2 GRO W ING A GREENER A W ARENESS Online Atlas to Inspire Municipal Carbon Reduction 8 STRENG THENING CONNECTIONS GREATER TORONTO City of Markham and York University Sign WED NESDAY, MOU JUNE 29, 2022 & HAMILTON AREA Vol. 25 No. 26 W H I T BY W O R K I N G T H R O U G H I T S F I R S T D O W N TO W N S E C O N D A RY P L A N I N 3 0 Y E A R S FILLING IN THE GAPS Matt Durnan T he Town of Whitby is Downtown Whitby plotting its course to encompasses the area of the intensify its historic town that is bordered by downtown while maintaining Highway 401 to the south, the heritage and character the CP Rail line to the north, that residents have grown Cochrane and Annes Street to accustomed to. And while the west and Garden Street to proposed changes will not see the east. skyscrapers dotting the town’s The existing downtown skyline, it will guide strategic secondary plan is around 30 growth to ensure that present years old, and with Whitby and future residents and forecasting significant workers can be accommodated population and employment and can enjoy a good quality growth in the coming years, of life, with community the time is now for planning amenities, open green spaces staff to manage that growth in a and parks and a good mix of sustainable way. CONTINUED PAGE 11 uses in buildings along the main arteries of Whitby’s downtown. At its public meeting on May Map showing the proposed Downtown 30, Whitby city council got its Whitby secondary plan area (outlined latest look at a draft proposed in red) compared to the existing official plan amendment for the downtown secondary plan area (smaller area outlined with perforated Downtown Whitby secondary black lines) that has been in place plan. Once passed, the for around 30 years. Town of Whitby secondary plan will introduce is currently developing its downtown secondary plan and planning staff are detailed policies and land use hoping to have a final recommenda- designations that will guide tion for the plan before council early the future development of in 2023. Downtown Whitby. SOURCE: TOWN OF WHITBY O N L I N E AT L A S S E E K S TO I N S P I R E M U N I C I PA L C O L L A B O R AT I O N U P C O M I N G D AT E S O N C A R B O N R E D U C T I O N I N I T I AT I V E S GROWING A GREENER J UN E 29 Durham Regional Council, 9:30 a.m. Mississauga General AWARENESS Committee, 9:30 a.m. Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Planning Meeting, 7:00 p.m. 30 York Regional Council, 9:30 a.m. Rahul Gupta J ULY 4 Brampton Council (Special), E 9:00 a.m. nvironmental advocates climate mitigation initiatives Of the projects currently Halton Hills Council, 3:00 p.m. are hoping that an online by creating a comprehensive catalogued in the atlas, Hamilton General Issues tool introduced by the picture of regional climate transportation initiatives Committee, 9:30 a.m. Clean Air Partnership to action occurring in the GTHA. comprise 51 per cent of the total 5 Aurora General Committee, map out municipal net- The online atlas indicates the carbon reduction projects, with 7:00 p.m. zero initiatives can provide locations of climate action electric vehicle (EV) charging Hamilton Planning inspiration for Greater Toronto projects on an interactive map, infrastructure making up the Committee, 9:30 a.m. and Hamilton Area (GTHA) municipality-by-municipality majority of those endeavours. Markham Development region municipalities looking in an effort to track the progress Other municipal carbon Services Committee, 9:30 a.m. to implement their own climate being made on initiatives reduction projects listed in Mississauga Planning & action projects. in progress for reducing the atlas’s inventory include Development Committee, 6:00 p.m. Earlier this month, the greenhouse gases (GHG). building retrofits and green Clean Air Partnership (CAP) Through the interactive design standards. Currently, 6 Brampton Council, 9:30 a.m. —a non-profit charitable map, projects can be filtered 77 municipal and regional Halton Regional Council – Workshop/Meeting, 9:30 a.m. organization that partners with geographically to locate projects carbon reduction initiatives are municipalities in promoting by municipality and green identified on the atlas map and Mississauga Council, 9:30 a.m. and coordinating climate sector, or can be called up a supporting report, discovered Richmond Hill Council, mitigation efforts — announced according to specific climate through CAP’s own research as 9:30 a.m. the launch of an online Climate actions, such as energy renewal well as through consultations Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Planning Meeting, 7:00 p.m. Action Atlas. The atlas is initiatives. with municipal staff from its a resource through which “We hope [the Climate 35-partner municipalities across 7 Peel Regional Council, 9:30 a.m. municipalities and members of Action Atlas] can serve as an Southern Ontario, as well as the public can locate and learn inspiration for municipalities from cities outside of the GTHA 8 Hamilton Council, 9:30 a.m. more about carbon reduction seeking to strengthen their such as London, Kingston and Markham Special initiatives being undertaken own initiatives by mapping out Ottawa. Development Services Committee Meeting, 10:30 a.m. across Southern Ontario. where all [the carbon mitigation That number of featured According to CAP, the work] is happening,” Clean Air projects is expected to grow as tool is intended to spur Partnership executive director municipalities upload project greater implementation of Gaby Kalapos told NRU. CONTINUED PAGE 3 N R U P U B L I S H I N G S TA F F NRU PUBLISHING INC Ian A.R. Graham, Publisher Rahul Gupta Jeff Payette SALES/SUBSCRIPTIONS Novae Res Urbis Greater Corporate Office Billings Department iang@nrupublishing.com Senior Planning Reporter Design/Layout circ@nrupublishing.com Toronto & Hamilton Area 1200 Bay Street, Suite 1101 NRU Publishing Inc. Ext. 222 rahulg@nrupublishing.com jeffp@nrupublishing.com is published 50 times Toronto, ON M5R 2A5 PO Box 19595 Manulife PO, Annual subscription rate is Ext. 226 Ext. 228 a year and is not to be Tel: 416.260.1304 Toronto, ON M4W 3T9 Irena Kohn, Editor $429 +HST (ON). reproduced, recirculated or Fax: 416.979.2707 irenak@nrupublishing.com