Council Meeting
Agenda

C#10-25

Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 9:30 A.m. - 12:00 P.m.

Council Chambers

225 East Beaver Creek Road

Richmond Hill, Ontario

Mayor David West

PUBLIC NOTICE

 

City facilities are open to the public to attend Council and Committee meetings. The public can observe meetings of Council and Committees by attending in-person or by viewing the livestream of the open session part of these meetings which can be accessed on the City’s website (Richmondhill.ca) or on the City’s YouTube page (linked from the City’s homepage).

 

Public Comments: The public may submit written correspondence regarding agenda items by email to [email protected]. Written correspondence must be submitted by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Comments submitted will be provided to all Members of Council, are considered as public information and will be included on the public agenda posted to the City’s website.

 

Delegations: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on agenda items must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Applications to appear as a delegation can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by using the on-line application form found on Richmondhill.ca. Delegations can be in person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. The Office of the Clerk will provide instructions on appearing as a delegation. 

 

Public Forum: Any person who wishes to speak to Council on a matter not on the agenda must pre-register with the Office of the Clerk by 12 p.m. (noon) one business day before the meeting. Persons wanting to address Council during the Public Forum portion of the meeting must register by sending an email to [email protected] or by using the on-line form found on Richmondhill.ca. Public Forum participation can be in-person, or electronically by video conference or telephone. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to register for the Public Forum on a first come first serve basis.

 

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Land Acknowledgement

We are gathering on lands that have been home to First Nations Peoples from time immemorial. We acknowledge that what we now call Richmond Hill is on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Mississauga and Chippewa Nations of the Williams Treaty. We also recognize that we are on part of the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and the Huron Wendat.

We would also like to acknowledge all First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples from across North America, also known as Turtle Island, who now reside in the City of Richmond Hill. We are committed to rebuilding constructive and cooperative relationships.

3.

National Anthem

4.

Public Forum (not exceeding fifteen minutes) 

4.1

Riana Ford, Bull & Blossom Initiative, regarding Reconsideration for Legal Cannabis Storefronts

5.

Council Announcements

6.

Introduction of Emergency/Time Sensitive Matters

7.

Adoption of Agenda

8.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof

9.

Adoption of Previous Council Minutes

9.1

Council Public Meeting C#08-25 held April 8, 2025

9.2

Council Meeting C#09-25 held April 9, 2025

10.

Identification of Items Requiring Separate Discussion

11.

Adoption of the Remainder of Agenda Items

12.

Public Hearing(s)

13.

Presentation(s)

14.

Delegation(s)

15.

Committee and Staff Reports

15.1

Minutes - Committee of the Whole Meeting CW#06-25 held April 16, 2025

• That the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting CW#06-25 held April 16, 2025, be adopted and the following recommendations be approved:

15.1.1

Minutes - Heritage Richmond Hill Meeting HRH#02-25 held March 6, 2025 - (CW Item 11.1)

• a) That the minutes of Heritage Richmond Hill Meeting HRH#02-25 held March 6, 2025, be adopted.

15.1.2

Extracts - Heritage Richmond Hill Meeting HRH#03-25 held April 3, 2025 - (CW Item 11.2)

15.1.2.1

SRPBS.25.032 - 2025 Heritage Grant Applications - Seven (7) Properties - (CW Item 11.2.1)

• a) That Staff Report SRPBS.25.032 be received;

  b) That a Heritage Grant in the amount of $5,000 be approved towards the cost of repairing the front porch of the property located at 11 Station Road (designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act), as outlined in SRPBS.25.032;

  c)That a Heritage Grant in the amount of $2,600 be approved towards the cost of emergency structural repairs to the property located at 4 Elizabeth Street North (designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act), as outlined in SRPBS.25.032; 

  d) That a Heritage Grant in the amount of $4,450 be approved towards the cost of replacing seven windows of the property located at 188 Gormley Road West (designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act), as outlined in SRPBS.25.032;

