52:42]
density to 65 people in jobs per hectare, that does
[3:52:46]
have a fairly. Significant increase, or, sorry, I should say
[3:52:49]
decrease on the overall land requirement results in a 45%.
[3:52:53]
Reduction in the long term land requirement. Going to scenario
[3:52:57]
three, a further increase to the intensification target. Holding that
[3:53:00]
density target the same results in a further reduction to
[3:53:04]
the overall land requirement. Down to 360. Ha. Which. Is
[3:53:08]
about a 60% reduction in the long term land need
[3:53:11]
relative to scenario one. So it does give you. Some
[3:53:15]
sense of how sensitive these assumptions are. Our general opinion
[3:53:18]
on looking at these scenarios, and I was directly involved
[3:53:22]
with the envision durham work working for the region is
[3:53:25]
that we think that these intensification targets, particularly the base
[3:53:30]
target is. An appropriate target for intensification for the city.
[3:53:36]
We do need to make sure that we're providing a
[3:53:38]
balanced mix of housing by structure types, so we need
[3:53:41]
low density forms of housing, medium density forms of housing
[3:53:44]
and high density forms. We can't do that. If we.
[3:53:50]
Overshoot the intensification target. So we do think that's an
[3:53:54]
appropriate target. The Greenfield density target, in our opinion, is
[3:53:58]
low. We've recognized that in our work. And we have
[3:54:03]
acknowledged that it could take longer for, ultimately for. The
[3:54:09]
Northeast victory area to build out, and that has been
[3:54:11]
acknowledged through the secondary plan work that. That growth that's
[3:54:15]
being planned for is a minimum amount of growth, and
[3:54:17]
ultimately the area could accommodate. A greater amount of population
[3:54:24]
and housing, particularly. Next slide. So, moving on to the
[3:54:31]
employment area forecast and landing's assessment. The employment area. Forecast
[3:54:39]
is about 22,000 jobs. That represents about 44% of the
[3:54:43]
overall. Future. Job growth within the city from 2024 to
[3:54:49]
2051. About 15,600 of those jobs are anticipated to be
[3:54:54]
accommodated in existing designated employment area land so the majority
[3:54:59]
of those lands are vacant. Lands within Seaton. There's still
[3:55:02]
some remaining. Lands and intensification opportunities in South Pickering and
[3:55:07]
then the remaining 6600 jobs would be accommodated through urban
[3:55:12]
expansion in northeast Pickering. At a density of about 28
[3:55:17]
jobs per hectare. That results in a land requirement of
[3:55:19]
about 235 ha. Next slide. So on the following slide.
[3:55:29]
I wanted to just point out that. As part of
[3:55:33]
this gms work. A specific consideration was given to the
[3:55:36]
seat and employment area as this area represents the location
[3:55:40]
of almost all of the city's remaining designated greenfield, or
[3:55:43]
growth area. The DJ lands outside of any future urban
[3:55:49]
expansion lands by 2051, the seat in urban areas forecast
[3:55:54]
to accommodate. A revised population based on our analysis of
[3:55:57]
65,000 people and just under 30,000. Jobs. The seat and
[3:56:02]
employment areas anticipate to play a significant role within the
[3:56:05]
city and the region. In accommodating high quality employment opportunities
[3:56:08]
over the next several decades. Given this, the significant changes
[3:56:13]
to provincial policy, the long term vision for the seat
[3:56:17]
and employment area has been a key focus of this
[3:56:19]
gms. And on the next slide, I just wanted to
[3:56:22]
summarize. That focus. So as part of the GMS work,
[3:56:28]
and given this revised provincial planning. Direction with respect to
[3:56:34]
employment areas. We did complete a review of the preliminary
[3:56:38]
incedin. A key focus of that was looking at there's
[3:56:43]
two designated employment nodes within the seat. And employment area.
[3:56:46]
The innovation corridor. Those employment nodes restricts some land use.
