May 29, 1998

  To:Urban Environment and Development Committee

 From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

 Subject:Morningside Heights W92114, Staff Consultation and Reports, Scarborough Malvern

Purpose:

 This report responds to the May 19, 1998 request by the Urban Environment and Development Committee that the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services submit all documentation pertaining to the redesignation of Morningside Heights to the June 15, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee and that the Commissioner report on the consultation undertaken with respect to the issue.

 Financial Implications:

 None.

 Recommendation:

 It is recommended that the Committee receive this report for information.

 Discussion:

 Consultation by Planning staff with various stakeholders and technical agencies has been extensive since the original applications for the redesignation of the lands within the area were received in 1985 and have become more intensive since the current application was referred to the Ontario Municipal Board in October of 1997. Most recently, the Planning, Works and Economic Development Departments attended a public information meeting on May 20, 1998, directed by the Scarborough Community Council, for which approximately 13,000 notices were sent out. A similar meeting was held in June of 1997.

 Much of this consultation has taken place over the past four years within the context of two studies, the Morningside Heights Land Use Study and the Morningside Tributary Subwatershed Study, the latter covering most of the area within the Land Use Study. These meetings have resulted in frequent staff contact with the landowners and their consultants, industrial landowners outside the study area, environmental groups such as Save the Rouge Valley System Inc. (SRVS), Friends of the Rouge, resident group leaders such as William Dempsey and Lois James, the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), provincial ministries such as the Ministries of Natural Resources and Transportation and others.

The Subwatershed Study in particular has representatives of many of these agencies on its Steering Committee and Public Advisory Committee. Although this study is not mandated to make recommendations on land use designations, it was a frequent focus for such discussion, along with the issue of public acquisition of lands.

 The Planning and Economic Development Departments have been in frequent contact over the past year, and have prepared two joint reports, considered by Scarborough Community Council on April 1, 1998 and Scarborough Council on June 10, 1997, respectively.

 As a result of the direction of the Ontario Municipal Board, given at the pre-hearing of February, 1998, the parties and participants have been meeting, often several times a week. New participants are the Regions of York and Durham and the Town of Markham, which have expressed great interest in the provision of a north-south arterial link through part of the study area.

 The landowners have also held four Aworkshops@ on various issues related to servicing, employment demand, road and residential design proposals. Councillors, among others, were invited to attend.

 Conclusion:

 There has been extensive consultation with the public, technical agencies, interest groups and the applicants over the past thirteen years. With the encouragement of the Scarborough Community Council and the Ontario Municipal Board, this effort by staff continues with the objective of narrowing the issues to be argued at the scheduled October 19, 1998 Ontario Municipal Board Hearing.

 As requested by Committee, planning reports dealing with the Morningside Heights Land Use Study are appended to this report.

 Contact Name:

 David Beasley, Principal Planner

Community Planning Division

Telephone:(416)396-7026

Facsimile:(416)396-4265

E-mail:beasley@scarborough.on.ca

   Reviewed by:

    Paul J. BedfordVirginia M. West

Executive Director and Chief PlannerCommissioner of Urban Planning and

City Planning DivisionDevelopment Services

 DB/KS/nk

CHRONOLOGY OF REPORTS

  Recommendation embodied in report No. 23 of the Planning and Buildings Committee adopted by Council at its meeting held on December 10, 1996

 Recommendation embodied in report No. 13 of the Planning and Buildings Committee adopted by Council at its meeting held on Tuesday, June 10, 1997.

 Recommendation embodied in report No. 16 of the Planning and Buildings Committee adopted by Council at its meeting held on Tuesday, September 16, 1997.

 Recommendation embodied in report No. 17 of the Planning and Buildings Committee considered by Council at its meeting held on Tuesday, September 30, 1997.

 Extract from Clause 24, Report No. 3 of the Scarborough Community Council to be considered by the City of Toronto Council on April 15, 1998.

 Report to Scarborough Community Council at its meeting April 1, 1998.

 Report to Scarborough Community Council at its meeting May 27, 1998.