  e) That a Heritage Grant in the amount of $4,300 be approved towards the cost of repainting the porches and soffit of the property located at 97 Centre Street West (designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act), as outlined in SRPBS.25.032;

  f) That a Heritage Grant in the amount of $5,000 be approved towards the cost of repairing the foundation of the property located at 9853 Leslie Street (designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act), as outlined in SRPBS.25.032;

  g) That a Heritage Grant in the amount of $2,500 be approved towards the cost of repairing the chimney of the property located at 151 Gormley Road West (designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act), as outlined in SRPBS.25.032; and,

  h) That a Heritage Grant in the amount of $5,000 be approved towards the cost of replacing the front door of the property located at 165 Richmond Street (designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act), as outlined in SRPBS.25.032.

15.1.2.2

SRPBS.25.035 - Heritage Permit for 18 Arnold Crescent (William Pugsley House) – D12-07001) - (CW Item 11.2.2)

• a) That staff report SRPBS.25.035 titled, “Heritage Permit for 18 Arnold Crescent (William Pugsley House)” be received;

  b) That the heritage permit application to construct an addition to the William Pugsley House at 18 Arnold Crescent, as described in Staff Report SRPBS.25.035, be approved subject to the following condition:

  i. That the owner enter into a Heritage Conservation Agreement containing provisions ensuring insurance coverage for protection of the heritage house during construction and that the work is completed as proposed in the approved heritage permit; and

  c) That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a Heritage Conservation Agreement with the owners of 18 Arnold Crescent.

15.1.3

SRCM.25.06 - Housing Accelerator Fund First Annual Update - (CW Item 11.3)

• a) That staff report SRCM.25.06, regarding the Housing Accelerator Fund First Annual Update, be received;

  b) That the resolution of Ontario Big City Mayors’ Caucus made on February 7, 2025, attached as Appendix B to SRCM.25.06 be endorsed, calling on the federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities to work with municipalities who received Housing Accelerator Funding (HAF) to understand the opportunities available for these municipalities to further increase the housing supply if the third and fourth HAF funding allocations were accelerated and provided in 2025 instead of 2026 and 2027.

15.1.4

SRCFS.25.015 - Policy Development Framework - (CW Item 11.4)

• a) That staff report SRCFS.25.015 be received;

  b) That the Policy Development Framework (Attachment A to Staff Report SRCFS.25.015) (the “2025 Policy Development Framework”) be approved.

  c) That the Policies listed in Table 1 of Attachment B to Staff Report SRCFS.25.015, which were previously approved by Council, be deemed Administrative Policies under the 2025 Policy Development Framework.

  d) That the Policies listed in Table 2 of Attachment B to Staff Report SRCFS.25.015, which were previously approved by staff, be deemed as Council Policies under the 2025 Policy Development Framework.

  e) That the Clerk be directed to add the policies contained in the Procedures listed in Table 3 of Attachment B to Staff Report SRCFS.25.015 with the Community Flag Raisings and Flag Protocol Policy, to create a single City flag policy.

  f) That the Policies listed in Table 4 of Attachment B to Staff Report SRCFS.25.015 be repealed.

  g) That staff be authorized to amend, repeal or replace any Administrative Policy or Procedures previously approved by Council.

  h) That staff be authorized to transition all previously approved Council Policies into any new Policy template established by the Clerk, and to make any necessary administrative or technical changes that may be required to facilitate the transition.

15.1.5

SRCFS.25.022 - City of Richmond Hill Corporate Use of X - (CW Item 11.5)

• a) That staff report SRCFS.25.022 be received; 

  b) That staff be directed to continue to explore the use of additional social media platforms to communicate with Richmond Hill residents, business and other stakeholders;

  c) That staff be directed to continue evaluating the effectiveness of using the City’s social media channels and platforms, and evolve that usage based any such evaluation.

15.1.6

SRCS.25.06 - David Hamilton Park Community Tennis Club - (CW Item 11.6)

• a) That Staff Report SRCS.25.06 be received;

  b) That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the license agreement with the David Hamilton Community Tennis Club upon recommendation of the Commissioner of Community Services.