[3:56:51]
Uses that are permitted in the prestigious employment designation. They
[3:56:56]
generally focus on. A more major office or standalone office
[3:57:02]
component. With supportive commercial and other employment supportive uses. Those
[3:57:08]
uses would no longer be permitted as an employment area
[3:57:11]
under the definition. So that required us to take a
[3:57:14]
look at. The designation to provide recommendations. And so that
[3:57:19]
work has been done. It's been done within the framework
[3:57:22]
of. The current. Planning. Policy direction. With again specific focus
[3:57:31]
placed on the prestige employment nodes as well as some
[3:57:34]
other employment area lands. Within. The Seaton innovation corridor. And
[3:57:40]
those details are provided in the GMS report. In addition
[3:57:46]
to that policy, those policy recognitions, we also prepared a
[3:57:49]
series of broader policy recommendations. For the city, which my
[3:57:53]
colleague Bobby Goche is going to briefly summarize for you.
[3:57:57]
Now. Thank you. Thank you, Jamie. Good evening, everyone. Good
[3:58:02]
to see you. Let's move to the next slide. Please.
[3:58:06]
And the one after that. Okay, great. So my slide
[3:58:13]
is intended really to give a summary of section nine
[3:58:17]
of the growth management strategy. Report. And section nine is
[3:58:21]
an evaluation of the kinds of updates to the current
[3:58:23]
official plan that will be needed to support the growth
[3:58:26]
management strategy. And I think that there's essentially four themes
[3:58:29]
of policy updates that are going to be required. So
[3:58:32]
if you have a chance to look at section nine.
[3:58:35]
In some cases. It's recommended policies because there are some
[3:58:39]
mandatory requirements expected by the province to be included. In
[3:58:43]
the new official plan. But I also think that there
[3:58:45]
are some optional policies that the city can use as
[3:58:48]
tools to better implement its growth management strategy. So the
[3:58:53]
first theme of policies which I'll just speak to briefly
[3:58:56]
on this slide. Is related to growth forecasting. I think
[3:58:59]
it kind of goes without saying that the new official
[3:59:02]
plan will have an updated planning horizon. If you could
[3:59:05]
go back, please. I'll stay on. This slide. Thanks. So
[3:59:08]
the new official plan will have an updated. Growth planning
[3:59:12]
horizon of 2051. There's going to be a need to
[3:59:15]
acknowledge that. Updated horizon. But there's also going to be
[3:59:17]
a need to incorporate the population and employment projections. That
[3:59:22]
Jamie's gone over. So at a minimum, that section should
[3:59:26]
include some of those statements. In conducting some best practice
[3:59:30]
review in other municipalities. There are some other things the
[3:59:33]
city could do. In the official plan, so we put
[3:59:35]
out some other options. I won't go over it in
[3:59:38]
detail now, but, for example. You could include specific housing
[3:59:42]
forecasts to give a bit more clarity around what those
[3:59:45]
population forecasts mean, but not every municipality does that. And
[3:59:50]
the second theme of policy updates pertains to the urban
[3:59:54]
area, and I think we've heard and heard a lot
[3:59:56]
of extensive discussion. Around northeast pickering, and I think that
[3:59:59]
would be sort of. The main required change to implement
[4:00:03]
the province's approval of the Durham region official plan, which
[4:00:06]
would be to add the northeast Pickering lands into the
[4:00:09]
urban area. On that policy topic, too. I would kind
[4:00:12]
of point out some of the good themes of the
[4:00:14]
provincial policy statement which speak to matters like ensuring orderly,
[4:00:20]
logical progression of development. And I think the discussion earlier
[4:00:23]
around, including some phasing policies in northeast Pickering will serve
[4:00:27]
to advance implementation of those expectations. The third theme of
[4:00:32]
policy updates. Relates to an intensification strategy. So when I
[4:00:38]
say intensification, I'm referring. To development within the existing built
[4:00:43]
up area. So places like the city center. We kind
[4:00:47]
of envision, and it'll dip to the city, but we
[4:00:49]
kind of envision a section on intensification strategy to acknowledge.