Paul Simoneau Samantha Lum Complimentary trial redistributed by any means ISSN 1918-7548 Ext. 223 Planning Researcher Sales and Circulation subscriptions are available. or medium without the pauls@nrupublishing.com samanthal@nrupublishing.com Matt Durnan, Senior Reporter express written consent of Ext. 224 Advertising rates mattd@nrupublishing.com the publisher. Ext. 225 available upon request. WE DNE S DAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 2 A GREENER support from higher levels of government to fund investment coming from federal pandemic funding — the Kerrison AWARENESS in billion-dollar infrastructure Road Wetland Restoration projects such as public transit Project is intended to create expansion, minimal-cost ‘low- and restore an estimated hanging fruit’ initiatives are 2.5-hectares of marshland, as CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 proving to have an outsized well as six hectares of “riparian” information to the atlas’s online told NRU. “But it shouldn’t effect for lowering greenhouse vegetation within Carruthers database, creating a ripple mean that we don’t celebrate gas reductions, according to Creek. Riparian vegetation is effect of momentum, Kalapos the successes that are taking CAP’s research. plant life found on wetlands hopes, for carbon reduction place.” One such project adjacent to rivers and streams. programs to be established Municipalities have identified in the atlas is being For the minimal cost of the and reported on across the adopted ambitious climate implemented by the Town project—which according GTHA. For municipal project strategies in recent years as of Ajax, in partnership with to the town will impact an managers hard at work on the part of a long-term collective Durham Region and the area equivalent to the size of next initiative, the atlas also goal to eventually reach Toronto Region Conservation 50 NHL hockey rinks—the gives staff a chance to promote zero-emissions status. While Authority (TRCA). For the town and region will reap their successes while inspiring cities, towns and regions cost of less than one million significant environmental peers to implement their own must continually rely on dollars — most of the funds CONTINUED PAGE 4 initiatives for achieving the ultimate objective of net-zero emissions. “There’s no doubt we have heaps of work ahead of us [for reducing emissions],” Kalapos Screenshot of the Clean Air Partner- ship’s Climate Action Atlas, an on- line catalogue that maps municipal carbon reduction initiatives being undertaken in Southern Ontario and other parts of the province by location. The atlas acts as a central database for climate action projects and is intended to inspire and encourage municipalities to learn and collaborate from each other’s initiatives. SOURCE: CLEAN AIR PARTNERSHIP Infographic showing 77 municipal climate mitigation projects cur- rently underway within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and being tracked in the Clean Air Partnership’s Climate Action Atlas. The projects are identified as part of CAP’s research on climate action initiatives taking place in the region across municipalities. The initiatives are summarized in a recent report. SOURCE: CLEAN AIR PARTNERSHIP W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 3 A GREENER gas-powered to EVs, as part of a five-year implementation discussions. Municipality of Clarington energy and climate AWARENESS plan to increase electric vehicle use in the municipality while decreasing gas-powered transportation. The initiative is change response planning manager Doran Hoge sees value in the climate atlas for kickstarting such interactions. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 part of Clarington’s long-term “I think at the end of benefits: including increased other municipalities that have objective to eliminate all GHG the day, it will help a lot of biodiversity and improved wild done similar projects, it’s emissions in the municipality municipalities launch their life habitats, significant carbon easier for us to get a sense of within 30 years. designs for [carbon reduction] sequestration and better air the lessons learned and the To come up with the EV programs for sure,” Hoge told quality, among others. challenges that were faced,” conversion implementation, NRU. “Climate action isn’t just Richardson told NRU. Clarington officials consulted the big energy retrofits or the The Municipality of with colleagues from other To learn more about the Clean big district energy projects,” Clarington is converting some municipalities through Air Partnership’s Climate Action Town of Ajax environmental of its existing vehicle fleet from formal and informal group Atlas and to access the atlas and sustainability and climate supporting report, please visit change planning supervisor the CAP website here. Cameron Richardson told NRU. “A climate project can be relatively cheap and easy to implement, but extremely Map of the project area for the useful and efficient.” Kerrison Road Wetland Restoration Initiating climate action Project in Ajax, located between Audley Road North and Kingston can be a daunting task for Road east. The Town of Ajax has smaller municipalities like partnered with Durham Region and Ajax, which often lack the the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) on the project to institutional capacity to carry restore and enhance 2.5-hectares of out such projects, so it’s useful wetlands (shown on map within the according to Richardson blue coloured areas) plus another six hectares riparian planting (shown to have access to a project within the green areas) as part of database like the climate action an overall management plan for atlas to get a better sense of the Carruthers Creek watershed. how other jurisdictions have Other projects planned for the work include improving floodplain connec- tackled similar challenges. tions (shown in pink coloured areas) While researching strategies for and grading efforts for emerging diverting synthetically-made wetland zones (shown as orange coloured areas). textiles from landfills as part SOURCE: TOWN OF AJAX of a town public education campaign, Richardson learned Photo of an electric vehicle (EV) that neighbouring Oshawa had charging station installed by the Municipality of Clarington as part a similar program. Through of its long-term climate action plan CAP, he reached out to City of to reduce greenhouse gas emis- Oshawa staff for advice which sions to zero within 30 years. The project is included in the Clean Air was applied to developing a Partnership’s Climate Action Atlas, like-minded initiative for the which catalogues municipal carbon town of Ajax. reduction initiatives. “When we can look at SOURCE: CLEAN AIR PARTNERSHIP W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 4 D E V E LO P E R P R O P O S E S R E S I D E N T I A L N E I G H B O U R H O O D O V E R LO O K I N G L A K E S I M C O E . BROADENING BEAVERTON’S HOUSING OPTIONS Matt Durnan A developer’s proposal to street that fronts onto Lake add 86 new residential Simcoe in Beaverton. The road units to Beaverton’s is dotted with a number of year- McLennan’s Beach could round cottages, one of which is diversify housing options in owned by Rebanks, who is now the area without interfering looking to build up the area and with existing residents’ use add more housing options. of neighbouring cottages, “I purchased a piece of land enjoyment of the lake, and use to build a single-family cottage of existing roads. looking onto the lake, and this At a public meeting of field came up which is 43 acres Township of Brock council (17.3 hectares), adjacent to on May 30, Alex Rebanks the property about six months of Rebanks Development CONTINUED PAGE 6 Inc. presented a planning application summary outlining Map showing the location of a 43- his proposal to develop a acre plot of land in Beaverton where section of a 17.3-hectare plot developer Rebanks Development Inc. of land that is currently vacant is seeking zoning by-law amend- greenfield into a residential ments from the Township of Brock to permit the development of 86 new neighbourhood comprising 49 residential units. While the plot of townhouses, 34 semi-detached land is 43 acres in size, Rebanks is homes and three single- proposing to develop just nine acres of it, on the western most portion detached homes. of the land, leaving the remaining The developer is seeking lands as greenfield. a number of zoning by-law SOURCE: TOWNSHIP OF BROCK amendments to change Aerial view of the McLennan’s the current zoning for the Beach Road in Beaverton where property—Development (D)— developer Rebanks Development Inc. to permit the development of is proposing to develop an 86-unit new homes and a connecting residential neighbourhood compris- ing townhouses, semi-detached and road that will tie the proposed single-detached homes. To the west neighbourhood in with existing of McLennan’s Beach Road are year- residences nearby. round cottages that front onto Lake Simcoe. The land to the east of the The proposed development road is where Rebanks is proposing site lies across the street from to develop the new neighbourhood. McLennan’s Beach Road, a SOURCE: GOOGLE EARTH W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 5 BEAVERTON’S remain as agricultural lands. Creating a tie-in to like the original plan, then you’d have to urbanize that HOUSING OPTIONS the existing cottages on road,” with SGL Planning McLennan’s Beach Road was planner Raymond Ziemba told an important element of the NRU. planning process, and some “That was the main reason CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 tinkering has been done we were looking to have after I bought that,” Rebanks semi-detached dwellings, throughout the creation of the more of an internal-facing told NRU. rural residential exception proposal by SGL Planning. subdivision, and that provided “So, about nine acres of (RR) for the existing estate lot, A new road will be more opportunity to have that 43 is not in the Greenbelt, open space exception (OS) to constructed to connect to greater setbacks at the rear and but is in the urban boundary permit an internal park, and McLennan’s Beach Road and naturalize that area to provide of Beaverton within the environmental protection (EP) the original proposal was to a nice transition from semis to Township of Brock. That was to protect the portion of the have severed lots backing on towns that are decreasing in interesting in that they were lands on which no housing will to the existing road and to add height, and then it has a pretty zoned for ‘Development’ and be developed. a number of new driveways to generous rear yard setback.” were adjacent to the cottage No official plan amendment connect homes to the road. Beaverton is a small properties on the lake.” is necessary in the application “Through discussion with community made up of roughly Rebanks went on to set up process as the official plans for municipal staff, [the proposed 82 per cent single-detached his own development company both Township of Brock and development has] actually been homes, and Ziemba says this in order to purchase the lands Durham Region allow for this designed in a way to mitigate proposal creates an opportunity and went about the process type of development. the impacts to existing lots to provide a diversity of of putting in applications for The remaining lands outside on McLennan’s Beach Road housing options by adding rezoning proposing to develop of the nine acres where the because we felt that if we had townhouses and semi-detached a series of townhouses, semi- development is planned will them backing on to the road CONTINUED PAGE 7 detached and single-detached homes. The rezoning application seeks to have the lands rezoned into residential type one (R1) to permit the development of single-detached dwellings, residential type two (R2) to permit the development of Site plan for a proposed develop- ment in Beaverton that would add townhouses, semi-detached and single-detached homes to the area. The light grey structures shown at the top of the image indicate existing cottages on the west side of McLennan’s Beach Road that front onto Lake Simcoe. The grade of the land would allow new residents in the proposed neighbourhood to have views of the lake from their homes, even while their homes would not be located on the lake. SOURCE: ALEX REBANKS DEVELOPMENTS