Newmarket’s committee of the whole meets for the last time June 17 before the summer break.
Decisions made at this meeting will be carried over to the last council meeting June 24 for a vote and final approval.
Items and issues may also be deferred to council’s first committee of the whole after the break, scheduled for Aug. 26. A council meeting will follow on Sept. 9.
The meetings are open to the public and take place at the Municipal Offices, 395 Mulock Dr.
To view the full agenda for the Monday, June 17 meeting that begins at 10 a.m., click here.
See where the news is happening on the NewmarketToday News Map
A hefty, 338-page agenda awaits council next Monday, including the items below that NewmarketToday is following. Check back here for a full report on the issues.
Protection of trees on private property
The Town of Newmarket currently has few restrictions on the injury or removal of trees, but it will consider implementing stronger tree protection measures.
About 72 per cent of residents surveyed by the town said there is a problem in Newmarket with developers cutting down trees.
Newmarket has long employed planning tools to ensure that new trees are planted during development and that the removal of trees is discouraged, according to a staff report to be presented on the issue.
However, despite their critical ecological benefits and important defining role in most neighbourhoods, the town has no tools that prevent the removal of most privately owned trees.
Newmarket council identified environmental stewardship as one of its strategic priorities for the 2018 to 2022 term. Specifically, this relates to leading proactive planning and action related to climate change and other environmental initiatives. Protection of trees in Newmarket is the main focus of this plan.
Town staff have conducted extensive public consultation on the issue through a telephone and online survey. It has received a petition to protect trees on private property with 302 signatures. The town has also been contacted directly by concerned residents on this topic.
Newmarket resident Chris Howie will present a 302-signature petition he spearheaded, which highlights the need for a tree bylaw after more than 50 heritage trees were removed by developers on Park Avenue, Beechwood Crescent, Woodmount Place, Avenue Road and Sherwood Court. This includes the largest sugar maple in the Beechwood neighbourhood, Howie said.
More Homes More Choices Act - Implications of Bill 108
The Ontario government has released a proposed omnibus bill that proposes to change 14 different pieces of legislation.
It is known as Bill 108, the More Homes More Choices Act. A staff report will outline the proposed changes to planning frameworks and the development financing landscape.
The report also outlines the potential impacts to the municipality and staff’s recommendations with respect to these impacts.
In general, the changes are significant.
Bill 108 contains limited evidence that its central objectives, making it easier to bring housing to market and accelerating local planning decisions, will be achieved.
The government’s proposed changes could have significant impacts on how the town attempts to achieve its strategic goals.
The consultation period on the Bill 108 was short and there are key pieces of information missing that will come through regulations at a later date.
The full impact of these changes cannot be fully understood without the information provided in the regulations. From the evidence provided, proposed changes will dramatically change the development financing landscape.
The changes will create additional administrative costs, increase price uncertainty for developers, and may reduce municipalities’ ability to continue to provide the same level of service in the face of growth without finding additional sources of funding.
Single-use plastics motion
Rookie Councillor Grace Simon will bring forward a motion that asks council to direct staff to bring back a report outlining the roles and responsibilities of the Ontario government, the Regional Municipality of York and Town of Newmarket in relation to recycling and diversion, and provides the following:
- Information on what work is currently being done to address the reduction and eventual elimination of single use plastics and;
- Clear options for council to consider to ensure the Town is taking steps within its jurisdiction to reduce and eventually eliminate single-use plastics.
Envi Network
Envi Network president Gianni Creta will present highlights to council from the community-owned company’s 2018 annual general meeting. A network update will be provided, along with the number of customers who have so far signed onto the service, and more.
