December 3, 1998

To:Scarborough Community Council

From:Ted Tyndorf, MCIP, RPP

Director of Community Planning, East District

Subject:Rouge Park

Draft Partnership Memorandum

Scarborough Highland Creek, Ward 16

Scarborough Malvern, Ward 18

Purpose:

This report responds to a request by City Council at its March 4, 1998 meeting to the Commissioner, Urban Planning and Development Services, for comments on the Rouge Park draft partnership memorandum.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

None. The Partnership Memorandum does not call for an increase in City staff support beyond that which is presently being provided.

Recommendations:

That Council:

(1)Endorse the draft Rouge Park Partnership memorandum with the suggestion that the words 'local and regional municipalities' be replaced with the word 'municipalities'; and

(2)That the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, Works and Emergency Services and Economic Development Culture and Tourism appoint staff to serve on the proposed Rouge Park Technical Committee for Land Use and Development.

Council Reference/Background/History:

In April of 1995, the Province of Ontario launched the Rouge Park and created the Rouge Park Alliance to implement the Rouge Park Management Plan. As a partnership arrangement, the Rouge Park Alliance partners agreed that the role of implementing the Rouge Park Management Plan, through the land development process, would be carried out by the Municipal and TRCA partners.

The organizational structure of the Rouge Park was announced by the Province in late March 1998. Staff had deferred preparing a response on the matter until it was approved by Cabinet, but this appears unlikely to take place in the near future. It therefore is appropriate for the City to respond now to the Rouge Park Alliance on whether this City agrees with the land use and infrastructure planning as it relates to the Rouge Park.

Discussion:

The partnership memorandum was drafted to clarify the roles of the partners in implementing the Land Use component of the Rouge Park Management Plan.

The memorandum states that municipalities are responsible for implementing the Rouge Park Management Plan as it relates to matters within their respective jurisdictions, including:

(1)public policy;

(2)land use;

(3)development standards;

(4)development approvals;

(5)urban design;

(6)infrastructure;

(7)parks planning;

(8)public use; and

(9)all other matters of municipal interest.

Municipalities are also asked to review development applications to ensure there is proper regard for the goals and objectives of the Park Plan. Where the park boundary has not been clearly delineated in the Park Plan, it is the responsibility of the respective municipalities to interpret and secure the boundary through the development process.

The memorandum assigns the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) as the responsibility of a park implementing the Park Plan as it relates to water management, natural heritage and natural hazards.

The role of the Rouge Park Alliance with respect to land use planning and development approvals is not to actively participate in the process but rather to assist the Rouge Park Alliance partners in resolving specific park planning matters at the request of the partners.

The Rouge Alliance recommends terminating the current Planning and Land Use Subcommittee and requests that Rouge Park Alliance partners appoint staff to serve on a new Technical Committee on Planning and Development.

Conclusions:

The memorandum sets out a reasonable framework for municipalities and TRCA to assist, as partners, in the implementation of the Rouge Park and the processing of development applications affecting the Park.

Rouge Park does not now have staff, nor was it intended to have staff, to comment on development applications. The memorandum resolves the question of who should be commenting on matters related to Rouge Park. The assignment of a clear role to TRCA and the municipalities to support the partnership in planning infrastructure improvements, water management, natural heritage and natural hazards is welcome.

Staff support the creation of a Technical Committee on Land Use Planning and Development. City staff representatives to sit on this committee should be appointed by the commissioners whose respective areas of responsibility are affected.

Contact Name:

David Beasley, Principal Planner

Telephone:(416) 396-7026

Facsimile:(416) 396-4265

E-mail:beasley@scarborough.on.ca

Ted Tyndorf, MCIP, RPP

Director of Community Planning, East District

DB/AR/TT/nk