[4:00:55]
What the different expectations will be as intensification comes forward.
[4:00:59]
And Jamie's pointed out a very key aspect of that,
[4:01:01]
which will be to include. A minimum residential intensification policy
[4:01:06]
and through the growth management work that Jamie's recommended. A
[4:01:10]
minimum target of 40% of units. Would intend to be
[4:01:15]
intended to be accommodated through intensification. So that's kind of.
[4:01:19]
A recommended minimum, and the provincial policy statement does require
[4:01:22]
that. There be a residential intensification target in the official
[4:01:26]
plan that is mandatory. Additionally, there's some other requirements. For
[4:01:30]
example, City center being a major transit station area with
[4:01:35]
high order transit access. It needs to have a minimum
[4:01:39]
density. That may already be reflected in the official plan,
[4:01:41]
but a minimum of 150 people in jobs per hectare
[4:01:45]
needs to be stated for that. And there could be
[4:01:47]
some other tools. And we kind of get into that
[4:01:49]
in the report as well. We looked at some other
[4:01:51]
municipalities that are a little more aggressive on ensuring intensification
[4:01:56]
will achieve their broader. Visions. They might include things like
[4:01:59]
minimum building height or minimum density requirements as development moves
[4:02:03]
forward. So there is an option to include policies like
[4:02:06]
that. But it may not be necessary. And I would
[4:02:10]
also say too that setting policies around density and height
[4:02:13]
is also an urban design topic, so I kind of
[4:02:16]
stopped a little bit short of giving definitive recommendations on
[4:02:19]
that, knowing that the city will be doing some more
[4:02:22]
in depth urban design work. Down the road. And then
[4:02:25]
the last theme of policy updates. Pertain to the employment
[4:02:29]
areas. We've talked about that a little bit. We heard
[4:02:31]
from Paul Lowe's earlier on this, too, which is that
[4:02:34]
the provincial policy statement was updated to redefine employment areas.
[4:02:38]
There's a new set of what's allowed and not allowed
[4:02:41]
in the employment areas. Our section of the report gives
[4:02:45]
a little bit of guidance around what's next in that
[4:02:48]
and essentially, I think the staff report does a great
[4:02:50]
job of explaining. That. What it really means is that
[4:02:53]
the city will have to look at the extent of
[4:02:55]
the employment area designations. Jamie has spoken to that in
[4:02:59]
the context of Seaton, but there also will be a
[4:03:02]
need to look at that in more detail. Within South
[4:03:05]
Pickering, so that'll be some work forthcoming. So I think
[4:03:10]
that kind of just at a high level wraps up
[4:03:12]
my summary of some of the policy recommendations. And I
[4:03:16]
think if we go to the next slide. I know.
[4:03:17]
Jamie, do you want to take. It back and offer
[4:03:19]
some thoughts. Thanks, Bobby. Yeah, I think we are actually
[4:03:22]
at the end of our presentation, so I will turn
[4:03:25]
it over back to the chair for any questions. Thank
[4:03:29]
you both. And I'll start a list. And I see
[4:03:31]
councilor butt with his hand up first. Council brennan. Thank
[4:03:39]
you, madam. Thank you, madam Chair. Thank you. To the
[4:03:43]
delegates here and questions in relations to the housing. I
[4:03:51]
believe you talked about. We have forecast 1800 homes annually.
[4:04:01]
I believe in 1840, homes that we have built annually.
[4:04:06]
Are we all projections? Do you know of? Are we
[4:04:08]
on track? Are we building less? Are we building more.
