HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/12/2008 Special
Special Council Meeting Minutes
MAY 12, 2008
Minutes of a special meeting of Council held on May 12, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., in the
Council Chambers.
ROLL CALL
Present Were: Councillor A. Foster, attended at 7:00 p.m.
Councillor R. Hooper
Councillor M. Novak
Councillor G. Robinson
Councillor Trim, attended until 2:15 p.m. and returned at
7:00 p.m.
Councillor W. Woo, attended until 2:50 p.m.
Absent: Mayor J. Abernethy
Also Present: Acting Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Corporate Services
and Human Resources, M. Marano
Facilities Manager, G. Acorn, attended until 2:50 p.m.
Planner, Community Planning, L. Backus
Director of Engineering Services, T. Cannella
Director of Planning Services, D. Crome
Deputy Treasurer, L. Gordon, attended until 2:50 p.m.
Director of Operations, F. Horvath
Planner, Community Planning, D. Jacobs
Recreation Services Manager, S. Meredith, attended at 7:00 p.m.
Planner, Development Review, B. Russell, attended until 2:50 p.m.
Manager of Community Planning and Design, C. Salazar
Director of Finance/Treasurer, N. Taylor
Director of Emergency Services, G. Weir
Tax Collector, M. Wiles-Frost, attended at 7:00 p.m.
Administrative Assistant to the Municipal Clerk, C. Fleming
Municipal Clerk, P. Barrie
Councillor Novak chaired the meeting.
Councillor Trim led the meeting in prayer.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
There were no pecuniary interests stated for this meeting.
The Deputy Mayor outlined the purpose and format of the public meeting.
Council Meeting Minutes - 2 - MAY 12, 2008
PUBLIC MEETING
(a) Subject
: Clarington Official Plan
Report PSD-049-08
:
Carlos Salazar, Manager of Community Planning and Design, provided a verbal report
supported by a PowerPoint presentation pertaining to Report PSD-049-08.
Mr. Salazar reviewed the components of an official plan, what the current plan has
accomplished, why a review is needed, the approach and timeframe associated with
the review and public participation in the process. Mr. Salazar outlined reasons
supporting an official plan review from global issues to local issues noting the review
will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the vision for the quality of life in the community
and to guide future decision-making.
Peter Campbell, Vice President, Delta Urban Inc. addressed Council on behalf of
Intracorp Development Limited and Preston Group, with respect to their combined
ownership of approximately 130 acres on the north side of Bloor Street between
Prestonvale Road and Courtice Road in the Courtice Urban Area. Mr. Campbell
stated the lands are located within a Future Urban Residential designation in the
Clarington Official Plan adopted in 1996. He stated the designation for these lands
was based upon two primary factors when the current Clarington Official Plan was
adopted - the residential land supply horizon was 2016 and the proposed Courtice
Sewage Treatment Plan was some time away from construction. He noted the new
Clarington Official Plan will have a concurrent time horizon with the new Durham
Region Official Plan, being the year 2031 and that the Courtice Sewage Treatment
Plant is now built and operational. Mr. Campbell feels it is timely to replace the Future
Urban Residential designation on the subject lands with Urban Residential and the
other specific designations for neighbourhood facilities, densities and roads that apply
to designated lands that are ripe for development and formally requested the
Municipality to complete the re-designation of the Future Urban Designation for the
entire area north of Bloor Street from Prestonvale Road to Courtice Road as part of
the Official Plan review. Mr. Campbell stated correspondence dated May 1, 2008,
addressed to David Crome, Director of Planning Services provides written comments
on behalf of his clients.
John Stephenson addressed Council stating he feels the 25 year time frame for the
Official Plan development is far too long and suggests that the Plan focus on the first
two years with increasingly reduced emphasis on the five and ten year futures.
Mr. Stephenson suggested the plan be subject to annual revisions based on the
economic, energy and global warming scenarios at the end of each year so as to
produce an updated plan incorporating the most recent and complete information
available at the time. Mr. Stephenson outlined factors to be considered including the
state of the economy, the availability and impact of energy shortages, and the impact
of global warming and stated that the effects of these factors on the lifestyles of the
people of Clarington must be considered in terms of home design, travel within the
community and Region, and other infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, industrial
Council Meeting Minutes - 3 - MAY 12, 2008
areas, recreational areas and facilities, open spaces and growing food, etc.
Mr. Stephenson stated the Municipality should resist the expansion of communities
into areas that are not now under construction; however, if population growth is not
avoidable then it should be accommodated by redeveloping areas in the central core
by constructing compact apartment blocks. He also feels the Municipality should not
borrow money to accommodate population growth. Mr. Stephenson submitted his
comments in writing.
Keith Worden, addressed Council on behalf of his family to advise of the issues that
they have with property in the employment area around Trulls Road, and Courtice
Road to Prestonvale Road. He stated he has anguished over the designation of
Dom’s Auto Parts and expressed concern with what is viewed as the entry from
Highway 401 to Clarington and feels that the current industrial/commercial designation
is not the most gratifying for that particular area and that there are better usages for
the land. Mr. Worden acknowledged the need for the industrial base but questioned
that particular location. Mr. Worden also feels if the designation in that area remains,
then it will attract other neighbours that are not complimentary as to how Clarington
wants to be perceived. He suggested that as part of the process staff review the
designation to motivate Dom’s to move on and to consider development in the area
that would enhance the vision such as a residential opportunity.
Peter Evans, President, Clarington Older Adults Association addressed Council
stating he is encouraged by the plan as it gives the community a degree of control
over the future by setting goals, targets and milestones to achieve and address quality
of life issues. Mr. Evans stated the Association has already addressed Council with
concerns that affect their operation and have presented their goals and challenges
respecting management of growth and parking issues. Mr. Evans expressed the
Association’s willingness to work along with staff on this positive venture.
