The Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee met on January 29, 2004, at 8:29 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

E. Corazzola, Legislative Co-ordinator, assumed the Chair.

1. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-1-2004:

That Councillor Moore be appointed as Chair of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee for the term December 18, 2003 to June 30, 2005;

And further, that Councillor Stewart be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee for the term December 18, 2003 to June 30, 2005.

Councillor Moore assumed the Chair.

2. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-2-2004:

That the agenda for the January 29, 2004, Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee meeting be approved.

4. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

5. REPORTS

a. Status Report - Regional Official Plan Strategic Update (ROPSU)
Presentation by Arvin Prasad, Director, Planning Policy and Research

Received

Arvin Prasad, Director, Planning Policy and Research explained that the Regional Official Plan was approved in 1996. The Planning Act requires that an official plan review take place every 5 years. In 2001 Regional Council decided that a public meeting should be held to determine the need for a review. In March 2002 a public meeting was held and comments were received from members of the public and the Conservation Authorities. It was determined that a scoped Regional Official Plan Strategic update (ROPSU) should be initiated focussing on four areas, namely, the Environment, Human Services, Transportation and Regional Structure. Since that time the Region has worked with the area municipalities and undertaken a Regional Official Plan review in consultation with the Technical Advisory Committee. Arvin Prasad noted that the Technical Advisory Committee has worked wellin partnership on ROPSU issues.

Arvin Prasad proceeded by summarizing highlights from the report of the Commissioner of Planning dated January 9, 2004, titled "Status Report - Regional Official Plan Strategic Update (ROPSU)". He advised that Staff are continuing to work on a range of Regional Official Plan Strategic Update (ROPSU) initiatives in areas such as new human services policies, Greater Toronto Area/Hamilton wide population and employment forecasts, Northwest Brampton and updating environmental mapping. He noted, as well, that work on the Transportation Planning component of the update is nearing completion.

Councillor Lyons requested an explanation of the term "sustainable development". In response, Arvin Prasad advised that this term referred to the balancing of ocial, economic and environmental needs when planning for future development. As an example, Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning, noted that the Greater Vancouver Regional District recently won an international prize in Japan for its long term planning for sustainable development. He explained that their emphasis is on increasing public transit, increasing densities, protection of greenspace around the city and an agricultural preserve in the major agricultural area. Councillor Lyons questioned how they were making it work financially and, in response, Nick Tunnacliffe noted that they have a different financial structure, for example, the City gets 9 cents from provincial gas taxes.

Councillor Mahoney requested an analysis of the Northwest Brampton development versus sustainable development as the development in Northwest Brampton is an expansion of the Urban Boundary. Arvin Prasad noted that development in Northwest Brampton is still at a very early stage. Planners at both the City of Brampton and the Region of Peel recognize the need to balance social, environmental and economic aspects of development. The Regional Official Plan requires decision-makers to look at the issue comprehensively. He noted, for example that Mattamy Homes is proposing a Transit Village, taking into consideration some of the work of the Smart Growth Panel. In this instance, high density mixed use development is proposed around the Mount Pleasant GO station to take advantage of this transit corridor. Subcommittee members and staff in attendance commented that Smart Growth appeared to be another phrase to define sustainable development or "good planning".

Chair Kolb advised that some residents are concerned about the development freeze on their properties located on the Oak Ridges Moraine. He also noted restrictions on development on farm properties and the provincial position on the protection of aggregate resources in Brampton. He suggested that staff may wish to give consideration to Regional Official Plan policies that apply to these issues. He further requested that, in working with area municipalities on common initiatives, all efforts be made to coordiante studies and share information and expenses.

Dan Kennaley, Manager, Planning Policy, Town of Caledon, questioned whether Regional staff had heard from Provincial staff as to what implications the proposed greenbelt might have for the population forecasting exercise for the GTA/Hamilton area. In response Bryan Hill, Manager, Planning Policy and Research advised that the province has asked for a delay to allow them to articulate what the government policy will be. One of the big issues will be the distribution and balance of forecasted population within the GTA versus the outer ring. Nick Tunnacliffe noted that one of the concerns or negative effects of a "greenbelt" is in regard to development "jumping" the greenbelt, making the current trend even worse by encouraging residential growth in smaller communities such as Guelph and Barrie without a corresponding increase in jobs thereby increasing commuting.

b. Planning Workshops

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-3-2004:

That the time set aside on the Regional Council and Committee Meeting Schedule for an Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee meeting on February 19, 2004 be used for a Transportation Planning Workshop for all Regional Councillors;

And further, that the time identified on the Regional Council Committee Meeting Schedule for Planning Workshop 1 on March 11, 2004 be used for Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee;

And further that the time identified on the Regional Council Committee Meeting Schedule for Planning Workshop 2 on April 29, 2004 be used for a workshop for all Regional Councillors on Regional Growth Management Issues.

c. Discussion of Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee Terms of Reference (Oral)
Presentation by Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning

Nick Tunnacliffe, Commissioner of Planning noted that staff have reviewed the terms of reference for the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee (IMPSC) and believe that it would be beneficial to update them at this time. He noted that the Subcommittee was established in 2002, at a time when the Regional Official Plan Strategic Update (ROPSU) was just commencing. He suggested that updating the terms of reference would allow for consideration of new and emerging issues. In addition, with the new term of Council, he suggested that an update at this time would be consistent with good business practices.

