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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-77-93 CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF GPA Purpose and Administration Committee # May 3, 1993 File # Res. # #: FLN 2. 2 . 8 , S COMMENTS ON MINISTRY OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS TO 1991 DURHAM REGIONAL OFFICIAL PLAN recommended that the General Purpose and recommend to Council the following: PD-77-93 be received; contained in this report be endorsed as Council's the Ministry of Municipal Affairs post-circulation the new Durham Regional Official Plan; Ministry of Municipal Affairs be requested to meet with local staff to resolve the outstanding issues not limited to population projections, density and , phasing and urban boundary expansions, planning, aggregate policies and rural settlements. municipalities have further opportunity to review the modifications prior to the Minister's approval; and of this report be forwarded to the Region of Durham Department, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transportation, the of Housing and other area municipalities in the Region of BACKGROUND In January 1992, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs requested comments from the Town of Newcastle on the 1991 Durham Regional Official Plan as part of the Ministry'S circulation process. 'n ~) 6.j HECYCLED PAPIER PAPER RECYCLE REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 2 staff prepared a report PD-108-92 for Council's consideration. The report was adopted as the Town of Newcastle's comments on 'the 1991 Regional Official Plan with a number of amendments. 1.2 On March 25, 1993 the Ministry of Municipal Affairs forwarded its post-circulation letter to Dr. M. Michael, Commissioner of Planning for the Region. The letter raised the issues which remained outstanding and proposed modifications to the 1991 Regional Official Plan. In addition, 28 referral requests have been received, 10 of which relate to the Town of Newcastle. 1.3 The Region of Durham Planning Committee has requested all area municipalities to comment on the modifications no later than May 10, 1993. This report has been prepared to advise committee and Council of the proposed modifications and the implications to the Town of Newcastle. 1.4 copies of the Ministry's letter was circulated to Regional Councillors by Regional staff. Local Councillors have been provided a copy of the letter by Town staff. 2. OVERVIEW OF THE PROVINCIAL POSITION 2.1 The Regional Plan is the first of the upper-tier municipalities within the GTA to guide future land use to the year 2021. Therefore, the Ministry had undertaken a comprehensive review of the plan in conjunction with various other government offices. In many ways, it appears that the Ministry's process is utilizing the Durham Plan Review as a pilot project for many GTA initiatives including the Oak Ridge Moraine study and the Royal Commission on the Toronto Waterfront. :) 6 1 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 3 The Ministry is supportive of the basic elements and directions of the Regional Plan. The Ministry states that the proposed modifications are aimed at enhancing the Regional Council's role and responsibility in managing the planning and development of the Region as well as addressing Provincial and municipal interests. The Regional Plan was prepared as a "structure Plan" establishing areas for urbanization with no related time horizon. However, the Ministry's initial concern is related to the lack of any time horizon for the Plan. The Ministry has proposed a 30 year timeframe for all upper-tier municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area establishing a vision to the year 2021. The reduction in the time horizon has necessitated the need for reductions in population targets Living Area land supplies, employment targets, Employment Area land supplies and commercial floorspace targets. In addition, the majority of Special study Areas have been eliminated. The thirty year time horizon is conditional on the inclusion of density, intensification and phasing targets within the Plan together with policies to ensure the long term stability of the urban area boundaries. The intent is to establish specific "performance standards" to monitor progress. In addition to this general approach to growth management there are a number of specific issues highlighted in the Ministry's letter. 