[4:04:12]
Yeah. Thank you. Through the chair. We are actually tracking
[4:04:16]
quite well. To the envision driven forecast. We saw. A
[4:04:23]
fairly significant surge. In development activity, building permits and completions
[4:04:29]
through the Covid period from 2021 to 2023. Things have
[4:04:33]
started to taper off now in 2024, but they're still
[4:04:38]
well above the historical average. We do think that the
[4:04:42]
next. Twelve to, say one to two years is going
[4:04:45]
to be a slower time period, particularly in the high
[4:04:47]
density market, but overall, we are tracking quite closely to
[4:04:51]
that envision driven forecast. Your presentation highlighted. A lot of
[4:04:59]
population growth, expansion, land. Employment. With all this comes also
[4:05:07]
with infrastructure as well. I'm just wondering if that would
[4:05:11]
have been your topic of discussion as well. When I
[4:05:15]
talk about infrastructure, I'm talking about roads, transportations, public transportations.
[4:05:21]
Would that cover under. Your search. Thank you. Through the
[4:05:28]
chair. So, clearly, providing infrastructure to accommodate the growth is
[4:05:32]
critical. It's not the focus of this study per se.
[4:05:36]
We typically rely on other foundational documents like master planning
[4:05:41]
studies. As well as development charges. Background studies also take
[4:05:46]
those master plans and look at ultimately what the required
[4:05:49]
infrastructure is for hard and soft services. And you look
[4:05:52]
at how. That ultimately will be funded and what the
[4:05:55]
impacts are on development charges. Our firm does that work?
[4:05:58]
And I work with our company. To do those studies,
[4:06:02]
but we have not done a further analysis of infrastructure,
[4:06:06]
detailed infrastructure requirements to accommodate the growth forecast. But again,
[4:06:10]
we would note that. The forecast is in line with
[4:06:13]
the envision Durham work. And. The math planning work that
[4:06:20]
would support that analysis. When you talk about employment, you
[4:06:25]
talk about employment, and you talk about large numbers of
[4:06:27]
15,000 20,000, whatever. What employment jobs do you think will
[4:06:32]
be? Creating in our municipality. Thank you to the chair
[4:06:37]
again. So, as I mentioned, About just over 40% of
[4:06:42]
the jobs are identified within the employment area category, so
[4:06:44]
those are industrial jobs. Those are jobs like advanced manufacturing,
[4:06:49]
logistics, warehousing, jobs related to energy. Remediation.
[4:06:59]
Construction. Those are all sort of the core industrial jobs
[4:07:02]
we note in the report, the Pickering nuclear plant refurbishment.
[4:07:09]
Is a big anticipated big employer in the near term,
[4:07:12]
about 6600 jobs, and they get identified with that refurbishment,
[4:07:16]
some of those jobs are going to be temporary. But
[4:07:19]
there's a significant amount of employment related to the nuclear
[4:07:22]
refurbishment. But we would expect. To see. Steady amount of
[4:07:27]
jobs. In. A range of industrial sectors. Also knowledge base
[4:07:34]
sectors related to research. And innovation. Plus, with the significant
[4:07:39]
amount of population growth, we expect to see a significant
[4:07:42]
amount of retail and what we call population related employment,
[4:07:47]
which would also include jobs in healthcare and education to
[4:07:51]
accommodate that population growth. And then just one last point
[4:07:55]
on the employment forecast. To vote. I think just under
[4:07:59]
30% of the overall employment projections are anticipated to beans
[4:08:02]
in work at home or off site employment. So these
[4:08:05]
are people who. Are working at home or those who
[4:08:09]
don't go to the same place of work every day.
[4:08:13]
Could be traveling sales, and then it could be truck
[4:08:15]
drivers. It could be freelance, it specialists, things like that.
[4:08:19]
So those are, that gives you some sense of. The
[4:08:21]
kind of jobs we expect to see. Thank you. Appreciate
[4:08:24]
that, Mr. Cook. Thanks for addressing me. Thank you, madam
[4:08:27]
Chair. You are welcome, councilor. But just to make sure
[4:08:31]
everyone at home understands what we're doing, since we've extended
[4:08:34]
beyond eleven. We did pass the extension to continue until
[4:08:38]
midnight. At which time we will have a hard stop.