W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 6 BEAVERTON’S an opportunity here today.” In addition to the homes cottage country like Huntsville, it’s more of a rural community HOUSING OPTIONS proposed for the site, Rebanks with cottages on it.” is proposing a number of connections to nearby trails. NRU reached out to the Township of Brock and Township of Brock planning CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Durham Region official plans department but they could not be homes to the community’s view of the lake. do not include commercial reached for comment before time existing housing inventory. “The land slopes land designations for the area of publication. While adding to the housing perpendicular to the lake and of the proposed development, stock and diversifying housing goes up about nine feet, so the so commercial development tenure are key elements of upper floors will get westerly cannot occur here and the the proposal, it was also views towards the lake,” said community will retain its urban very important that the new Rebanks. cottage feel. development not infringe on the “Brock is an absolutely “We’re looking at providing established residences on the beautiful little settlement of a park internal to the site. nearby waterfront. about 3,000 people and it’s There’s obviously still going to “I think the challenge is sort of a backwater to the be car trips in the area to the really creating something that other side of the lake where main downtown of Beaverton… connects, and we want to create you’ve got infill in Barrie where The official plan isn’t looking for a community that’s connected (development) is going crazy. commercial to be in this area,” and not have it be ‘us and them’. It’s similar distance to Toronto said Ziemba. And I know we’ve heard from as Barrie, and the number of “It’s living areas and residents that they would prefer townhouses and semi-detached residential designations. I think a cul-de-sac…We want it to be dwellings is totally under- the single-family houses on the a connected community with represented…I think for people lake are kind of cottage style, connections to pathways as to commute or who work from but there’s potential all over and well,” Ziemba said. home or are semi-retired, there’s it’s not really your traditional The grade of the land is such that the proposed development area sits above the existing McLennan’s Beach Road and while the homes will not be lakefront like the nearby cottages, they will still have a Aerial photo showing some of the cottages fronting onto Lake Simcoe to the west of McLennan’s Beach Road in Beaverton. Rebanks Development is seeking to establish a new residential neighbourhood featuring a variety of housing types on some of the land to the east of the road. If its proposal is approved, the 43-acre plot of land Rebanks owns would be divided into a nine- acre section to support the housing development, with the remaining 34 acres to be left as greenfield. W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 7 M A R K H A M A G R E E M E N T W I T H Y O R K U N I V E R S I T Y S E T S S TA G E F O R Y E A R S O F F U T U R E C O L L A B O R AT I O N STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS Rahul Gupta C ity of Markham officials well as to advance strategies for sign an agreement of this kind, the Markham Pan Am Centre are hoping that an Indigenous reconciliation. which makes sense because sports complex and the Union- agreement signed recently Once built, the Markham- they’re in our backyard now.” ville GO Transit rail station. with York University to based York University campus “We see real value in bring- Future planned improvements encourage more collaboration will eventually accommodate ing together the strengths of our like the Yonge North TTC sub- between the city and the an anticipated 4,500 university two organizations to collaborate way extension will further boost university will strengthen students. in certain areas that are key transit options for the area. the city’s relationship with According to City of priorities for the university, but The strong transit con- the learning institution as Markham Mayor Frank Scar- also key priorities for us,” Scar- nections combined with the construction of a new York pitti, the MOU makes specific pitti added. proliferation of local businesses University campus in Markham commitments to research on York chose Markham as the already serving student needs, continues. opportunities for the develop- site of a new 10-storey cam- CONTINUED PAGE 9 Earlier this month, City of ment of affordable and rental pus building currently under Markham and York Univer- housing options for area stu- construction on University Rendering showing Diamond sity senior officials announced dents and residents. Boulevard, a newly-created Schmitt’s design for a 10-storey the signing of a multi-year “I guess you could say [the street within the rapidly inten- building planned for York University’s Memorandum of Understand- MOU] builds on our existing sifying Markham Centre neigh- downtown Markham campus site. relationship with York Univer- bourhood. The location was The Markham campus of the univer- ing (MOU) between the uni- sity is currently under construction versity and the city, which sets sity to add a little more icing to preferred over other regional and expected to open in April 2024. the terms for future strategic the cake,” Scarpitti told NRU municipalities for its close The new campus will accommodate planning priorities shared by during an interview about the proximity to key infrastructure up to 4,500 post-secondary students new agreement. “We’re the first when it opens. York and the City of Markham. that can be integrated with the ARCHITECT: DIAMOND SCHMITT ARCHITECTS While the two entities have municipality in York Region to new university campus, such as SOURCE: YORK UNIVERSITY already collaborated closely for several years on the planning of a two-hectare campus cur- rently under construction in the eastern part of downtown Markham, the non-binding agreement seeks to expand the current level of collaboration to include shared ventures in- tended to boost learning and employment opportunities in Markham. The MOU