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Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington Meeting
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Members Present: Eric Bowman
Jennifer Knox
Les Caswell
Ted Watson
Richard Rekker
Councillor Zwart
Tom Barrie
John Cartwright
Henry Zekveld
Don Rickard
Brenda Metcalf (Chair)
Regrets: Ben Eastman
Staff: Amy Burke and Faye Langmaid - Planning Services
Guests: Councillor Hooper; Mani Rajendran and Ron Trewin - Region of
Durham Works, Simon Gill — Region of Durham Director of
Economic Development and Tourism
Brenda welcomed all to the meeting, with introductions.
Simon Gill, the Region's new Director of Economic Development and Tourism,
introduced himself to the Committee. Mr. Gill stated that in his new role, updating of the
Durham Region Agricultural Strategy and the Durham Region Broadband Strategy and
Action Plan will continue to be priority initiatives, and expressed an interest to present
on these to the Committee in the future. The benefits of a combined office for economic
development and tourism were discussed. The Committee thanked Mr. Gill for the
Region's involvement in resurrecting the Gates Open festival.
No pecuniary interests declared.
Adoption of Agenda
019-20 Moved by Tom Barrie, seconded by Don Rickard
"That the Agenda for October 10, 2019 be adopted"
Carried
Approval of Minutes
019-21 Moved by Richard Rekker, seconded by Eric Bowman
"That the minutes of the August 22, 2019 meeting be approved"
Carried
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington October 10, 2019
Presentation: Mani Rajendran and Ron Trewin, Region of Durham Works — Design of
Roundabout at Intersection of Bowmanville Ave. (Regional Road 57) and Regional
Road 3 / Concession Road 8
Mr. Rajendran provided the Committee with an overview of the roundabout design
process that is underway. Bowmanville Avenue is a major arterial road and a
designated truck route, including aggregate hauling traffic from near -by
quarries. Bowmanville Avenue also receives traffic flows from the completed portion of
the Highway 407 extension, and this is expected to increase. There is a history of
safety concerns at this intersection. A traffic signal was installed at the intersection in
2016. Despite this, collisions have still occurred.
The Region, through a traffic study, has determined that the existing intersection could
be modified to a roundabout to improve the overall safety and operations at this
intersection. The roundabout design is underway. A Public Information Session was
held on October 2 in Haydon. The current draft design presented to the public has
considered the comments and experience the Region had gained through two prior rural
area roundabouts constructed in the Region (RR8/Brock St. W. and Conc. 6, Uxbridge
and Lake Ridge Rd and RR12/Pefferlaw).
Mr. Rajendran noted that as the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process
does not require an Environmental Assessment or planning phase and related public
consultation for modifying an intersection into a roundabout, the Region did not have an
opportunity to reaching out to public prior to this design phase. Now the Region is
seeking feedback from all stakeholders including the agricultural community to consider
in the design.
Mr. Rajendran answered questions from the Committee respecting the "semi -
mountable" curb design that farm equipment and trucks can mount on and drive over if
needed, the single lane design, and the widths of the access (approximately 8 m,
including sem-mountable curb and paved shoulder) and circular roadway including truck
apron width (approximately 10 m). As the Region completes their construction
planning, the Committee requested concerns respecting the infiltration of traffic to local
roads during construction be taken into consideration. The Committee also underlined
the importance of communicating the safety benefits of roundabouts and education on
the design features and use of roundabouts.
Project information, including the information presented at the October 2 Public
Information Centre, can be found on Durham Region's Public Works Projects Portal at
www.durham.ca/publicworksprojects.
Mr. Trewin provided the Committee with an overview of other Regional capital road
program elements that the Region is considering and has implemented. This includes a
review of road entrance width minimums for the accommodation of increasingly large
farm equipment, future road widening purchases, the addition of paved shoulders on
rural roads to accommodate cycling (2-2.5 m on the cycling network and 1.5 m for other
rural roads), and a growing need for drainage improvements in response to a changing
climate. The Committee requested that farmers with property along roadsides where
work is being proposed be contacted in advance so that tile drain locate information can
be provided.