Doug Rombough, addressed Council advising he and his wife own a heritage property
built in 1877 on Arthur Street in Newcastle and are concerned with the degree of
intensification of housing developments surrounding their one-acre property. He
stated the proposed developer plans to build many townhouses and small property
developments. Mr. Rombough urged staff to consider the historical importance of not
only their land but Newcastle Village proper. Mr. Rombough acknowledged that he is
not opposed to development and hopes that all residents will continue to have input
into what gets developed where and when. Mr. Rombough requested a clear
definition of “intensification”, especially provincial initiatives in that regard.
In response to a question, Mr. Rombough clarified he does not feel that putting mega-
houses on 40 foot lots or townhouses surrounding his property is appropriate
planning.
Council Meeting Minutes - 4 - MAY 12, 2008
Bill Cawker, Baywood Homes, addressed Council as the owner of 250 acres at the
northeast corner of Concession Road 3 and Liberty Street which are currently
designated Future Urban Residential, Environmental Protection and Community Park.
Mr. Cawker stated through this review there may be opportunity to work with staff to
convert this designation to urban residential. Mr. Cawker stated Baywood Homes
welcomes the study, and will work closely with staff and will become involved in the
process. Mr. Cawker submitted correspondence prepared by Sernas and Associates
outlining his position.
Resolution #C-278-08
Moved by Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Woo
THAT Council recess until 7:00 p.m.
“CARRIED”
The meeting reconvened at 7:00 p.m.
Carlos Salazar, Manager of Community Planning and Design, repeated his verbal
report and PowerPoint presentation pertaining to Report PSD-049-08.
Sheila Hall, Executive Director, Clarington Board of Trade, addressed Council stating
the Board of Trade encourages this review to foster their goals and to ensure that the
Municipality’s direction is in line with Regional and Provincial goals. She indicated the
Board of Trade’s focus would be on the development and servicing of employment
lands and expansion of the existing job base to create a healthy social fabric,
including the recruitment of physicians. The Board of Trade would also like to ensure
that the residential ratio to people working in the community is healthier than it is
today. Ms. Hall noted there is great value in the community taking a pro-active
approach rather than waiting for the growth that is coming to arrive.
Donald Kirkup, Kirkup Realty Corporation Brokerage, addressed Council stating his
client owns 8 ½ acres at the northeast corner of Prestonvale Road and Bloor Street
and suggested that the corner be redesignated to allow for convenience shopping to
be located within walking distance of large concentrations of residential development.
Mike Ricciuto addressed Council stating he owns property in Courtice, Hampton and
Mitchell’s Corners and has questions related to hamlets. He feels it is important that
hamlets are not ignored as part of the review as they provide diversity in housing, and
attract professionals and that growth supports infrastructure in hamlets. Mr. Ricciuto
stated the Greenbelt Protection Act requires municipalities to define the boundaries of
hamlets and questioned how Clarington will define hamlet boundaries when reviewing
the Official Plan.
Council Meeting Minutes - 5 - MAY 12, 2008
Libby Racansky addressed Council stating if the Official Plan is the Municipality’s
compass for the future it would have to consider climate change as the most important
issue. Through use of a PowerPoint presentation, Ms. Racansky highlighted slides of
the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan Review which considered climate change as the
most significant environmental challenge. Ms. Racansky stated the newspaper
advertisement indicated that residents will be able to make a difference but expressed
concern that comments made during the last review were not considered in the new
Plan. Ms. Racansky stated the importance of the natural environment must be
understood and its policies must be more enforceable, especially with respect to the
Lake Iroquois shoreline. She cautioned if land continues to be developed with a
“business as usual” approach, our health and economy will be threatened noting there
is an intrinsic relationship between what is done on the land with woodlots, wetlands
and farmland, and the weather. Ms. Racansky feels that future development
applications, including the aggregate should not be allowed to impact the limited
natural environment or farmlands. She also feels that concentration on downtown
Courtice and other communities deserve the same attention as Bowmanville. Ms.
Racansky feels that the preliminary worklplan is not ready for approval by Council as
she feels more staff education is needed.
Jordan Clement addressed Council extending congratulations to the Planning
Services Department for putting forth an integrated plan and covering all aspects. He
stated however, that he was a little distressed at the last slide of Mr. Salazar’s
presentation when he saw the sky slowly being blocked out by buildings. He stated
growth and environmental destruction is important and is not being adequately
addressed. Mr. Clement stated he looks forward to seeing the continuation of the high
quality of life and community experienced in Clarington.
STAFF REPORT
Resolution #C-0279-08
Moved by Councillor Trim, seconded by Councillor Hooper
THAT Report PSD-049-08 be received;
THAT the preliminary workplan for the Official Plan review be approved in principle
and that staff consider the comments made at the public meeting in finalizing the
workplan;
THAT Staff report back on a Public Engagement Strategy;
THAT a copy of Report PSD-049-08 and Council’s decision be forwarded to the
Region of Durham Planning Department; and
Council Meeting Minutes
- 6 -
MAY 12, 2008
THAT all interested parties on the list, as filed in the Planning Services and Clerk's
Departments, and any other delegations be advised of Council's decision.
"CARRIED"
CONFIRMING BY-LAW
Resolution #C-280-08
Moved by Councillor Foster, seconded by Councillor Hooper
THAT leave be granted to introduce By-law 2008-088 being a by-law to confirm the
proceedings of the Council of the Municipality of Clarington at this special meeting
held on the 1ih day of May, 2008, and that the said by-law be now read a first,
second time and third time and finally passed.
"CARRIED"
ADJOURNMENT
Resolution #C-281-08
Moved by Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Hooper
THAT the meeting adjourn at 7:47 p.m.
"CARRIED"
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