Rouge Park - Draft Partnership Memorandum
Ward 16 - Scarborough Highland Creek
Ward 18 - Scarborough Malvern
The Scarborough Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report
(December 3, 1998) from the Director of Community Planning, East District:
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 City 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 Commissioners 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
The Scarborough Community Council reports, for the information of City Council,
having received the following communication (December 9, 1998) from the Town Clerk,
Town of Pickering:
Please be advised that the Council of the Town of Pickering passed the following resolution at
its regular meeting of December 7, 1998:
1.That Town Council endorse the "Partnership Memorandum for the Coordination of Land
Use Planning and Development Activities" between The Rouge Park Alliance and the Rouge
Park Planning and Land Use Partners, dated April, 1998, and contained in Appendix No. I to
Planning Report 17-98; and
2.That the Town Clerk forward a copy of Planning Report No. 17-98 together with Council's
resolution on this matter to the Rouge Park Alliance and other Partners.
The Planning report from the Town of Pickering, referred to in the foregoing communication
is attached hereto.