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington October 10, 2019
Business Arisina from Minutes
Resolution regarding enforcement for safety on farms: Township of Warwick
Resolution regarding enforcement for safety on family farms adopted by Warwick
Township Council on June 17, 2019 was endorsed by Clarington Council on September
16, 2019.
Corresaondence. Council Items and Referrals
Notice of Public Information Centre: Notice of the Region of Durham's Public
Information Centre for the Roundabout Construction at Intersection of Bowmanville Ave.
(Regional Road 57) and Regional Road 3 / Concession Road 8 was circulated to the
Committee prior to the session on October 2, 2019.
Liaison Reports:
Durham Agriculture Advisory Committee: Tom shared highlights from the October 8
DAAC meeting. Introduction of Simon Gill as the Region's new Director of Economic
Development and Tourism. Presentation on the Growth Management Consultation for
Envision Durham. Discussion of the increasing spread of the fleabane weed in the
Region, often on properties cleared for development that are then left idol for a period
before construction commences. Staff to confirm whether the Municipality and/or the
Region have a Weed Inspector on -staff.
Durham Region Federation of Agriculture: Richard provided an update in his e-mail
to all prior to the meeting. DRFA continues to work on coordinating a local roundtable
on enforcement for safety on family farms; waiting for responses from invited guests.
DRFA requests clarification from Clarington on the new "Clean and Clear" by-law (refer
to New Business).
Clarington Board of Trade: Jenni updated the Committee on recent events, including
a storytelling session and the annual Mayor's Address. CBOT will host the Clarington
Economic Summit on November 20, 8:00 am — 2:00 pm at Garnet B. Rickard. The
summit will explore Clarington's economy and the synergies and opportunities with
emerging sector, including hemp production. Details available at
https://www.cbot.ca/events/economic-summit/.
Durham Farm Connections annual Celebrate Agriculture Gala takes place on October
24. Details available at https:Hdurhamfarmconnections.ca/celebrate-agriculture-gala/.
New Business
Clarington "Clean and Clear" By-law 2019-047: By-law passed July 2, 2019
respecting keeping land clean and clear in the Municipality. By-law prohibits the
accumulation of debris, accumulation of standing water and the growth of grass and
weeds to a height higher than 20 cm, with the exception of lands zoned Environmental
Protection. Replaces the lawn maintenance by-law. By-law Enforcement will be invited
to attend a future meeting.
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington October 10, 2019
Burn Permits: Fire Chiefs in Durham Region have received requests that burning
permits be addressed by one common by-law across all of the Municipalities. The
Municipality does not charge for burn permits, while other municipalities do. Continued
discussion.
ZONE Clarington: The Committee requested clarification on the status of a series of
resolutions discussed by Council respecting ZONE Clarington. Staff clarified that on
September 16, Council directed Staff to delete the Environmental Review Area (90
metres) and Minimum Vegetation Protection Zone (30 metres) from the draft zoning by-
law amendment, and that these changes will not appear in the draft zoning by-law
mapping until a second draft is released at some point in the future. Further, Council
has directed Staff to pause work on the rural portion of ZONE Clarington for three
months while other provincial reviews (e.g. review of the Provincial Policy Statement)
are being carried out an LPAT appeal respecting zoning for environmental protection is
underway in East Gwillimbury. A series of additional motions are being considered by
Council, but not have not yet been approved. These relate to how provincial policy for
environmental protection was incorporated into the Clarington Official Plan and the
provision of notice about proposed changes to environmental protection zoning to rural
landowners.
Future Agendas
Clarington By-law Enforcement re: "Clean and Clear" By-law 2019-047
Clarington Engineering Services and Region of Durham Works re: 2020 rural area
capital projects
Robert Schafer re: Tyrone Mills Ltd.
Brianna Ames of Fairlife (Coca-Cola)
Clarington Engineering Services (Building Division) re: National Building Code changes
for farm structures anticipated for 2020 (once the changes have been confirmed)
Simon Gill, Durham Region Economic Development & Tourism re: an update on the
Durham Region Agricultural Strategy and Durham Region Broadband Strategy
John Cartwright moved to Adjourn.
Next Meeting: Thursday, November 14, 2019 @ 7:30 pm - Fred Horvath, Clarington
Operations Department re: Emerald Ash Borer Program and General Operations
Department Update
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington October 10, 2019