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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-95-93 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE DN: OP.GPA Date: Monday, June 7, 1993 Res. Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File # # Report #: PD-95-93 File #: Subject: TOWN OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW TIMETABLE AND DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES Recommenda~lf.ns:is respectfully recommended that the General purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the followlng: 1. THAT Report PD-95-93 be received for information. REPORT: 1. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this Report is twofold. 1. To identify a tentative timetable with respect to the Town Official Plan Review Process. 2. To detail the other planning tasks including various planning studies, development application activities, and outstanding matters, all of which are very much related to meeting the timetable of the Official Plan Review. 2. OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW TIMETABLE 2.1 Summary of Past Work In January 1992, Council authorized the a comprehensive review of the Town Official Plan. Due to the age of our existing Official Plan and the lack of coverage for rural area, the "review" has taken on a new meaning. In fact, we are actually preparing a new Official Plan for the Town through comprehensive research and analysis as well as through an elaborate process of public consultation. RECYCLED PAPIEfl PAPEfl RECYCLE THiS IS PRllfTEOON RECYCLED PAPER REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 2 staff spent most of 1992 in the gathering of background planning information and by October 1992, has produced the stage One Discussion Paper - Background Report. Public information open houses were held and citizen attitude survey was undertaken. The survey result is currently being analyzed and will be the subject of a separate report to be presented to Council later on. 2.2 stage 2 Work stage 2 work of the Official Plan review commenced in the latter part of 1992. This stage involved analysis and discussion of all planning policy issues and formulation of draft goals and objectives. The end result will be a stage 2 Discussion Paper to be released for public consultation. This stage of the official plan review is most critical and requires detail analysis which will form the backbone and rationale for future official plan policies. The analysis must be of sufficient detail that would give credibility to the plan and hopefully gain speedy approval from the Region of Durham and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and at the same time withstand challenges in the event of future referral to the ontario Municipal Board. Staff are now in the midpoint of the Stage 2 work and anticipate a tentative completion date in October, 1993. 2.3 Official Plan Timetable The following table represents a general indication of the timeframe for the completion of the various stages of the Official Plan work. It has taken into consideration of the current workload and assumption was made that some of the current works may be delayed and some of the outstanding tasks will not be attended to in the foreseeable future. REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 3 October 4, 1993 Report to GPA for authorization to release stage 2 Discussion Paper for public consultation and to confirm dates for public information open house. October 8 & 9, 1993 Informal session with Members of Council to review Discussion Paper October 18 - 22, 1993 Public Information Open House Nov. 1993 - April, 1994 Review public input and prepare draft Official Plan May, 1994 Submit draft official plan to GPA for authorization of public meetings June, 1994 Public Meetings July - September, 1994 Review public submissions and prepare final official plan October, 1994 Recommended plan to be presented to Council Built into the suggested timetable is a two day informal discussion session with members of Council to review the stage Two Discussion Paper. This is an important step in the process as the stage Two Discussion Paper will encompass many important planning issues that should be reviewed thoroughly and enable staff the opportunity to brief members of Council prior to the public information open house. 3. OTHER PLANNING ACTIVITIES As stated earlier, delivery of the official plan within the proposed timeframe is very much contingent on the workload of the Department. Although staff would very much like to speed up the timeframe, reality is that other planning tasks also need to be attended to at the same time. The following is a synopsis of the Department current planning activities. 572 REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 4 3.1 Planninq Studies There are several planning studies currently underway and at different stages of completion. These include: · Port Darlington Waterfront study · Newcastle Waterfront study · Bowmanville Central Area study · Commercial Hierarchy study · GO Rail station study · South Courtice Secondary Plan Study · South West Court ice Neighbourhood Study These studies are carried out concurrent with our official plan work and are conducted by various consultants. Despite that, Town's planning staff have expended substantial time in the review and co-ordination of the work of the consultants and the inputs of various government agencies. 3.2 Landfill site Issue Staff have also spent and will continue to spend very significant time in dealing with the landfill site search process by the I.W.A. with the possibility of active involvement in future Hearing. In addition, staff will soon deal with the Laidlaw landfill proposal in the not too distant future. Landfill site issues are complex and have consumed significant amount of time from the senior staff of the Department. Port Granby low-level radioactive site is also another landfill site issue which staff have some involvement. 3.3 Ma;or Development ApPlications Despite the economic recession, the Department have received some major development proposals. It appears that various developers are positioning themselves to be ready when the economy improves and are seeking planning approvals during this down time. These major proposals include: ':)73 REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 5 · stolp Homes' residential development in South Court ice · Valiant Property's proposed commercial development at Highway No. 2 and Townline · Tyrone Hamlet Plan and related development applications · Newcastle on the Lake Proposal in Bowmanville · Bramalea Proposal in Newcastle Village · st. Marys Cement application for dock expansion The planning review and approval of these major developments are complex and time consuming. Developers generally understand staff predicament in juggling priorities in order to deal with their applications. 