is also designed to encourage more research and entrepreneurial partnerships between the university and Markham’s burgeoning techni- cal innovation community, as W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 8 STRENGTHENING perature control systems, as well as a green roof to manage planned campus consists of the single planned building, there’s CONNECTIONS energy consumption and to enough space on the site to add contribute towards stormwater up to three additional build- management. Once completed, ings in the future, for a total of the building will be added to over 92,000 square metres of CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Markham Centre’s district en- space across the site — enough and a forecasted population and some might describe it as ergy management system for to accommodate 10,000 future growth boom in Markham’s an iconic building design that heating and cooling. students in total, when needed. 18-24 age bracket solidified will be a landmark in the east- “That eliminates the need Research on the develop- the university’s case for choos- ern portion of the Markham for expensive and large build- ment of affordable and rental ing the city over other regional Centre neighbourhood,” Wong ing ‘chillers’ which are hugely housing is one of the priorities jurisdictions, York university told NRU. inefficient and consume huge identified in the MOU agree- president Rhonda Lenton says. According to Wong, the amounts of energy,” Wong said ment between the city and the “We looked at the demo- university is seeking to achieve of the plan to integrate the university. A city-organized graphics and which munici- gold LEED certification for the building to the district energy public consultation for palities were growing, and you green design of the new build- management system which is Markham’s long-term affordable could very clearly see that there ing. Energy efficient design fea- already in place. Chillers are housing strategy recently deter- was a great deal of growth in tures will include low-flow taps industrial units that transfer mined that nearly one-in-five the 18 to 24-year-old [demo- for the building washrooms, heat from one area of a building Markham residents are paying graphic] in Markham,” Lenton centrally controlled building to another. upwards of 50 per cent of their told NRU. systems for lighting and tem- While currently, the CONTINUED PAGE 10 Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the new Rendering showing an Markham campus building will interior view of a 10-storey provide an estimated 37,000 building planned for York University’s downtown square metres of space for stu- Markham campus. The dent resources and amenities. Diamond Schmitt-designed Those spaces will include lec- building is under construc- tion and will include spaces ture halls and other large meet- for gathering, studying, and ing areas, as well as established other student activities. locations for informal gather- ARCHITECT: DIAMOND SCHMITT ARCHITECTS SOURCE: YORK UNIVERSITY ings, located primarily within the four-storey building po- Rendering showing a view of dium. The podium will include the interior podium section of a planned 10-storey a two-and-a-half storey grand building for York Univer- staircase that will lead from the sity’s downtown Markham street-level to an upper level of campus. Design features the building, according to York for the project designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects University transportation and include a multi-level stair- master planning director Chris case connecting the ground Wong. Also planned for the site floor to the building’s upper levels and a total of 37,000 is a green space common near square metres of space for the building’s main entrance lecture halls and resource on University Boulevard for and amenity areas for use by students and the greater students and staff. ARCHITECT: DIAMOND SCHMITT ARCHITECTS Markham Centre community. SOURCE: YORK UNIVERSITY “It will be very distinctive, W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 9 STRENGTHENING during the campus’s first year of operation, projected to begin CONNECTIONS in April 2024. For that reason, Lenton is optimistic that suffi- cient new student housing will be in place to address the need CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 once a full cohort is enrolled. take-home income on hous- from the City of Oshawa, “There’s probably going to ing. In Canada, housing is which faced a student housing be about 1,200 students en- deemed to be affordable only if crunch following the opening rolled in the first year, and only costs less than 30 per cent of a of the University of Ontario a percentage of those will want household’s before-tax income. Institute of Technology (now to live in university residences,” Ward 3 local councillor known as Ontario Tech Uni- Lenton said. “So, from a practi- Reid McAlpine hopes that versity). McAlpine is keen to cal point of view, [the univer- some of the unused campus avoid Oshawa’s experience, sity] wouldn’t even necessarily space will be allocated towards and he hopes that supplying be able to support campus resi- future purpose-built campus adequate levels of affordable dents in year one.” residences to accommodate student housing are part of the Lenton anticipates that a the thousands of potential university’s planning for the new student residence could students who could enrol at Markham campus. Such op- open no later than 2026 fol- the Markham campus in the tions are crucial according to lowing construction. She says future, many of which could be McAlpine to discourage the the university will offer institu- coming from other countries use by students of unregulated tional supports similar to those and therefore cannot save on and unsafe but cheaper hous- available at its Keele campus to housing costs by commuting ing alternatives like secondary encourage Markham students like area residents. McAlpine suite apartments and rooming to reject unregulated housing is happy to see that York has houses. options while a new residence commenced an RFQ tendering “Lots of students quite is built. process to select a developer frankly can’t afford $600-$800 “The