[4:08:43]
Councilor Brenner, thank you very much. Madam Chair, can you
[4:08:46]
hear me okay? Absolutely. I wanted to ask and it
[4:08:50]
really picks up. I'll pick up where councilor Butt. Left
[4:08:53]
off with the consultant. You talk about? A growth management
[4:09:01]
study and the emphasis on population growth. And yes, there
[4:09:04]
is reference to employment. What I don't see and I'm
[4:09:08]
wondering why. Or if you can look at. Is growth
[4:09:12]
in the area of non residential. And I guess what
[4:09:15]
I'm trying to focus on is. A growth management study
[4:09:20]
that incorporates. A roadmap and target for pickering to rebalance
[4:09:28]
the tax ratios, which currently are very high in terms
[4:09:32]
of the residential versus the non residential, I think it's
[4:09:35]
about. What if I'm correct about 81, 82% residential? Do
[4:09:43]
you have any comment in terms of can you look
[4:09:46]
at. Or is it possible for you to look at
[4:09:50]
that if you're moving forward? To incorporate the non residential
[4:09:56]
aspect into the growth side of it, not just population,
[4:09:59]
because if you've got population. You need to have nonresidential
[4:10:04]
in order to make it much more affordable. Thank you
[4:10:08]
for that question. And through the chair, so. I do
[4:10:15]
want to emphasize that this analysis that we've undertaken does
[4:10:18]
a comprehensive look at both residential and nonresidential. It looks
[4:10:23]
at the employment projections by sector and by broad land
[4:10:27]
use category, and we had identified in the previous slide.
[4:10:33]
A significant amount of employment in the range of just
[4:10:35]
over 50,000 jobs. One thing the study doesn't do is
[4:10:39]
it doesn't get into a detailed assessment of commercial land.
[4:10:41]
Needs or specific retail. And population related lands within the
[4:10:46]
community area. When we do landing's assessments such as this
[4:10:50]
one, we typically assign a certain provision for lands to
[4:10:54]
accommodate. Those retail and commercial uses. But we have done
[4:11:00]
a very detailed review of the employment outlook by sector.
[4:11:03]
And there's quite a bit of detail in the report
[4:11:05]
that discusses this, where we spend more time is on
[4:11:08]
the employment area analysis. For the employment lands. What are
[4:11:14]
now essentially referred to as the industrial lands. We've looked
[4:11:19]
at the supply of those lands within south Pickering. We've
[4:11:22]
looked at. Seaton. And we've looked at the vision for
[4:11:24]
Seaton, given that that is the next area that you'll
[4:11:27]
be building, looking to develop and build out over time
[4:11:31]
along that innovation corridor. So a significant amount of time
[4:11:35]
and efforts gone into looking at the vision for employment.
[4:11:38]
Within. Seaton. With respect to your comment about the res
[4:11:42]
non res tax ratio, it's a question that I often
[4:11:44]
get. I've had this over decades in my career. And
[4:11:49]
it's a very valid question. It's important that we want
[4:11:52]
to ensure that. We have a sustainable or. A progressive
[4:11:57]
residential, non residential tax base. It's very tricky to significantly
[4:12:02]
move that needle when. You're growing at the pace that.
[4:12:07]
Picking forecast to grow at. So while even though you're
[4:12:11]
receiving or you're intended to accommodate a lot of employment
[4:12:15]
growth. Because the population is growing so fast, it's very
[4:12:18]
hard to move that ratio. And it wouldn't be appropriate
[4:12:21]
for us to try to develop scenarios that would force
[4:12:24]
that ratio. Beyond what we think. We could support from
[4:12:30]
an economic and market standpoint. So we have looked at
[4:12:35]
the broader picture, the forecasts that are put out there,
[4:12:40]
they have a level of ambitiousness to them, including the
[4:12:44]
employment forecast. We do think that they are defensible over
[4:12:46]
the long term, and we think that they strike the
[4:12:49]
right balance. But the reality is that it's going to.
