THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF PEEL

PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

MINUTES

PGMC-5/2021

Thursday, June 17, 2021

3:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Council Chamber, 5th Floor

Regional Administrative Headquarters

10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A

Brampton, Ontario

Members Present:	G. Carlson P. Fortini N. Iannicca J. Innis L. Kiernan M. Medeiros C. Parrish R. Starr A. Thompson P. Vicente
Staff Present:	J. Baker, Chief Administrative Officer G. Kent, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services P. O'Connor, Regional Solicitor A. Smith, Chief Planner K. Dedman, Commissioner of Public Works K. Lockyer, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk's A. Adams, Deputy Clerk and Manager of Access to Information and Privacy C. Thomson, Deputy Clerk and Manager of Legislative Services S. Jurrius, Committee Clerk S. Valleau, Legislative Specialist R. Khan, Legislative Technical Coordinator

Members Present:

G. Carlson
P. Fortini
N. Iannicca
J. Innis
L. Kiernan
M. Medeiros
C. Parrish
R. Starr
A. Thompson
P. Vicente

Staff Present:

J. Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
G. Kent, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services
P. O'Connor, Regional Solicitor
A. Smith, Chief Planner
K. Dedman, Commissioner of Public Works
K. Lockyer, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk's
A. Adams, Deputy Clerk and Manager of Access to Information and Privacy
C. Thomson, Deputy Clerk and Manager of Legislative Services
S. Jurrius, Committee Clerk
S. Valleau, Legislative Specialist
R. Khan, Legislative Technical Coordinator

1.
CALL TO ORDER

Councillor Parrish, Committee Chair, called the Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting to order on June 17, 2021 at 3:01 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive. Councillor Parrish participated electronically.

Other Councillors Present: S. Dasko, I. Sinclair

Councillor Kiernan arrived at 3:08 p.m.

Councillor Fortini departed at 3:30, due to a personal matter.

Councillor Kiernan departed at 5:00 p.m.

2.
DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Nil.

3.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION PGMC-14-2021:
That the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting include a communication from Laj Kaur regarding a request to pause Peel’s Official Plan Review and the potential destruction of prime farmlands - Item 6.105;

And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting include a communication from Raghave Patel, Resident, City of Brampton regarding a request to pause Peel’s Official Plan Review and the potential destruction of prime farmlands - Item 6.106;

And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting include a communication from Mahsa Karim, Resident, Cities of Mississauga and Brampton regarding a request to pause Peel’s Official Plan Review and the potential destruction of prime farmlands - Item 6.107;

And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting include a communication from Yuddha Maharaj, Resident, Town of Caledon regarding a request to pause Peel’s Official Plan Review and the potential destruction of prime farmlands - Item 6.108;

And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting include a communication from Aayush Gaur, Resident, City of Mississauga regarding a request to pause Peel’s Official Plan Review and the potential destruction of prime farmlands - Item 6.109;

And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting include a communication from Baani Dhillon, Resident, City of Mississauga regarding a request to pause Peel’s Official Plan Review and the potential destruction of prime farmlands - Item 6.110;

And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting include a communication from Sabeen Abbas, Resident, City of Brampton regarding Peel’s Official Plan Review - Item 6.111;

And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting include a communication from Marina Sommer regarding Municipal Comprehensive Review, Land Needs Assessment and a request to stop the big sprawl in Peel Region - Item 6.112;

And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

4.
DELEGATIONS

4.1
Jennifer LeForestier, Resident, Town of Caledon

1.Jennifer LeForestier, Resident, Town of Caledon.pdf

Regarding Municipal Comprehensive Review (Related to 5.5)

Received

Jennifer LeForestier, Resident, Town of Caledon, presented her views and concerns regarding the sprawl on farmland; the loss of greenspaces; Waterloo Region’s Countryside Line and official plan; reasons to maintain hard urban boundaries with respect to local food and agriculture, safe drinking water, compact urban neighbourhoods, affordable housing for all, sustainable transportation and financial responsibility; and, a request to reject rezoning prime farmlands.

4.2
Michael Gagnon, Managing Principal Planner and Andrew Walker, Principal Planner, Gagnon Walker Domes Ltd., on behalf of Mansrin Ltd. c/o 722147 Ontario Ltd.