3. GENERAL CONCERNS: Staff has had a short time to review the proposed Ministerial modifications and consequently this report only deals with only the most significant isslles identified to date. /)62 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 4 3.1 Residential Densitv Modifications The Regional Plans states that urban areas shall be developed on the basis of a number of principles including compact form and intensif ication. The Province has indicated that a graduated shift toward increased densities be directed through very specific policies on density and intensification. Proposed modifications 55, 56 and 57 would establish policies to define density targets. Specifically, it is proposed that the Plan include policies to: . encourage the review of existing proposals in the approvals process in order to promote increased density; . incorporate a target that all area municipalities plan to the maximum permissable densi ti.es under the current municipal official plan; and . incorporate a target that area municipalities plan for all new residential lands added by the 1991 Plan to be developed at the average density on which the land supplies were based (ie. 10 units per gross acre). Furthermore the Plan should be modified to include a definition of gross residential density. It should be noted that the approved 1991 Durham Regional Official Plan, while it had population targets for each urban area, did not explicitly state a target density for Living Area lands. Moreover, the Living Area designation includes a broad range of uses including local and community level commercial, institutional, schools, parks, local roads, storm water management facilities, open space and even smaller industrial areas recognized in the area municipal official :) 6 3 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 5 Gross residential density is usually applied across larger neighbourhood or community level planning areas, but generally not including the broad range of uses as identified under the Durham Plan. Net Residential density is usually applied to smaller scale planning and refers only to those lands specifically used for residential purposes. It excludes public facilities like roads and parks and private lands used for non-residential purposes. A recent study undertaken by Malone Given Parsons for the Town of Ajax included an examination of density factors for existing and approved developments in the Greater Toronto Area. Oshawa, Ajax, Whitby and Pickering had 6.8 upa, 5.1 upa, 4. 7 upa and 4. 3 upa respectively. Newcastle was not included in the study. It found that new communities in Peel, York and Durham are aChieving gross densities ranging from 4 to 7 units per acre. staff's own review found Court ice and Bowmanville developing at approximately 5-6 upa whereas Newcastle Village was approximately 4 upa. This, however, utilized a more traditional definition of gross residential density rather than for Living Areas as defined in the Regional Plan. Malone Given Parsons also noted that currently public use standards, including road allowances, park dedications, stormwater management facilities, and creek valley protection are leading to net density requirements of roughly 2.0 times the gross density. Malone Given Parsons conclude that the densities implicit in the Durham Plan result in an urban form and housing types much different from all recent development in Durham. While the achievement of higher densities is one of the basic objectives of the Durham Plan, the target is too high and should be re examined. J64 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 6 The Town's concerns with the proposed modifications are as follows: · The proposed graduation of densities to increase on the periphery is contrary to planning for intensification towards the centre of urban areas near services. · The move to a more compact urban form cannot be so dramatic that the housing units are not publicly accepted or marketable. · The move from a "structure plan" with no timeframe to a 30 year plan makes the density targets less achievable. · The policies are too prescriptive and prohibit the area municipalities to exercise any flexibility to achieve any density target within the local official plan. The Plan should not contain any specific provisions with regard to density targets. · The Town recommends that for the purposes of land supply calculations only that a density of 7 units per gross acre be utilized for Bowmanville and Courtice. · Newcastle Village is different in scale and character from other lake shore urban areas. It should therefore be recognized that its role in the urban structure of Durham Region is different. Accordingly, the Town requests that for land supply calculations for Newcastle Village be based on 5 units per gross acre. · The definition of "gross residential density" should be clarified to exclude community level facilities including commercial uses (Local and community Central Areas, Special Purpose Commercial Areas), industrial areas, community level parks and seoondary schools. j65 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 7 3.2 Thirtv Year Timeframe The 1976 and 1991 Regional Plans were prepared as "structural plans" without any planning horizon. For the province, the lack of a defined planning horizon was a major concern related to the implementation of a growth management strategy. To address this, there needed to be some consensus on a 30 year population forecast. The 1990 Regional population forecast was utilized with a target population of 930,000 for Durham Region in 2021. The population forecast for Newcastle in 2021 is 142,000. On the basis of the thirty year timeframe and the density assumptions, the province has requested that the Living Area requirements be reviewed to correspond with the forecast. The Ministry has suggested certain areas for deletion and requested that additional