3.4 Outstandinq Town initiated amendments Over the last two years, the Town has initiated several major amendments to the Town's Official Plan. Most of these amendments are before the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for approval. Staff anticipate that there will be further works required once we receive comments or proposed modifications from the Province. These amendments include: . Orono Secondary Plan · Maple Grove Hamlet Plan · Court ice West Corridor Study · Community Improvement Policies · Alternate Parkland Dedication Policies . Housing Policies . Parks and Open Space Amendment 3.5 Provincial Government Initiatives within the last few years, it appears the Provincial Government has taken a very active role in local planning matters. This is evidenced through the release of a number of guidelines, discussion papers, policy statements etc. including: 4 REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 6 . Growth and Settlement Policies . Streamlining Guidelines . Sewell Commission on Planning Reform . Interim Development Guidelines from the Ministry of Environment . Agriculture Land Protection Program - A Discussion Paper . Apartments in Houses . Highway 407 and connecting Link In addition, there are other provincially-initiated studies that require staff involvement during the study process. These are: . Various ongoing studies from the Office of the G.T.A . Oak Ridges Moraine Study . Lake ontario Greenway Strategy . ontario Hydro Transmission Line Study All of the above provincial initiatives require very significant staff involvement including varying degrees of participation, meeting, liaison, review and reporting. 3.6 Reqion's Initiated Studies In addition to the Provincial Government initiatives, there are several planning initiatives at the regional level that require staff participation. These are: . North Bowmanville Environment Study . North CourticejAdelaide Street Extension Environmental Study . Waterfront Study . Ten-acre Lot Study with respect to the Durham Regional Official Plan, there are ongoing involvements pertaining to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs proposed modifications, many of which have significant implications to the Town of Newcastle. ,. -I' h .J ~; REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 7 3.7 Subdivision Aqreements There are currently about seventeen (17) developers requesting the Town to enter into subdivision agreements for housing development. They are: · Halminen Homes, eastside of Trulls Road, Courtice · Foley Group, west side of Trulls Road · Kirby Heights Estate, Clarke Township · Westlake Estates, Solina · Courtice Crossing - Jefferies, east of Trulls Road, Court ice · Van Andel - Nash Road, Courtice · Delbert III - Trulls Road, Courtice · Ministry of Government Services - Mearns Avenue, Bowmanville · Schickedanz Brothers - Trudeau Drive, Bowmanville · Ocean Front Development (industrial) Lake Drive - Bowmanville · Liza II - Mearns Avenue, Bowmanville · Belmont - Highway #2, Bowmanville · Linmac - Scugog Road, Bowmanville · Van Andel - Old Scugog Court, Darlington Township · Sagewood 2 - Rhonda Blvd., Bowmanville · Jefferies - Lawson Road, Courtice · Gearing Estates - Timberland Crt., Darlington These subdivisions collectively represents over 1,900 housing units that would be available on the market. In fact, some of these "to be registered" lots have been presold by various builders and we anticipate increase in building permit activity for the balance of this year. The recent approval of the "core" subdivision agreement by Council will speed up the process of preparing those agreements. However, significant staff time is still required to work out all the details in the twenty-three (23) schedules attached to each agreement. 3.8 Development Applications There are currently many active development applications being CoO ~7 h ') .' REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 8 processed at varying stages. The following table provides statistical information as to the volume of all active development applications as of the end of May, 1993. Number of Active Development Applications Plans of Subdivision 56 Plans of Condominium 2 Official Plan Amendments 68 Neighbourhood Plan Amendments 14 Rezoning 105 site Plan 56 In addltlon to the above, the Department also provides the following functions, most of which are day-to-day functions: · comment to Durham Land Division Committee on current applications · comment to Committee of Adjustment on minor variance applications · provide verbal and written response to zoning enquiries · provide letter of zoning and subdivision agreement compliance to solicitor · check building permit for zoning and subdivision agreement compliance t,7 '7 REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 9 Another major hearing looming on the horizon is the appeal by Bowmanville Mallon the Markborough Shopping Centre proposal. This hearing most likely will be scheduled in the fall and could take up to ten (10) weeks. Apart from the major hearings, there are other hearings involving various types of development applications. Including those that have been held this year and those anticipated for the balance of the year, there will be about 8 to 10 hearings for 1993. Collectively, these hearings also require significant reallocation of staff time. 3.10 Other Miscellaneous Planninq Work The Department staff also provide the following function and services listed as follows: · comment and respond to development applications in neighbour municipalities · assist the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (L.A.C.A.C) · spearhead the investigation and implementation of a Geographical Information System (G.I.S.) · provide day-to-day counter enquiries · liaise with local citizen groups including evening meetings and speaking engagements . complete background analysis for subdivisions and ward boundaries review of polling · enforcement of zoning by-law and development agreements. 3.11 Outstandinq Works As a result of the tremendous workload in the Department, staff were unable to attend to many outstanding planning works, many of which have been referred to staff for reporting. These outstanding works include: REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 10 · prepare booklet on development process, including Town's requirements and standards · review architectural control by-law · prepare development charge pamphlet · review sign by-law · review provincial streamlining policies · review and examine feasibility to prohibit topsoil removal · examine feasibility of establishing an Environmental Advisory Committee · review composting project by Mr. Ambrose · review Sewell Commission on Planning Reform · review reports from the office of the G.T.A. · implement CAUSE Study recommendations. 6. CONCLUSION The workload of the Department is extraordinarily heavy. It has been difficult and stressful to cope with the many deadlines as well as to meet the expectation of many individuals. The workload is definitely impacting the timely delivery of the Official Plan Review works which is now falling behind schedule. Conversely, due to priority given to the Official Plan review works, many planning tasks have been delayed. The timetable provided in this Report is tentative at best and is based on the assumption that it is the desire of this Council to have the official plan works completed within this term of Council. Accordingly, staff will direct all effort to work on the official plan and respectfully request Council's understanding as to the reasons why certain planning tasks have been and will be delayed. h70 ,. ~ REPORT NO.: PD-95-93 PAGE 11 Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation to the Committee dr~~.~ ~~ Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P. Director of Planning and Development FW*jip 25 May 1993