1.Michael Gagnon and Andrew Walker, Gagnon Walker Domes Ltd., on behalf of Mansrin Ltd.pdf

Regarding Region of Peel and Town of Caledon Official Plan Review, Municipal Comprehensive Review and Rural Settlement Area Boundary Expansion (Related to 5.3 and 5.5)

Received

Michael Gagnon, Managing Principal Planner and Andrew Walker, Principal Planner, Gagnon Walker Domes Ltd., on behalf of Mansrin Ltd. c/o 722147 Ontario Ltd. (Mansrin), provided an overview of their client’s property located on the west side of Innis Lake Road, north of Old Church Road in the Town of Caledon; a proposal for an expansion of the Caledon East Rural Service Centre Boundary, including the George Crescent estate subdivision; the provincial policies and framework as it relates to the Mansrin property; the Region’s Settlement Area Boundary Expansion Rural Settlement; opportunities to resolve historic official plan amendment applications; and, provincial land tribunal appeals. The delegates requested that Mansrin’s property be included in the Region of Peel and Town of Caledon Official Plan and Municipal Comprehensive Review process.

4.3
Michael Gagnon, Managing Principal Planner and Andrew Walker, Principal Planner, Gagnon Walker Domes Ltd., on behalf of Caledon Village Properties GP Inc.

1.Michael Gagnon and Andrew Walker, Gagnon Walker Domes Ltd., on behalf of Caledon Village Properties GP Inc.pdf

Regarding Region of Peel and Town of Caledon Official Plan Review, Municipal Comprehensive Review and Rural Settlement Area Boundary Expansion (Related to 5.3 and 5.5)

Received

Michael Gagnon, Managing Principal Planner and Andrew Walker, Principal Planner, Gagnon Walker Domes Ltd., on behalf of Caledon Village Properties GP Inc., provided an overview of their client’s property located on the south side of Charleston Sideroad, west of Hurontario Street in the Town of Caledon; the rationale for their proposal to extend the existing settlement area, advance compatible residential built forms and lot sizes, and benefit from existing and planned transportation infrastructure and municipal water services; the rehabilitation plan for the subject site; provincial policies and framework as it relates to their application; and, ongoing engagement with Region and local municipal staff. The delegates requested that the property owned by Caledon Village Properties GP Inc. be included in the Region of Peel and Town of Caledon Official Plan and Municipal Comprehensive Review process.

In response to a question of clarification from Councillor Parrish, Kealy Dedman, Commissioner of Public Works, stated that the Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee was established to look at the broader Regional Official Plan (ROP) policies such as Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR), front end financing policies and the Settlement Area Boundary Expansion; not to review local municipal planning applications. Comments received from delegates will be taken into consideration by Region of Peel staff when reviewing ROP updates and MCR policies. Staff are open to meeting directly with applicants in place of delegating to the Committee.

4.4
Kathleen Wilson, Resident

1.Kathleen Wilson, Resident.pdf

Regarding a Hard Urban Boundary and a Request to Stop the Conversion of Prime Farmland and Environmentally Sensitive Land to Support Urban Sprawl

Received

Kathleen Wilson, Resident, provided an overview of current development applications in Caledon by ward; climate change targets of Caledon by 2030. The delegate requested that the Region of Peel stop rezoning for developer gain; force green development standards for industrial and residential lands; invest in public transit; stop environmentally protected lands for housing; and, force a hard urban boundary.

4.5
Sylvia Roberts, Resident, City of Brampton

1.Sylvia Roberts, Resident, City of Brampton.pdf

Regarding Regional Cooperation for Missing Middle and Regional Transit and Transportation Planning

Received

Sylvia Roberts, Resident, City of Brampton, presented her views and concerns regarding pre-approved plans; developable lands in Peel; proactive rezoning; removal of parking minimum requirements; modular and smaller housing units; designated greenfield; people and goods movement; regional road capacities; feasibility of a regional transit pass; regional transit; and, transportation planning.

Councillor Parrish stated that a regional transit system is not within the mandate of the Committee.

4.6
Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager, Environmental Defence

1.Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence.pdf

Regarding Region of Peel Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) and Land Needs Assessment as it Relates to Problems with Timeline and Structure of Peel's MCR Decision-Making Process (Related to 5.2 and 5.5)

Received

Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager, Environmental Defence, requested that the Region of Peel pause its work on current draft housing and employment mix, community and municipal allocation, land needs assessment and intensification analysis; provide alternatives for a more detailed plan that may include by-laws, official plan amendments or incentives to ensure housing demands are accommodated within the existing settlement area boundary expansion; support active transportation and mass transit; and, conduct extensive public consultations beyond the pandemic.

4.7
Rahul Mehta, Resident, City of Mississauga

1.Rahul Mehta, Resident, City of Mississauga.pdf

Regarding Peel 2041+ Work Plan and Timeline Update, Land Needs Assessment and Intensification Analysis, Peel Region Hard Urban Boundary and COVID-19 Recovery and Strategy for a Green and Just Recovery (Related to 5.2 and 5.5)

Received

Rahul Mehta, Resident, City of Mississauga, presented his concerns regarding meeting climate targets; impacts of COVID-19 as it relates to planning and urban sprawl; the challenges of meeting provincial conformity requirements by July 2022; protection of farmland; active transportation; and, precautionary planning principles. He requested that the Region of Peel not expand its urban boundaries and mandate affordable housing, adopt a green roof by-law, increase funding for safe cycling and walking infrastructure, and build connections for dead end roads within existing built areas.