reductions be considered in other areas. staff concur with the introduction of a specified planning horizon for the Regional and area municipal official plans. This will enable a more concerted effort to implement growth management objectives. It is noted that staff's original recommendation was based on a thirty year planning horizon and the Region's population forecast. Subsequent positions are noted on the chart below: J66 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 8 1990 1990 1991 1991 Approved 1992 Staff Council Council Durham Plan Council Recommendation Position Position Position eourtice 40,000 40,000 55,000 60,000 40,000 Bowmanville 65,000 75,000 95,000 95,000 75,000 Newcastle Vlg. 12,000 15,000 27,000 27,000 15,000 Orono 7,000 7,000 10,000 ** 10,000 ** 7,000 Su btotal 124,000 137,000 187,000 192,000 137,000 Urban Su btotal 20,000 * Not Not 18,000 *** Not Rural Specified Specified Specified Total 144,000 Not Not 210,000 Not Specified Specified Specified staff estimate ** Special Study Area to determine densities for Orono *** Staff estimate: excludes Ridge Pine Park The latest Town Council's recommended target population is slightly higher than staff's original recommendation but considerably lower than those in the new Regional Official Plan. It appears that the new population forecast being prepared by the GTA will increase Durham's share of population growth. Consequently, it would appear that a thirty year planning horizon would forecast a population of about 150,000 for Newcastle. In addition to the above, the following comments are provided: . In making adjustments to the Living Area lands to be shown in the Durham Regional Plan, land supply calculations need to be based on a more realistic density assumption of 7 upa for Courtice and Bowmanville and 5 upa for Newcastle village. . Any adjustments to Living Area lands need to be based on larger neighbourhood-size units suitable for planning all neighbourhood facilities. consequently, the targets for each Urban Area should be adjusted as needed but generally comply with the ranges noted above. j67 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 9 . until such time as more information is available on the impact of a revised population forecast and there is a resolution of the gross residential density assumptions to be utilized, the Town should reserve comment on specific adjustments to Living Area lands, with the exception of those noted in section 4 of this Report. . The impact of any adjustments to the Living Areas on the commercial structure (floor space) allocations and employment targets is unknown at this time. The Town requests further information and justification on any proposed adjustments to these allocations/targets. 3.3 Urban Area Boundaries As noted earlier, the Ministry's modifications propose that the Regional Plan identify 30 year (long term) urban area boundaries and that area municipal official plans identify 15- 20 year (interim) urban area boundaries. The lands between the long term and inter im boundaries would be identif ied either as agricultural or major open space in the area municipal official plan. staff support the general concept proposed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. It is staff's intent to produce a Town of Newcastle Official Plan with a 20 year timeframe. Notwithstanding this agreement with the principle being advocated by the Ministry, staff have a number of significant concerns with the specific approach represented by these modifications. These concerns are as follows: . The concept of the Regional and area municipal official plans identifying different urban area boundaries will be confusing to the general public. Both Plans should show the same urban area boundary. It is recommended that the area municipal official plan identify the lonqer term lands with differing but urban designation. This could / () Jbo REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 10 either be a Deferred designation Residential) or Special study Area. (eg. Deferred . A major justification raised by the Ministry for retaining the agriculture designation on the long term lands was "to promote the longest possible use of agricultural lands within the 2021 urban area boundary." While staff concur with this objective, any land developer will understand the long term potential of the land. Even today, most of these lands are no longer owned by farmers. Consequently, a deferred or special study Area designation in the area municipal official . plan could still encourage continued use for agricultural purposes and achieve just as effectively this objective. . The second justification for the above approach was to enable a monitoring and evaluation process on the implementation of the Regional and area municipal official plans. Modification 40 established policies regarding the expansion of the thirty year (long term) regional urban area boundaries. Expansion of these urban area boundaries could occur only after a comprehensive review in 10 years or 50 % occupancy of the designated vacant land. However, the criteria may be applied to the total lands or separately in groupings of