[4:12:53]
Be very hard for the city. To significantly make that
[4:12:57]
shift towards a higher tax assessment to non residential, you're
[4:13:01]
going to see lots of non residential tax assessments, but
[4:13:03]
that shift is likely going to. Be very slow to
[4:13:07]
inch over because of the significant amount of population growth.
[4:13:12]
Thank you. My next question. Is similar to one that
[4:13:16]
I asked with the Northeast Pickering people consultant. And what
[4:13:23]
I'm interested in knowing. As part of your process, did
[4:13:27]
you reach out to any of the farmers to get
[4:13:30]
any input? From that sector into the growth management study.
[4:13:37]
Through the chair. I didn't specifically reach out. To any
[4:13:43]
members of the agricultural community. The city did prepare. And
[4:13:49]
a growth strategy. Growth management strategy discussion paper. That was
[4:13:53]
broadly circulated. But to my knowledge, we have not reached
[4:13:58]
out to the agricultural community directly as part of this.
[4:14:01]
Work. Is there still that possibility to reach out? I
[4:14:05]
mean, Durham does have the agricultural advisory committee, both myself
[4:14:10]
and councilor, but I actually had an opportunity to. Have
[4:14:14]
a virtual meeting with them a couple of weeks ago,
[4:14:16]
and I know that they certainly would. Be very interested
[4:14:20]
in providing some input into the growth management component of
[4:14:25]
the city of pickering. That is something that ultimately, I
[4:14:28]
think, staff could recommend or provide, but I would leave
[4:14:32]
it with fair enough to make that reserve. We get
[4:14:35]
the report on the floor. I'll talk to staff about
[4:14:37]
it. Thank you. And Madam Chair, thank you very much
[4:14:40]
for the opportunity to ask those questions and the latitude.
[4:14:43]
You are very welcome. Excellent questions, anyone? Else in committee
[4:14:48]
wishing to speak. All right? And so, as Councilor Brenner
[4:14:53]
mentioned, we need to get this on the floor. With
[4:14:57]
a mover and a seconder in order to move this
[4:14:59]
forward, and I'm going to see councilor bot as the
[4:15:02]
mover and councilor pickles as the seconder. It is now
[4:15:06]
open for discussion and debate. Councilor brenner. You're in. Mute.
[4:15:12]
There we go. Thank you, madam. Chair through you. To
[4:15:20]
staff, and this would be probably to, I guess, Mr.
[4:15:23]
Bentley. You heard the thrust of my question of the
[4:15:28]
consultant, and then he's deferred. Back to staff. Just want
[4:15:33]
to hone in a little bit on the agricultural sector.
[4:15:39]
And the fact being that. We know that. Agriculture in
[4:15:44]
Durham Region. Is second only to the, in terms of
[4:15:49]
jobs and economics to OPG, which tells us. It has
[4:15:54]
a huge impact in terms of the economic well being
[4:15:58]
of the whole region, let alone the city of pickering.
[4:16:02]
Can you maybe elaborate? Or are you willing to reach
[4:16:06]
out further? Prior to the final stages of this study
[4:16:11]
and when it comes back is in the report. It
[4:16:13]
talks about. I guess picking up some of the comments.
[4:16:19]
And reaching out for additional comments prior to the final
[4:16:22]
phase. Can you elaborate on how you're going to access?
[4:16:27]
And are you prepared to access? The members of the
[4:16:31]
Durham Regional. Agricultural Advisory Committee, and I believe they also
[4:16:35]
delegated as well to the City of pickering. If I
[4:16:37]
recall. One of our residents are on it. Sure. Sorry.
[4:16:46]
Yeah. Thanks. Councilor Brenner. Yes. And the consultants had spoken
[4:16:49]
a bit to this in your question. We as staff
[4:16:53]
have provided some background research. Documents for a variety of
[4:16:57]
topics and held meetings both in person and electronically. And
[4:17:03]
one of those was agricultural and rural areas. You may
[4:17:07]
recall, we had that. Up in Claremont. Community. I think.