4.8
Divya Arora, Co-Founder, Grace Kuang, Council Member and Lajanthan Prabaharan, Regional Relations Specialist, Community Climate Council

1.Divya Arora, Grace Kuang and Ljanthan Prabaharan, Community Climate Council.pdf

Regarding Peel 2041 Official Plan Review and Settlement Area Boundaries (Related to 5.3, 5.5, 6.91, 6.98 and 6.101)

Received

Divya Arora, Co-Founder, Grace Kuang, Council Member and Lajanthan Prabaharan, Regional Relations Specialist, Community Climate Council, stated that they do not support the Settlement Area Boundary Expansion (SABE) for the Region of Peel. They believe that SABE does not adequately represent public feedback and contradicts the climate action plans, as endorsed by each municipality, which puts into question the health and demands of the community. They requested that the Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee stop the proposed urban expansion and work with residents for sustained growth alternatives. The delegates presented their concerns that much of the employment lands to be gained from the SABE studies would be towards industrial type jobs (manufacturing, distributing and wholesale trade).

4.9
Paul Lowes, Principal, SGL Planning & Design Inc.

1.Paul Lowes, SGL Planning and Design.pdf

Regarding Settlement Expansion for the Lands of Wildfield Village in the Urban Area Boundary of the Region of Peel

Received

Paul Lowes, Principal, SGL Planning & Design Inc., on behalf of Wildfield Village Landowners Group, provided an overview of their client’s property located between the settlement areas of Bolton and Tullamore in Caledon; findings of Peel 2041+ SABE Study related to the subject property; proximity to built boundaries; and, the Wildfield Village Concept. The proposed concept is consistent with and conforms to policy requirements and directions set by the Province, the Region of Peel and the Town of Caledon. The delegate requested that the Wildfield Village lands continue to be included and identified as a logical first phase of westward settlement expansion from Bolton through the Peel 2041+ SABE process in order to accommodate projections to 2051.

Councillor Parrish noted the importance of the public input the Committee has received to date and indicated that she would discuss options to ensure an effective and efficient approach to future Committee meetings with the Regional Clerk.

5.
REPORTS

5.1
Front-End Funding and Financing Options

1.Front-End Funding and Financing Options.pdf

2.Appendix I - Front-End Financing Agreements and Developer Reimbursements Corporate Policy.pdf

3.Appendix II - Hemson Consulting Ltd. Memorandum – Front-End Financing Options.pdf

4.Presentation.pdf

(For information)
Presentation by Craig Binning, Partner, Hemson Consulting Ltd. and Tara Buonpensiero, Manager, Regional Planning and Growth Management

Received

Craig Binning, Partner, Hemson Consulting Ltd. and Tara Buonpensiero, Manager, Regional Planning and Growth Management, provided an overview and status of the front-end funding and financing tools in Peel; jurisdictional scan of funding tools; advantages and disadvantages of available tools to fund development-related infrastructure, such as area-specific development charges (DC), front-ending agreements, single/group developer front-end financing agreements, DC prepayment agreements, developer cost-sharing agreements and municipal front-end funding/debt financing; and, next steps.

Members of the Committee discussed and raised questions regarding: front-end funding and financing framework, policies, delegated authorities, and potential partnerships between upper and lower tier municipalities; Front-End Financing and DC Credit Agreements under the Development Charges Act; tools to fund development-related infrastructure including, financial, legal and risk implications; DCs imposed on hard and soft services for residential developments; area-specific DCs; and, planned future staff reports and recommendations on the Municipal Comprehensive Review process.

5.2
Land Needs Assessment Report Update

1.Land Needs Assessment Report Update .pdf

2.Appendix I - Intensification Analysis 2051 Addendum.pdf

3.Appendix II - Region of Peel Vacant and Underutilized Land Inventory.pdf

4.Appendix III - Employment Strategy Discussion Paper 2051 Addendum.pdf

5.Appendix IV - Region of Peel Preliminary Employment Conversion Analysis.pdf

6.Presentation(1).pdf

(For information) (Related to 4.6, 4.7, 5.5 and 6.1 to 6.104 inclusive)
Presentation by Duran Wedderburn, Principal Planner, Regional Planning and Growth Management

Received

Duran Wedderburn, Principal Planner, Regional Planning and Growth Management, provided an update on the land needs assessment (LNA), methodology and supporting technical studies to respond to the 2051 planning horizon and current conditions; population and unit forecasts; accommodating residential units in a range and mix of housing structures; accessory units; housing needs analysis; adjusted housing needs; financial impact analysis; housing growth by policy area; existing designated greenfield area (DGA) capacity; intensification analysis; employment forecasts and land supply analysis; key findings of the Employment Strategy Discussion Paper; preliminary employment conversion analysis; and, next steps.