Pickering/Ajax, Whitby/Oshawa/CourticeandBowmanville/NewcastleVillage. In effect, this latter clause joins municipalities in a situation where one municipality may be near capacity and unable to expand its urban boundaries due to the lack of development in adjoining municipality. staff are concerned about this "linkage" arrangement and recommend that the latter criteria either be deleted or J69 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 11 that each municipality be considered separately. . Modification 42 establishes the mechanism for area municipalities to monitor the interim urban area boundary. It enables an expansion of interim urban area boundary only after development of 25% of designated land within the 15-20 year urban area boundary and as part of a comprehensive official plan review which evaluates the achievement of the targets and policies of the area municipal plan. No site specific adjustments could be made by privately initiated official plan amendments. It has been a goal of the Town through the Durham Plan review process to maintain Bowmanville as the dominant urban centre in the municipality. staff concur with the intent of this modification but recommend that rather than applying the criterion on an urban area basis, that is separately for Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle village and Orono, that the 25% criterion be applied for the entire municipal urban designations. This enables the municipality to review its intended share of growth for all urban areas. It would prevent market forces from necessitating continuous reviews and increases in a westerly area like Court ice while Bowmanville and Newcastle Village may fail to meet their target populations. 3.4 Employment Targets and Employment Area Land Supplies The ~inistry is recommending that the following modifications be made: . Employment targets be amended to correspond with population forecast. . Employment Area lands be reduced significantly including 50% of all Seaton Employment Areas, Employment Areas north of future Highway 107 in Whitby and Oshawa and some additional areas unspecified. J70 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 12 . the target ratio of 50% jobs to population be modified to a more realistic target. While it is recognized that the target adopted by the Region for a ratio of 50 % jobs to population is very ambitious it nevertheless represents a serious effort to reverse the high rate of commuting by the Durham workforce into Metro Toronto. While Town staff could accept a somewhat lower target, the basic premise of a major effort by the Region to direct/attract additional job growth to Durham Region must be clearly understood, articulated and incorporated into the Regional Plan. This includes the investment in major provincial infrastructure to accommodate employment targets. wi th respect to the thirty year planning horizon and the reduced population targets, staff would concur that this will inevitably have some impact on the amount of Employment Area lands designated in the Plan. It is noted, however, that the designation of new Employment Area lands in Newcastle take advantage of the existing infrastructure, including Highway 401. consequently, within the planning horizon of the Durham Plan, lands in the Town of Newcastle represent the most viable option for new Employment Areas. The Employment Areas designated in Newcastle should not be subject to any efforts to reduce the total lands designated. 3.5 Housing Intensification Policies As a corollary to encouraging higher densities in greenfield areas, the Ministry recommends a number of modifications to implement increased intensification through redevelopment, reuse and infilling in existing built-up areas. The Region utilized an intensification factor of 20% in the preparation of the Regional Official Plan. In other words, it was assumed that additional dwelling units could be created throllgh redevelopment and intensification within the existing J 7 'I REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 13 developed area equalling 20 % of the existing dwelling units in 1991. The Ministry is requesting that the 20 % intensification factor be an explicit target in the policies of the Regional Plan. Modifications 19,23,24,31,55 and policies regarding intensification. policies require: 57 relate to detailed Among other things, these · the Region in conjunction with area municipalities to establish intensification targets; · the Region to promote higher density housing forms and encourage area municipalities to consider alternative development standards and housing forms; · the Regional Housing statement to establish housing targets by type and tenure which will, among other things, "be used to guide and evaluate area municipal official plans and development proposals"; · require area municipalities to designate "intensification areas" in their official plan. staff's concern with these modifications are as follows: · The intensification target may be too high given the limited time horizon to the Regional Plan. . The intensification target should not be applied universally without regard for local conditions. While there can be some assumptions at the Regional level regarding the amount of intensification, the targets should be established in the area municipal official plan for each urban area. ]72 . REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 14 . These policies provide too much authority for Regional monitoring and direction to development ultimately leading to interference in local planning matters. 