Urban Planning Committee Minutes

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

9:30 A.m. - 5:00 P.m.

River Valley Room, 1st floor, City Hall

Present:

• A. Stevenson, 
• K. Tang, 
• T. Cartmell, 
• E. Rutherford, 
• and A. Sohi 

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1.

Call to Order and Related Business

1.1

Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement 

Councillor A. Stevenson called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m., Wednesday, July 12, 2023, and acknowledged that Urban Planning Committee meets on the traditional land of Treaty 6 Territory and Métis Homelands. The Chair also acknowledged the diverse Indigenous peoples whose ancestors' footsteps have marked this territory for centuries such as: Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, as well as Métis and Inuit, and now settlers from around the world.

1.2

Roll Call

Councillor A. Stevenson conducted roll call and confirmed the attendance of Members of Urban Planning Committee.

Mayor A. Sohi is a Committee Member pursuant to section 15(3), Council
Committees Bylaw 18156.

Councillor T. Cartmell was absent with notice for a portion of the meeting.

Councillors M. Janz, A. Knack, A. Paquette, K. Principe, J. Rice, A. Salvador and J. Wright; and J. Vizbar, J. Shearer and B. Tyson, Office of the City Clerk, were also in attendance.

1.3

Adoption of Agenda

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the July 12, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting agenda be adopted.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

1.4

Approval of Minutes

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That the June 20, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting minutes be approved.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

1.5

Protocol Items

1.5.1

Recognition of National Urban Park Stakeholder Committee members (A. Stevenson)

Councillor A. Stevenson, on behalf of Urban Planning Committee, recognized the members of the National Urban Park Committee Stakeholder Committee, for their excellent contributions toward the National Urban Park Initiative.

2.

Items for Discussion and Related Business

2.1

Select Items for Debate

The following items were selected for debate: 6.1, 7.1 and 7.2.

2.2

Vote on Reports not Selected for Debate

All items were selected for debate.

2.3

Requests to Speak

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Urban Planning Committee hear from the following speakers, in panels when appropriate:

  • 6.1 Construction Site Safety and Accountability

  1. 1. 1. D. Tolsma, Canadian Home Builders’ Association - Edmonton Region (previously approved at the June 20, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting)
        2. J. Hardstaff, Scona District Community Council (previously approved at the June 20, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting)
        3. N. Rheubottom, Infill Development in Edmonton Association (previously approved at the June 20, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting)
        4. J. Cunha, Infill Development in Edmonton Association (previously approved at the June 20, 2023, Urban Planning Committee meeting)
        5. B. Schiewe
        6. J. Nicol, People for Responsible Infill Development Edmonton
        7. B. Zubot, Residential Infill Working Group
        8. C. Monson

  • 7.1 National Urban Park Initiative - Outcomes of Pre-feasibility Phase

  1. 1. 1. K. Schole, North Saskatchewan Heritage River Initiative / Smoky Lake County
        2. K. Kerr, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Northern Alberta
        3. L. Duncan, North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
        4. S. Heschuk
        5. L. Decore
        6. J. Yurkovich, Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance
        7. T. Peters, Métis Nation of Alberta
        8. A. Coady
  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)
• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That Urban Planning Committee hear from the following additional speaker:

  • 7.1 National Urban Park Initiative - Outcomes of Pre-feasibility Phase

   9. E. Skakun

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

2.4

Requests for Specific Time on Agenda

There were no requests for items to be dealt with at a specific time on the agenda.

3.

Councillor Inquiries

There were no Councillor Inquiries.

4.

Reports to be Dealt with at a Different Meeting

There were no Reports to be Dealt with at a Different Meeting.

5.

Requests to Reschedule Reports

There were no Requests to Reschedule Reports. 

6.

Unfinished Business

6.1

Construction Site Safety and Accountability

The following members of Administration's delegation made a presentation:

• K. Petrin, Acting Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy
• R. McAdam, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speaker made a presentation: 

• C. Monson

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• B. Schiewe
• N. Rheubottom, Infill Development in Edmonton Association
• B. Zubot, Residential Infill Working Group
• J. Hardstaff, Scona District Community Council
• J. Nicol, People for Responsible Infill Development Edmonton
• D. Tolsma, Canadian Home Builders’ Association - Edmonton Region

The following member of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• K. Petrin, Acting Deputy City Manager, Urban Planning and Economy
• R. McAdam, Urban Planning and Economy
• L. Ramaswamy, Office of the City Manager (Legal Services)

• Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That Administration provide a report including the following:

  1. The impacts of prescribed involvement of professional engineers for excavations within 3m of a property line and more than 1.2m deep, including cost and scheduling implications and the number of residential developments that would be impacted.
  2. The impacts of prescribing mandatory shoring for excavations within 3m of a property line and more than 1.2m deep, including cost and scheduling implications and the number of residential developments that would be impacted.
  3. The process required to establish a fund to repair damage to properties arising from adjacent residential developments and potential funding approaches, including a potential bond program.
  4. The impacts and required resources of streamlining and centralizing infill complaints and inquiries to the City.