best any university to construct a future purpose- a month [for rent],” McAlpine can do is make sure that it’s built student housing facility told NRU. “Where are those partnering and collaborating accommodating approximately people going to live? That’s on student housing, so that 500 residence beds. But he is where rooming houses come students know that they have unsure whether just that proj- into play, unfortunately. So, we options,” Lenton told NRU. ect will address overall housing need to make sure that we can needs for the campus. accommodate all of the stu- “[Student housing] will be dents safely in ways that don’t a challenge, but I think by get- totally disrupt their neigh- The City of Hamilton is hiring a ting out ahead and anticipating bours.” Manager, Staging of some of those issues and deal- While the university wants Development/Legislative Approval ing with them proactively, as to prioritize the building of opposed to reactively, I think housing, Lenton told NRU it Apply today at hamilton.ca/jobs we have a much better chance doesn’t anticipate a crunch in of dealing [with housing chal- student living accommodations Job ID #19071 lenges] appropriately,” McAlp- at the outset of the campus’s ine told NRU. operation since enrolment www.hamilton.ca The city has held consulta- numbers are projected to be far tions with municipal colleagues less than the full 4,500 capacity W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & HA MILTON A R EA 10 FILLING IN “We’ve had extensive consultation on the secondary walkability and active transportation options, and THE GAPS plan and I’m pleased to see that providing more open spaces for our residents and businesses community gatherings.” are very interested and engaged When it comes to the on the future of downtown land use concept in the draft CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Whitby,” Mitchell told NRU. secondary plan, there is a “We know that growth is staff based on feedback from “I understand that more very clear focus on mixed-use coming to downtown Whitby phase two. than 1,000 people engaged development along the main and our downtowns are the Feedback throughout the in the process to help inform arteries of Brock Street from heart of our community, so course of the preparation of the the outcomes of this project. north to south and Dundas we really need to make sure secondary plan has been largely What we heard from our Street from east to west. growth is manageable over the positive and Town of Whitby residents is that they care about “We want to specifically long term,” Town of Whitby Mayor Don Mitchell was maintaining and protecting the look at things like the heights of principal planner Lori Tesolin encouraged by the engagement unique heritage character of buildings, the mix of land uses told NRU. he saw from residents. downtown Whitby, supporting where we really want to protect “We want to do this is a way and enhance what we already that brings some intensification have there, which is again, a to the downtown area where great heritage character,” Tesolin it’s appropriate, while also said. maintaining and enhancing the “We want to have those unique heritage character and community amenities so that economic strengths that are when we bring more people already there.” downtown, it’s really a complete Phases one through three of community, and we have a the secondary plan update have number of guiding principles in been completed, with phase our draft proposed policies that one involving the preparation hit those key elements.” of a background review and Striking a balance between analysis report, along with new builds and maintaining public and stakeholder feedback existing buildings is an being provided through virtual important balancing act when community open houses. it comes to developing Phase two included the CONTINUED PAGE 12 development of two land use concept options based on the findings in phase one, and Draft proposed land use map for the Downtown Whitby Secondary Plan. The the phase two materials were main corridors of Brock Street and presented for another round of Dundas Street are proposed to feature feedback from stakeholders and mainly mixed-use development (pro- the public. posed downtown mixed-use, corridor mixed-use and heritage mixed-use ar- The most recent stage of the eas shown in red and black), while the secondary plan update, phase northeast flank of the planning area is three, presented to council proposed for high-density residential (shaded brown). The outermost areas and members of the public the are mainly designated for low-density preferred land use concept and mature neighbourhood residential related draft proposed policies (shaded light yellow). and mapping determined by SOURCE: TOWN OF WHITBY W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & HA MILTON A R EA 11 FILLING IN as proposals for high-rise developments pop up left 2022 in order to fine tune their analysis and inform the final THE GAPS and right, Whitby’s focus version of the secondary plan, on maintaining the heritage with hopes of bringing forward character of its downtown a final recommendation to means that there won’t be any council in early 2023. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 developments of this sort any “The last secondary plan the secondary plan, and protecting the unique aspects time soon. for downtown Whitby is about Tesolin believes that while and parts of our town that Building heights in the 30 years old, so we do try to intensification is a must, matter most to our residents, draft proposed secondary plan have a longer-term planning it needs to be done in an including its green and open are set at a maximum of eight horizon; however, as things appropriate manner. spaces, active transportation storeys, with the majority of change, and depending on “What’s unique about options and heritage character,” high-density residential land the speed of change. we tend downtown (Whitby) is that it said Mitchell. use areas being concentrated to look at if there’s room is historically a centre for the Downtown Whitby already on the outer flanks of the for amendment, so it does town, so it has a lot of great includes a few parks and green