3.6. Environmental Policies Significant modifications are proposed to section 2 (Environment) of the Regional Official Plan. The focus of the proposed modifications relate primarily to: . the creation, protection and enhancement of a natural heritage system; . the protection and enhancement of surface and ground water resources; and . land uses on or in proximity to former and active waste disposal sites. Natural Heritage system The proposed modifications state that the Region shall promote the development of a connected and functional natural areas system being primarily composed of the components of the Major Open Space system, natural features such as valleys, Environmentally Sensitive Areas, and forests found in other designations, and additional linkages and corridors identified in area municipal official plans. The protection of specific areas such as hazard lands, woodlots and hedgerows is also addressed. The Town supports this initiative to identify and protect a natural heritage system and specific features within the system. Environmental Impact Studies The Regional Official Plan originally stated that, in the consideration of development applications in proximity to Environmen~~]Jy Sen~i~ivA ArA~~, the Reglon would retain a consultant at the expense of the proponent to prepare an J73 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 15 environmental impact study. The modifications propose to extend this requirement to include area municipal plans or secondary plans encompassing Environmentally Sensitive Areas. This modification, if approved, would require the Town to pay the Region to hire a consultant to undertake an environmental assessment in the course of preparation of the Town's Official Plan. The Town cannot support this modification as it establishes undue Regional involvement in a local planning process . Given that most of the environment impacts relate to groundwater and stormwater management, it is recommended that this modification be deleted or substantially changed to enable area municipalities to deal with environmentally sensitive areas through policy direction in its own Official Plan. Watershed Planninq New polices are proposed which substantially increase the emphasis on protecting and managing surface and ground water resources in the preparation of area municipal official plans and in the review of development proposals. Specifically, the modifications propose the following: . area municipal official plans, must address cumulative impacts by promoting comprehensive planning for watersheds and natural area systems; . that a subwatershed plan be co-ordinated by the area municipality in conjunction with other agencies as a prerequisite for proposed major expansions of existing urban areas and secondary plan proposals; . area municipal official plans shall identify specific studies, design techniques and implementation requirements as a prerequisite to approval of a specific J74 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 16 development or Regional Council support of an area municipal official or se~ondary plan; . area municipal official plans shall include policies detailing requirements for stormwater management and erosion and sedimentation control plans and the relationship of such plans to the subwatershed plans. The thrust of the proposed modifications is to incorporate the concept of 'watershed planning' into the Durham Plan. This concept involves having the impacts of development on surface and ground water resources assessed in the initial stages of land use planning. In theory, watershed planning allows for development to proceed while minimizing the disruption of natural hydraulic processes. The Town recognizes the importance of protecting and enhancing surface and ground water resources when planning land use, and does not have any objection in principle to incorporating these factors into the land use planning process. However, the proposed modifications would appear to be placing the financial, policy and administrative burden for implementing watershed planning on the area municipalities. The modifications will require area municipalities to initiate watershed planning studies as part of the review of their official plans. The financial and administrative implications of these proposed modifications must be clarified prior to their incorporation into the Regional Official Plan. In many respects, these provincial and regional policies are downloading the cost of planning to area municipalities. 