[4:17:14]
The Claremont Church, if I recall correctly. Very good engagement
[4:17:18]
from residents and farmers in that area. Most certainly. And
[4:17:24]
we certainly take that input in from the stakeholders and
[4:17:27]
interested parties for all their different topics. Including agricultural and
[4:17:31]
rural areas, and we'll continue to do so in. The
[4:17:37]
coming weeks and months as we go to the next
[4:17:39]
stage. I would certainly. Welcome Dion Jacobs in attendance to.
[4:17:44]
If there's anything else you'd want to add. To that,
[4:17:46]
but certainly we're interested in input from farmers and from
[4:17:50]
the different committees that are offering. Offering their input. But
[4:17:56]
I guess my question very simply. Are you prepared to
[4:17:58]
reach out to the advisory, the agricultural advisory committee. We
[4:18:03]
may have to reach out to them rather than reaching
[4:18:05]
out to us. Yeah. And I think part of the
[4:18:09]
appeal of having some of. These public meetings. In community
[4:18:15]
areas was to meet them at their level as well,
[4:18:18]
not just at the ReC complexes. Where we normally hold
[4:18:21]
meetings, but certainly. Happy to reach out to those groups.
[4:18:25]
I don't know, Dion, if you have anything more. You
[4:18:26]
can add to that. If you just meet yourself.
[4:18:38]
Can you hear me? Yes. Okay. Yes, councilor. Through human.
[4:18:49]
Chair to councilor Brena. We are about to. Conclude. Our
[4:18:58]
first phase of our official plan review, which were the
[4:19:01]
discussion papers of various topics. Now it is a question
[4:19:05]
of. Listening. To or assessing what we've heard. And start
[4:19:12]
drafting policies, and we plan to do that through. The
[4:19:16]
summer, but at the same time. There will be further
[4:19:20]
engagement opportunities. With key stakeholders. And if this is a
[4:19:25]
specific request, by all means. We will reach out to
[4:19:30]
them, but. There will be opportunities. When we bring those
[4:19:35]
draft policies forward. And then also at the end of
[4:19:39]
the day, we bring. A final. Official plan amendment forward
[4:19:45]
for council's consideration. I should add as well, Councilor Brenner.
[4:19:50]
We're fortunate. Our heritage planner, actually. Has a lot of
[4:19:54]
experience in agricultural matters as a farmer and sits on
[4:19:59]
the duramag. Group as well, so we would most certainly.
[4:20:03]
Be having Matt involved in this as well. Excellent. Thank
[4:20:06]
you very much. Thank you, madam Chair. You are most
[4:20:10]
welcome, Mr. Brenner. Councilor. Butt, you are next on the
[4:20:13]
list. And if I could just ask. We employ some
[4:20:17]
brevity in our questions, try to. Ask direct questions so
[4:20:21]
we can get through the agenda this evening. Madam chair,
[4:20:24]
in all due respects, I will only ask one question
[4:20:27]
if that's the case. Mr. Bensley for clarifications and I
[4:20:33]
know construct pickles and I, we receive. A lot of
[4:20:36]
notes in terms of saying when they talk about intensification,
[4:20:41]
They're under the impression that. If the city guides them,
[4:20:44]
directs them, we is our plan. But correct me if
[4:20:49]
I'm wrong, and maybe for our viewers point of view,
[4:20:52]
we are also being dictated by the province in order
[4:20:55]
to build more homes and expand. Am I correct in
[4:21:00]
few words. Could you please clarify that? Yeah, I think
[4:21:03]
that's been sort of a common. Theme this evening. About.
[4:21:07]
The province's role, and certainly they set targets and define
[4:21:11]
areas in the city. And we're an urban growth center.