secondary plan area, rather become something of a living bones and a lot of what people spaces, and while opportunities than along the main corridors. document,” Tesolin said. are already looking for in a are limited as far as the Much of the high-density “Our downtowns are very complete community,” Tesolin possibility of adding more residential area in the important to us—they’re said. large parks, the draft secondary proposed secondary plan is the heart of our community “The challenge with plan does include smaller parks located along Mary Street East, and we really want to have a managing growth is making and urban squares, specifically spanning from Ash Street to secondary plan in place to help sure you help bring even more along the major downtown the west to the eastern edge of manage growth over the long of a critical mass to a place corridors of Brock Street and the secondary plan area and term.” like downtown to help enliven Dundas Street. stopping at Garden Street. the space but making sure you “The plan proposes to just “We want people to live don’t take away from what’s have more urban gathering in the downtown, to increase already there.” spaces, particularly in the core walkability and foot traffic With urban intensification where the businesses are, but to really help support transit and the creation of complete even along Brock and Dundas, and business downtown, but communities becoming a to give people places to stop, maintain and enhance the priority for land use planning rest, have a coffee and enjoy unique character we already in the province after decades being outdoors and being have,” said Tesolin. of almost unrestricted sprawl, downtown,” Tesolin said. “So, mixed-use buildings municipalities are being “There’s a bit of room—not kind of at a mid-range height challenged to ensure that like a greenfield development is a preferred built form, residents have adequate access where you have swaths of land, but we’ve also heard [public to amenities like parkland and but there’s definitely some planning meeting] participants community gathering spaces vacant parcels and room for are happy with having within their downtown core. infill. It’s relatively intact and some height where it was, Whitby is well-positioned already built, so it’s just about towards the outer flank of the to provide these amenities and filling in the small gaps and secondary plan area, where it both Tesolin and the mayor bring in place things where it’s makes more sense.” spoke of their importance to appropriate.” Town of Whitby planning Whitby residents. While downtowns in staff will continue to engage “This type of plan is communities around the and consult with residents, an essential part of how GTHA are seeing their property owners and business we manage growth while skylines change dramatically owners for the remainder of W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & HA MILTON A R EA 12 COMMITTEE AGENDAS Six-storey residential tower council considered a public recommending that council proposed in Newmarket meeting report regarding endorse the designation under rezoning and heritage permit part IV of the Ontario Heritage YORK At its June 27 meeting, applications by 2578461 Act of 30 properties contained Newmarket council Ontario Inc. for 15356 Yonge within the Aurora Register 2022 Parks Plan recommended considered a public meeting Street. The applicant proposes of Properties of Cultural for approval report regarding official to develop of a four-storey, Heritage Value or Interest, and plan and zoning by-law residential apartment building the delisting of 57 currently At its June 22 meeting, amendments by 2570245 accommodating 35 dwelling registered properties. Richmond Hill council Ontario Inc. for 16756 & units and to undertake considered a report 16764 Bayview Avenue to restoration of the historic recommending council permit the development of a Knowles-Readman House approval of the 2022 Parks Plan six-storey residential building located on another part of the intended to guide parkland accommodating 71 dwelling site. needs and acquisitions, units. outdoor recreation facility Updated heritage listings in planning, and park Four-storey apartment proposed Aurora revitalization in the City of in Aurora Richmond Hill until 2032. At its June 28 meeting, Aurora At its June 28 meeting, Aurora council considered a report VAUGHAN DESIGN REVIEW PANEL AGENDA The panel will consider the Mackenzie Dr. W. and Fossil accommodate a total gross following matters at its virtual Hill Rd. floor area of 31, 906 square meeting Thursday, June 30 at The proposed development metres. A floor space index 9:30 a.m. consists of two mid-rise of 3.26 is proposed, with 318 mixed-use buildings with a dwelling units. 9:30 a.m. maximum height of 10 storeys. Presentations will be made The development would by Kregg Fordyce of KFA Q-Tower—southwest corner of accommodate a combination Architects & Planners Inc. Major Mackenzie Dr. W. and of residential, amenity and and Rosemarie Humphries of Fossil Hill Rd.—The City of commercial uses, with a Humphries Planning Group Vaughan Design Review Panel privately owned publicly Inc. will undertake its first review accessible space (POPS) of a development proposed for proposed for the south side of the southwest corner of Major the site. The buildings would W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & HA MILTON A R EA 13 OLT NEWS APPEALS FOR VARIANCES storey residential building on Committee approved three the Provincial Policy Statement, ON BURLINGTON February 2, 2021, resulting of the 10 proposed variances, directing development to RESIDENTIAL in 10 triggered variances. rejecting seven others. established built-up areas and DEVELOPMENT APPROVED Originally, the site plan This decision to refuse the appropriately utilizing existing agreement was approved to accessible occupant parking infrastructure, and opined that In a June 17 decision, OLT facilitate the development of by-law relief was appealed the application also conforms member Steve DeBoer allowed two four-storey apartment to the OLT on May 21, to the Growth Plan for the an appeal by Walkers Green buildings on the site. At the 2021, with new parking rate Greater Golden