3.7 Aqqreqate Policies The Ministry of. Natllra I ReSOllrces has advised that the new Regional Plan does not fully implement the Provincial Mineral ']75 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 17 Aggregate Resources Policy Statement. This includes the recognition of some of the Lake Iroquois Shoreline as a "High Potential Mineral Aggregate Resource Area". In addition, the Aggregate Producers Association of ontario has requested referral of the mineral aggregate policies in the Plan. Aggregate extraction activities will become increasingly important to the Town as sources of supply further west are diminished. The Town will need to deal with increased activity. It is understood that Regional staff will be seeking deferral of these policies to enable further discussion. Town staff support this direction and the Town must be consulted in the resolution of the outstanding issues. 4. MAJOR CONCERNS RELATED TO THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE Attachment #1 to the Report identifies the specific changes to the Maps wi th respect to Newcastle. Staff comments are provided on each proposed modification. 4.1 Orono The Ministry has commented that while supporti ve of the Region's intent to assess the future of Orono, it is premature to establish an urban area or special study area boundary. Modifications 46, 129 and 144 propose to delete the designations on Map AS and insert a policy requiring the Region to "investigate the provision of municipal services to Orono" . It is noted that while the modifications eliminate Orono from the Map, it does not propose to designate Orono as a hamlet. policies in Section 5 and 7 of the text still refer to Orono as an urban area. In essence, Orono appears to be an "urban- area-in-waiting", having the status but no lands designated. ;- -/76 J REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 18 staff have previously advanced the rationale to recognize Orono as an urban area. It has a distinct and mature downtown, district level recreation facilities, access to Highway 35/115, water supply services, and a population slightly less than 2000. Given the Town's desire to pursue Orono as an urban area, the Ministry's reluctance to designate specific boundaries prior to the completion of further studies, and the thirty year timeframe for the Plan, it is recommended that the following directions be pursued by the Ministry. . Designate Orono as an urban area with boundaries indicating only existing development and minor additions as shown in the Orono Hamlet Plan, including the designation of Living Areas and a Main Central Area. . Modify Section 3.3.5 to identify Orono with a target population of 2000 and appropriate employment targets. . Add a policy in Section 5. of the Plan as follows: "In the planning and design of the Regional water supply system and sanitary sewerage system for Newcastle village, Regional council shall incorporate capacity to extend full municipal services to the Orono urban area with a minimum population of 10,000." These modifications would recognize Orono as an urban area immediately and enable the planning for the extension of lake- based services. It would, however, recognize that any urban expansion for Orono would need to be considered in a subsequent review of the Durham Regional Official Plan. 4.2 North Courtice The Ministry of Municipal Affairs notes that the northerly expansion of Courtice has raised concerns given the extensive environmentally sensitive areas in this location. Moreover, /7 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 19 the thirty year timeframe of the Plan has raised the questions of the total land supply requirements. staff previously recommended that there should be no northerly expansion of Courtice Urban Area at this time. Town Council previously took the view that the northerly expansion of the Court ice Urban Area could be considered but after more detailed study given its environmentally sensitive nature. consequently Town Council recommended that the lands northerly to Pebblestone Road be designated special study Area. Regional Council, in its consideration of the Plan, recommended that approximately 160 acres west of Trulls Road be recognized as Part of the Urban Area and designated as Living Area. Landowners, both east and west of this extension, have referred the Durham Regional Plan to the O.M.B. to also have their lands designated for urban purposes. Given Council's position that the target population for Courtice should be approximately 40,000 and in consideration of the significant environmentally sensitive features in this location, staff confirm its original position and recommend that no northerly extension of courtice should be contemplated within the timeframe of the Regional Plan. 4.3 SDecial study Areas Special study Areas are designated to imply future directions for growth, subject to further study and an amendment to the Regional Plan. Given the Ministry's position on a thirty year planning horizon and the amount of lands within the proposed urban areas, the need for special study areas are unnecessary. The Town supports the elimination of special study Areas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11. Discussion pertaining to SSA 10 for Orono is 110 ted above. J78 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 20 4.4 st. Marvs Cement (special policy Area B) The Ministry has noted the concerns raised regarding the st. Marys