[4:21:15]
Certainly, as well. So there's definitely targets that we need
[4:21:19]
to be mindful of, and I think the consultant had
[4:21:21]
done a great job speaking to some of that stuff
[4:21:22]
this evening as well. So need to be aware of
[4:21:25]
that. Can things change along the way? Sure, depending on
[4:21:28]
circumstances. Because the future can be unknown sometimes, but I
[4:21:31]
think we're trying to work with. The parameters that the
[4:21:35]
province has set down through their potential planning statement that
[4:21:38]
was recently revised. Certainly when it comes to. Bit off
[4:21:42]
topic, but just with the downloading responsibilities from the region
[4:21:45]
planning folks to the city. We take on Envision Durham.
[4:21:50]
And all the OP policies that come along with that
[4:21:52]
as well. That speaks to some of this. Stuff, so
[4:21:53]
I hope I've answered your question. You have. And I
[4:21:58]
thank you. Thank you, madam Chair. You're welcome, councilor, but
[4:22:04]
anyone else wishing to debate on this topic or ask
[4:22:06]
questions. Otherwise. We will call the question. And the directive.
[4:22:13]
Here is a recommendation on report PLN 1625 regarding the
[4:22:18]
perked official plan. Review to be received. And that the
[4:22:22]
City of Pickering Growth management strategy funnel report prepared by
[4:22:26]
Watson Socialist Economists Limited in association with WSP, who we
[4:22:30]
heard from this evening dated may 28, 2025, provided as
[4:22:34]
attachment one be received and that the staff be directed
[4:22:37]
to implement the growth projections contain therein that staff consider.
[4:22:42]
The comments received from phase one, the background and research
[4:22:45]
of the official plan review on key outcomes. And recommendations
[4:22:49]
of the City Pickering Growth management Strategy final report in
[4:22:52]
preparation of phase two. Policy drafting of the Pickering official
[4:22:57]
plan process and finally that a copy of the city
[4:23:00]
of Pickering Growth Management strategy final report be made available
[4:23:04]
to all interested parties throughout the project website. And with
[4:23:09]
that, I will call the question. All those in favor?
[4:23:12]
We just get a recorded vote? Please, madam chair? Absolutely.
[4:23:15]
Councilor Robinson calls her recorded vote. So, Madam Clerk, if
[4:23:19]
you could please do the rule. Councilor Robinson. Councilor Brenner.
[4:23:26]
Yes, Councilor Bett. Yes, Councilor Cook. Yes, Councilor Pickles. Yes,
[4:23:34]
Mayor Ash. Yes, madam. Chairs carried five to one. Thank
[4:23:38]
you very much. For .3 and second it. Okay. Moved
[4:23:43]
by councilor Pickles. A seconded by councilor. Butt, which is
[4:23:49]
the zoning bylaw amendment AO 624, draft plan condominium. We
[4:23:54]
heard. Earlier from the delegation this evening regarding 1635 Palmer's.
[4:24:01]
Saw Mill Road. There is a recommendation before us. Zoning
[4:24:05]
bylaw amendment application submitted by 900-4807 Canada, Inc. Or stone
[4:24:12]
pay to permit a condominium development containing 85 townhouse units
[4:24:16]
be approved and that the draft zoning bylaw amendment as
[4:24:19]
set out in appendix one to report PLM 1425 be
[4:24:22]
finalized and boarded to council. Because those two have moved
[4:24:26]
it. Are there any of us wishing to speak to
[4:24:30]
this item? No. Councilor Butt, you are now making the
[4:24:35]
decision for everyone. Okay? And that is a no, which.
[4:24:39]
Is a fair statement to make since we did talk
[4:24:41]
about this earlier this evening with our delegation. Before us.
[4:24:44]
So I'm going to call a question on this particular
[4:24:46]
piece unless anyone wants a recorded vote. Are we good?
[4:24:54]
Okay. Thank you. All those in favor? We're going to
[4:24:57]
vote. That item is carried. That brings. Us. To item
[4:25:02]
five, which is member updates from committees. Are there any
[4:25:05]
updates from other committees? Seeing and hearing them. We will
[4:25:09]
move on to what I'm sure everyone is waiting for.
[4:25:12]
Now item number six. Adjournment moved by councilor, but seconded
[4:25:16]
by councilor. Pickles. All those in favor?