  Members of Urban Planning Committee requested that the motion be split for voting purposes.

  
  
  
  
  

• Parts 1, 2 and 3, put:

  Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That Administration provide a report including the following:

  1. The impacts of prescribed involvement of professional engineers for excavations within 3m of a property line and more than 1.2m deep, including cost and scheduling implications and the number of residential developments that would be impacted.
  2.  The impacts of prescribing mandatory shoring for excavations within 3m of a property line and more than 1.2m deep, including cost and scheduling implications and the number of residential developments that would be impacted.
  3. The process required to establish a fund to repair damage to properties arising from adjacent residential developments and potential funding approaches, including a potential bond program.
  
  

  In Favour (3)	T. Cartmell, K. Tang, and E. Rutherford
  Opposed (1)	A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (3 to 1)

• Part 4, put:

  Moved by: T. Cartmell

  That Administration provide a report including the following: 

  4. The impacts and required resources of streamlining and centralizing infill complaints and inquiries to the City.

  
  

  In Favour (4)

  T. Cartmell, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (4 to 0)

• Summary of Committee's Decision on item 6.1:

  Construction Site Safety and Accountability - Impact Assesment    

  That Administration provide a report including the following:

  1. The impacts of prescribed involvement of professional engineers for excavations within 3m of a property line and more than 1.2m deep, including cost and scheduling implications and the number of residential developments that would be impacted.
  2. The impacts of prescribing mandatory shoring for excavations within 3m of a property line and more than 1.2m deep, including cost and scheduling implications and the number of residential developments that would be impacted.
  3. The process required to establish a fund to repair damage to properties arising from adjacent residential developments and potential funding approaches, including a potential bond program.
  4. The impacts and required resources of streamlining and centralizing infill complaints and inquiries to the City.

  Due Date: Second Quarter 2024, Urban Planning Committee

  
  
  
  
  

7.

Public Reports

7.1

National Urban Park Initiative - Outcomes of Pre-feasibility Phase

The following members of Administration's delegation made a presentation:

• A. Corbould, City Manager
• K. Snyder, Urban Planning and Economy
• A. Kotowska, Urban Planning and Economy

The following public speaker made a presentation: 

• ​S. Heschuk

The following public speakers made presentations and answered questions:

• J. Yurkovich, Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance
• L. Duncan, North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society 
• K. Kerr, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Northern Alberta
• T. Peters, Métis Nation of Alberta
• K. Schole, North Saskatchewan Heritage River Initiative / Smoky Lake County
• E. Skakun

The following members of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• A. Corbould, City Manager
• K. Snyder, Urban Planning and Economy
• A. Kotowska, Urban Planning and Economy

The following member of the delegation answered questions:

• J. Bresee, Parks Canada

• Moved by: K. Tang

  That Urban Planning Committee meet in private pursuant to sections 21 (disclosure harmful to intergovernmental relations), 24 (advice from officials) and 25 (disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the discussion of item 7.1.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

  Urban Planning Committee met in private at 3:27 p.m., Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

  *Clerks note: J. Bresee, Parks Canada did not attend the in private discussion of item 7.1.

  The following member of Administration's delegation made a presentation:

  • A. Corbould, City Manager

  The following member of Administration's delegation answered questions:

  • K. Snyder, Urban Planning and Economy
  
  
• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  That Urban Planning Committee meet in public.

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

  Urban Planning Committee met in public at 4:14 p.m., Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

  
  
• Moved by: A. Sohi

  That Urban Planning Committee recommend to City Council:

  That Administration proceed to the planning phase of the National Urban Park Initiative, pending endorsement by Parks Canada, as outlined in the July 12, 2023, Urban Planning and Economy report UPE01668.  

  
  

  In Favour (5)

  T. Cartmell, A. Sohi, K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (5 to 0)

7.2

Centre City Family Oriented Housing

The following member of Administration's delegation answered questions:

• S. Bohle, Urban Planning and Economy

• Moved by: A. Stevenson

  Centre City Family Oriented Housing - Research and Engagement

  That Administration conduct research and stakeholder engagement to provide a report on increasing the number of three or more bedroom units in Centre City including:

  1. The frequency of permits issued with density bonus provisions for three or more bedrooms
  2. Whether families are moving into existing three or more bedroom units
  3. Challenges and costs for buyers, tenants, developers and landlords
  4. Options and analysis for policy, regulations and incentives

  Due Date: Fourth Quarter 2024, Urban Planning Committee

  
  

  In Favour (3)

  K. Tang, E. Rutherford, and A. Stevenson

  
  
  
  Carried (3 to 0)

8.

Responses to Councillor Inquiries

There were no Responses to Councillor Inquiries on the agenda.

9.

Private Reports

There were no Private Reports on the agenda.

10.

Motions Pending

There were no Motions Pending on the agenda.

11.

Notices of Motion and Motions without Customary Notice

Councillor A. Stevenson asked whether there were any Notices of Motion. There were none. 

12.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:29 p.m., Wednesday July 12, 2023.