Cement lands in Bowmanville. A referral request has been made by the Port Darlington Community Association. Furthermore the Town expressed serious concerns regarding the diminished control over planning approvals as a result of the "notwithstanding" clause as contained in the 1991 Durham Plan. The area is under consideration in the Newcastle Waterfront Study. In addition, council has requested the Shoreline Regeneration Trust to facilitate discussions with various agencies to resolve the many issues surrounding st. Marys Cement. The Honourable David Crombie, has agreed to facilitate such discussions. Given that the Waterfront study is examining the st. Mary's cement issues in significant detail and considering that there will be some mUlti-party discussions on this issue to resolve the future land uses, it is recommended that the policies and designations associated with Special Policy Area B be deferred by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. 4.5 Hiqhway 407 and Hiqhway 401/407 Link The 1991 Durham Regional Official Plan identifies the future Highway 407. In addition to a number of modifications which strengthen the status and details' regarding Highway 407, the Ministry has recommended a modification to identify the preferred alignment for the Highway 401/407 Freeway Link east of Courtice. In February 1992, Town Council did not endorse the construction of the Highway 407 in the Town of Newcastle and requested the Ministry to examine alternative transportation strategies. In addition, Council has not taken position on the 79 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 21 In Report PD-44-93 on Economic Development, staff requested Council to reconsider its position and endorse the technically preferred alignments for both Highway 407 and the Highway 401/407 Freeway Link. Council has resolved to defer the issue until the meeting on May 31st, 1993. If Council wishes to oppose Highway 407 and the connecting freeway link east of courtice, it has two options at this point: . the Minister of Municipal Affairs can be requested to refer all matters related to the future Highway 407 and Freeway Link to the ontario Municipal Board. This will involve defending this decision with specialist consultants and legal representation. staff are not in a position to support council's position on this matter. . The Minister of Municipal Affairs can be requested to defer all matters related to the future Highway 407 and the Freeway Link. This deferral will assume that there will be further discussion to resolve the matter. The recommendations of this staff report should be amended according to Council's direction. 4.6 Prestonvale/Townline Road Interchanqe In the course of undertaking the South Court ice Employment Area, the transportation consultants have identified the need for a second interchange to serve the Court ice Urban Area and particularly the Employment Area lands. An initial meeting has been held with representatives of the Ministry of Transportation, the Region and Town staff. Town and Regional staff support the need to identify and protect for an interchange in the general vicinity of the present day Prestonvale Road. This interchange would serve a future 88 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 22 staff recommend the Schedule B2 be modified to indicate Townline Road as a Type B Arterial Road south of Bloor street connecting to a "proposed" interchange in the vicinity of Prestonvale Road. If the Ministry is not prepared to approve such a designation at this time, it is recommended that it be incorporated into the Plan but granted a "deferred" status. 4.7 The Port Darlinqton Secondary Planning Area. The Town had requested a Special Study Area designation for the lands east of Port Darlington currently under study. The designation would reflect the possible expansion area for Bowmanville. The 1991 Regional Plan did not reflect the Town's request and as such the Minister was requested to modify the Regional Plan to incorporate this area as a Special Study Area. The Port Darlington Secondary Planning Area is essential consideration to secure public access and improvement of the waterfront. The Plan is being formulated in recognition of the principles formulated by the Royal Commission. staff reiterate the Town's previous position with respect to having the Port Darlington secondary Planning Areas identified with either a Living Area designation or a Special Study Area designation and incorporate a planned population of 4,000 in the allocation process for land supply requirements. 4.8 Rural Settlement Areas The Ministry's primary concern with rural areas is the prevention of scattered development and "proper growth management" for rural settlements. As proposed, the Ministry does not feel that the Plan provides sufficient direction to area municipalities to regulate the amount and location for development and growth in hamlets, estate residential, clusters or rural employment areas. . 