Horseshoe. Residences Ltd. against time of the request for the provisions decided upon and MacRory further testified the City of Burlington’s variances, the first of the two the variance being approved. that the proposed development Committee of Adjustment’s apartment buildings had been The six remaining unapproved contributes to provincial partial refusal of minor constructed. variances were now being land use planning mandates variances for its property at City planning staff appealed by Walkers Green. in providing the area with a 4030 Upper Middle Road. supported relief for all the Walkers Green called land wider range of housing types Walkers Green sought an variances except for the one use planning expert Melinda and tenures and that it is amendment to the existing regarding the reduction of the MacRory (MHBC) to testify in compatible with the existing site plan agreement to permit number of accessible occupant support of the appeal. MacRory neighbourhood in terms of the addition of a fifth storey parking spaces from nine testified that the amended design and scale, especially as to a previously approved four- to eight. Subsequently the application is consistent with CONTINUED PAGE 15 4.4 ACRES WITH EXCEPTIONAL VIEWS ALLOWING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PREMIUM LOTS OPPORTUNITY FOR AVE Woodbridge Public School INFILL DEVELOPMENT KIPLING Vaughan Grove Sports Park HWY 7 Woodbridge Pool & IN WOODBRIDGE Memorial Arena Richvale Athletic Park Veneto Tennis Club 7386 Islington Avenue, Vaughan Woodbridge College On behalf of KSV Restructuring Inc, in its capacity as Receiver and Manager of Go To Development Humber River E Holdings Inc. and related companies, CBRE’s Land AV Services Group is pleased to offer for sale, 7386 Hydro Cor TO N ri dor I NG Islington Avenue in Vaughan. The site is 4.4 acres I SL and has an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and Zoning By-Law (ZBLA) amendment application with the city to permit the development of 43 three-storey townhouse units ranging in size from 18 ft. to 20 ft., within 8 new blocks on a common 407 element road. The proposed development provides HWY an abundance of outdoor amenity space and private backyards for each unit. A portion of the site is currently Low Rise Residential and Natural Areas and Countryside, and through the existing development applications allow for an ideal infill ASKING PRICE: $9,450,000 residential development opportunity. Offers to be reviewed as received. MLS: N5526521 Evan Stewart Mike Czestochowski** Lauren White* Emelie Rowe Sales Representative Vice Chairman Executive Vice President Sales Representative +1 416 495 6205 +1 416 495 6257 +1 416 495 6223 +1 416 495 6306 VIEW BROCHURE & CA evan.stewart@cbre.com mike.czestochowski@cbre.com lauren.white@cbre.com emelie.rowe@cbre.com CBRE Limited, Real Estate Brokerage 2022 | www.cbre.ca | **Broker, *Sales Representative | All outlines are approximate CBRE Land Services Group | LSGGTA@CBRE.COM www.cbre.ca/mclsg W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & H A MILTON A R EA 14 OLT NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 in other planning applications for the subject property. MacRory further testified that the variances do not create any undue adverse impacts on it is located within a density condominium lines, and noted the streetscape nor to adjacent node at a major intersection. that the subject building will neighbours. MacRory opined that be constructed in such a way The OLT accepted the Walkers Green’s request for that it will have the appearance uncontested evidence provided a reduction of setbacks from of being a part of one by MacRory and ordered habitable rooms to parking comprehensive development that the appeal be allowed in stalls from 6 m to 3.9 m is alongside the previously built part and that the variances be minor and that landscaping four-storey building. authorized. and a pedestrian sidewalk MacRory testified that the Solicitors involved in the will provide a buffer between original proposal had been decision were Jacob Polowin apartments and parking stalls subject to previous planning (Gowling WLG) representing while allowing for patio access applications where these Walkers Green Residences to ground floor units. variances had been approved Ltd. and Lauren Pinder MacRory testified that and that the proposal had representing the City of the additional requested been deemed an appropriate Burlington. [See OLT Case No. variances regarding setbacks development and use for OLT-21-001700] from property lines and the the lands, with the reduced development of a parcel of setbacks to the condominium land without frontage on a lines rather than the lot public street are technicalities lines having been previously due to the implementation of approved by the Committee PEOPLE The City of Paladino replaces as commissioner of 18. Currently, Baldelli retirement from the Mississauga has former Mississauga public works on an is manager of transit township effective appointed Nadia director Jodi Robillos interim basis since planning and business November 30. Moyle Paladino as its who is now City 2020. His appointment services for the transit has been with the new director of of Mississauga’s follows a nationwide agency. Previously, she township for 15 parks, forestry community services recruitment process has held public service years. Her retirement and environment, commissioner. and the endorsement roles with the Region will follow the fall effective July 25. of Niagara Regional of Waterloo and the municipal election. Paladino comes to Niagara Region has council. Town of Milton. Mississauga after appointed Bruce serving as director Zvaniga as the City of Burlington has Township of King of parks, forestry region’s permanent appointed Catherine clerk and director of and horticulture commissioner of Baldelli as the new corporate services operations with the public works. Zvaniga director of Burlington Kathryn Moyle has City of Vaughan. has been serving Transit effective July announced her W E DNE SDAY, J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 2 2 NO VÆ RES URB IS GREAT ER TO RO NTO & HA MILTON A R EA 15
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