Members of the Committee discussed and raised questions regarding: future employment forecasts and survey as it relates to home-based businesses, working from home arrangements and parking requirements due to COVID-19; LNA fiscal impact of residents and jobs per hectare for minimum intensification and DGA targets; and, modelling various density scenarios to determine their impact.

Councillor Parrish requested that staff report to a future meeting with a fiscal impact analysis for a minimum LNA base scenario of 75 residents and jobs per hectare.

5.3
Settlement Area Boundary Expansion (SABE) - Scoped Subwatershed Study

1.Settlement Area Boundary Expansion (SABE) - Scoped Subwatershed Study.pdf

2.Appendix I - Diagram Illustrating New Systems Approach Integrating Watershed Planning and Land Use Planning.pdf

3.Appendix II - Focus Study Area with Subwatersheds.pdf

4.Appendix III - Focus Study Area with Scoped Subwatershed Study Environmental Constraints.pdf

(For information) (Related to 4.2, 4.3 and 4.8)

Received

5.4
Peel 2041+ Aggregate Resources Policy Review

1.Peel 2041+ Aggregate Resources Policy Review.pdf

2.Appendix I – High Potential Mineral Aggregate Resource Areas Schedule C (In Effect).pdf

3.Appendix II – Selected Bedrock Resource Areas Comparison.pdf

(For information)

Received

Councillor Sinclair suggested that future reports to the Committee include: clarification of the role of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in the Aggregate Resources Act; an update on the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks proposal to replace D-6 compatibility land map; use of current mapping for bedrock resource areas for significant woodland or wetlands settlements; and, provincial plans’ most restrictive policies in effect.

5.5
Peel 2041+ Regional Official Plan Review and Municipal Comprehensive Review: Draft Policies Update

1.Peel 2041+ Regional Official Plan Review Municipal Comprehensive Review Draft Policies Update.pdf

2.Appendix I - Peel 2041+ Focus Area Summary of Draft Policies.pdf

(Related to 4.1 to 4.3 inclusive, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 5.2 and 6.1 to 6.104 inclusive)

RECOMMENDATION PGMC-15-2021:
That the next steps outlined in the report of the Commissioner of Public Works, listed on the June 17, 2021 Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee agenda, titled “Peel 2041+ Regional Official Plan Review and Municipal Comprehensive Review: Draft Policies Update”, be endorsed;

And further, that the contract (Document 2019-502P) for the services pertaining to the provincial policy and legislative conformity peer review and Settlement Area Boundary Expansion Study, between the Region of Peel and Hemson Consulting Limited, be extended in the estimated amount of $160,000 (excluding applicable taxes) for a total contract commitment of $1,253,921 (excluding applicable taxes) to provide additional consulting services to assess revisions to the Settlement Area Boundary Expansion Study as a result of a “no GTA West Highway” scenario, planning horizon change from 2041 to 2051, COVID-19 impacts, and complete adjustments to the above referenced study under Capital Project 18-7707 and 19-7740, in accordance with Procurement By-law 30-2018, as amended;

And further, that the contract (Document 2019-145P) for the Settlement Area Boundary Expansion - Environmental Screening and Scoped Subwatershed Study, between the Region of Peel and Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions, a Division of Wood Canada Limited, be extended in the estimated amount of $53,000 (excluding applicable taxes) for a total contract commitment of $1,247,459 (excluding applicable taxes) to provide contingency funding in the event that additional scope requirements are needed to assess revisions to the Settlement Area Boundary Expansion Study as a result of a “no GTA West Highway” scenario and complete adjustments to the above referenced study under Capital Projects 18-7707 and 19-7730, in accordance with Procurement By-law 30-2018, as amended;

And further, that a copy of the subject report be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, City of Brampton, Town of Caledon, City of Mississauga, Conservation Authorities and other municipalities adjacent to the Region of Peel, and to the appropriate agencies.

In response to a question of clarification from Councillor Parrish regarding recent news articles on Inclusionary Zoning (IZ), Janice Baker, Chief Administrative Officer, stated that the draft 2022 Region of Peel Budget did not include IZ. Adrian Smith stated that there may be opportunities to implement IZ without financial incentives. Staff’s analysis was provided to the Region of Peel Planning and Growth Management Committee at its meeting held on June 3, 2021 and future meetings will include further IZ recommendations.