8 'I . :) I REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 23 Modifications are recommended by the Ministry to require: . area municipal official plans to provide coverage for their rural areas . the Region and area municipalities to conduct comprehensive growth management analysis regarding need, financial implications and cumulative environmental impacts . no expansions to hamlet will be permitted until the area municipality undertakes such a comprehensive analysis . no additional estate residential (country residential) subdivisions shall be permitted until the area municipality undertakes such a comprehensive analysis . no Rural Employment Areas can be designated without such an analysis . planning for hamlets shall include a settlement capacity study which includes a "cumulative impact assessment" . planning for hamlets and estate residential (country residential) subdivisions shall include consideration of servicing by municipal and communal systems. staff support the introduction of policies mandating a comprehensive analysis of rural growth requirements. This matter is already incorporated into the Province's Growth and Settlement Guidelines and is necessary to provide a long term vision for the rural area. staff remain concerned with the implications of settlement capacity studies which include a cumulative impact assessment. The financial burden of such studies for Newcastle, with 13 hamlets, make it cost-prohibitive to consider expansions to hamlets. Unless a funding mechanism can be established to underwrite the municipality's costs for such studies, it will tend to force development to rural clusters and country residential subdivisions where the proponents can undertake si te specific stu~i as without. aonsidaration of an entire hamlet area. ]82 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 24 4.9 Agricultural Areas The Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and Food have requested the certain lands previously shown in the 1976 Regional Plan as Permanent Agriculture Areas or General Agricultural Areas be retained in this designation rather than given an Open Space designation. The main areas of concern in Newcastle are the urban separator lands between Court ice and Bowmanville and within the areas now identified as part of the Oak Ridges Moraine. staff have no objection to this proposed modification. 5. CONCLUSIONS 5.1 The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has undertaken a comprehensive review of the new Durham Regional Official Plan, being the first of the GTA upper-tier plans to guide land uses to the year 2021. While the provincial response has endorsed many of the basic directions of the new Durham Region Official Plan, it has proposed 144 substantive modifications and raised a number of key issues to be resolved prior to approval. The proposed modifications would establish a thirty year time horizon for the Regional Plan and a 15-20 year time horizon for area municipal official plans. However, the Ministry proposes to establish performance standards, including explicit density, intensification and phasing targets within the Plan to be used in monitoring progress and phasing development. staff support the introduction of specified time horizon in the Regional and area municipal official plans. staff are concerned that the performance standards need to be realistic, achievable and not so detailed and cumbersome. It must be recognized that there is the opportunity to incorporate more detailed policies in the area municipal official plans. j83 REPORT NO.: PD-77-93 PAGE 25 5.2 It is recommended that the comments contained in this report be endorsed as the Town's comments on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs post-circulation letter on the new Durham Regional Official Plan. 5.3 It is further recommended that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs be requested to convene a series of meetings with Regional and local staff to resolve outstanding issues including the following: . density and intensification targets . phasing and urban boundary expansions . area municipal interim (15-20 year) urban boundaries 5.4 Finally, because of the nature and extent of the revisions it is necessary that the area municipalities have a further opportunity to review any revised modifications to the official plan prior to approval by the Minister. This is necessary to enable area municipalities the opportunity to request referral of certain matters yet to be completed. Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation to the Committee c) r otJ4''-'U ~ fA ~_i Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P. Director of Planning and Development Lawrence E. Kot Chief Administr Officer CS*DC*FW*df *Attach 28 April 1993 ]84 It)~ C\I :I: o ....a: (J)en~ a:en::E ~~C u.l-W ~(J)~ ..JZC ~Qz o~~ -Oll. z_ ::::>u...J ::Ec~ 11.00 o::Eu:: >cu. a:wo I-(J)..J (J)o~ ~~~ ::Ea:a ll.w a: ::E ~ :I: a: ::::> C CO) en en .... I- Z W ::E ::E o o 11. 11. ~ (J) - z o E (J) o ll. (J) Z == o I- (J) ::::> o ~ a: ll. >-- (J) ~ ::E o I- (J) Z o ~ o u:: Q :i z o ~ o u:: C o ::E C W (J) o ll. o a: ll. 00 :(l .~ ?:- ro .~ ro iii] ~ -"OlNro>. g> 6 .;c 'c C OJ P frl Cl g> 1I ,f:; ,~ C/) ,f:; ~ :; "E Ol _,~.... 8 Ol~...JOllijo ..r::.Ero..o.....ro .....rooo ro" 'lUIro~iiOl iiOl"o,,~ ..r::.Ol..... 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