Nick Tunnacliffe outlined the existing terms of reference and noted that the mandate was, for the most part, particular to ROPSU initiatives. He suggested that opportunities for change exist and the IMPSC should provide a forum for discussion and provide political direction on complex Regional planning issues before going to General Committee. A further opportunity for change, he noted, would be to add the function of conducting public meetings (required under the Planning Act) to the IMPSC mandate. He also suggested that the IMPSC could be mandated to approve a work plan and consider subsequent recommendations by Regional staff related to regional growth management issues.

Nick Tunnacliffe noted comments received from City of Brampton staff and their concern that IMPSC would become a "clearing house" for all planning reports. He advised that this was not the intent of the proposed update and added that only matters defined by the terms of reference would be placed on the subcommittee agenda. Routine planning matters and "For information" reports would continue to go to General Committee. He advised that comments had yet to be received from the City of Mississauga and were only just recently received from the Town of Caledon. Nick Tunnacliffe advised that a full report is expected to come forward to IMPSC in March 2004 following consultation with the area municipalities.

Nick Tunnacliffe noted a further issue with respect to the composition of the Subcommittee membership noting that there was only one representative from Caledon appointed to the Subcommittee. He explained that, to achieve quorum, the subcommittee requires a majority attendance as well as representation from each of the area municipalities. In conclusion, Nick Tunnacliffe submitted that this is an appropriate time to review and update the IMPSC terms of reference and that staff are seeking direction in that regard.

Chair Kolb moved that Councillor Lyons be added to the membership of the IMPSC. Subcommittee members agreed that the recommendation should be put before Regional Council for approval.

RECOMMENDATION IMPSC-4-2004:

That Councillor Lyons be appointed to the membership of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee for a term ending November 30, 2006, or until a successor is appointed by Regional Council.

Councillor Moore noted that three of the Subcommittee members present were new to IMPSC and that their understanding was that the committee was originally set up to deal with the Regional Official Plan Strategic Update. She saw value, however, in having this Subcommittee continue with a renewed mandate.

Councillor Mahoney, speaking on behalf of the City of Mississauga, suggested that the revised mandate as presented today would not likely be well received by the City. Items such as conducting public meetings should continue to be dealt with by all of Regional Council to allow for a wider perspective. Further, any recommendation to build on the existing terms of reference should be brought forward to Regional Council, not merely agreed upon by this Committee with a recommendation to Council. She moved that the report be brought before General Committee for consideration. She noted that the Subcommittee was originally established to look at the strategic update. To broaden the mandate and extend the term or function would be inappropriate without input from all of Council.

Councillor Moore noted the original function of the Subcommittee but suggested that the IMPSC members should consider whether there was any value in having this subcommittee continue. If so, she noted, a recommendation on revised terms of reference could be brought to Council.

Roger Maloney, Chief Administrative Officer, noted that there was a report prepared by Regional staff but, in the absence of comments from all three area municipalities, he recommended that the Commissioner of Planning raise the issue for discussion at this meeting. He stated that this discussion would form part of the consultation process and that Regional staff would continue to pursue input from the area municipalities. He noted that the origin of this Subcommittee was through a recommendation made by himself as Chief Administrative Officer. He explained that, at that time, Councillors frequently expressed concern about the lack of consultation with area municipalities on Regional planning issues.

William Winterhalt, Director of Planning Policy and Research, City of Brampton commented that his understanding of the role of the Subcommittee was as a trouble- shooting or conflict resolution body. In his opinion the Subcommittee was to deal with controversial matters that may require more time for debate than would be available during a General Committee meeting. He added that any uncontroversial matter, where all area municipal staff are in agreement, would continue to proceed directly to General Committee. As a further observation, he noted that the existing terms of reference were fairly broad as they encompass the provision of direction on inter-municipal planning issues, including matters relating to the Regional Official Plan. He does not feel that specific lists of issues should be built into the mandate as it is conceivable that something may arise that would appropriately be considered at the Subcommittee level that is not captured in the list of mandated items. He also noted that ROPSU was not entirely completed and that some tough decisions are yet to be made. He further submitted that discussions such as the one involving the terms of reference should be vetted in this forum first before proceeding to Regional Council.

Nick Tunnacliffe submitted that Regional staff would meet with area municipal staff to fine tune the proposal. He advised that a report would be brought back to IMPSC with more detailed information for consideration by the Subcommittee.

6. COMMUNICATIONS

7. IN CAMERA MATTERS

8. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting date of the Inter-Municipal Planning Subcommittee is scheduled for Thursday, March 11, 2004 at 9:30 a.m., Council Chambers, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

Please forward regrets to Elizabeth Corazzola, Legislative Co-ordinator, 905-791-7800, extension 4502.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

10. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m.