15.1.7

SRPBS.25.022 - 2024 Environment Strategy Progress Report - (CW Item 11.7)

• a) That Council receive Staff Report SRPBS.25.022, including the attached 2024 Environment Strategy Progress Tracker and 2024 Environment Strategy Highlight Sheet for information purposes and that all comments be referred back to staff.

15.1.8

SRPBS.25.025 - Request for Approval - Tree By-laws Review Final By-laws - (CW Item 11.8) - (Proposed By-laws 19-25, 20-25, 48-25 and 49-25)

• a) That Staff Report SRPBS.25.025 be received;

  b) That Tree Preservation By-law 19-25 (Attachment A to SRPBS.25.025, Municipal Code Chapter 1015) be enacted;

  c) That the Trees on City Lands By-law 20-25 (Attachment B to SRPBS.25.025, Municipal Code Chapter 821) be enacted;

  d) That By-law 48-25 (Attachment E) be enacted to include designated Tree Preservation By-law violations in Schedule ‘A’ of the Administrative Penalty By-law 69-16, as amended;

  e) That By-law 49-25 (Attachment F) be enacted to include designated Trees on City Lands By-law violations in Schedule ‘A’ of the Administrative Penalty By-law 69-16, as amended;

  f) That the following by-laws and all associated amendments be repealed:

  i. Tree Preservation By-law 41-07; and,

  ii. Trees on City Streets By-law 40-07.

15.1.9

SRPBS.25.043 - Request for Approval - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Shuxin Liu - 11 Cynthia Crescent - City File ZBLA-24-0010 - (CW Item 11.9) - (Proposed By-law 45-25)

• a) That the Zoning By-law Amendment application submitted by Shuxin Liu for lands known as Lot 10, Registered Plan M36 (Municipal Address: 11 Cynthia Crescent), City File ZBLA-24-0010, be approved, subject to the following:

  i. that the portion of the subject lands zoned Residential Urban (RU) Zone under By-law 1275, as amended, be exempted from the requirements of Paragraph 1(c) of By-law 146-76 of said by-law and that a portion of the lands be rezoned from Residential Urban (RU) Zone to Open Space (O) Zone under By-law 1275, as amended, as set out in Appendix “B” to Staff Report SRPBS.25.043;

  ii. that the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached hereto as Appendix “B” be finalized to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Planning and Building Services and brought to the April 23rd, 2025 Council meeting for enactment; and,

  iii. that pursuant to Section 34(17) of the Planning Act, Council deem that no further notice be required with respect to any necessary modifications to the draft amending Zoning By-law to implement the proposed development on the subject lands.

15.1.10

SRPBS.25.044 - Request for Comments - Radio-Communication and Broadcasting Antenna - 120 West Beaver Creek - TELE-22-0001 - (CW Item 11.10)

• a) That SRPBS.25.044 regarding an application for public consultation related to the construction of a proposed radio-communication and broadcasting antenna system submitted by York Region Condominium Plan No. 606 for the lands municipally known as 120 West Beaver Creek Road, City File TELE-22-0001, be received;

  b) That Council acknowledge that consideration of the proposed radio- communication and broadcasting antenna system has been undertaken in accordance with the City’s Protocol for Public Consultation for Radio- Communication and Broadcasting Antenna Systems; and,

  c) That staff be directed to inform Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada that it does not concur with the establishment of the proposed radio-communications and broadcast antenna facility on the subject lands.

15.1.11

SRPBS.25.046 - Request for Authorization - 11300 Yonge Street (City Files D01-20018, D02-20033, D06-22074) - (CW Item 11.11)

• a) That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the Agreements required to enable the conveyance of the encumbered parkland legally described as Part 2 of Reference Plan 65R-40848 and municipally addressed as 11300 Yonge Street with all the requisite parties as described in SRPBS.25.046 upon the written recommendation of the Commissioner of Planning and Building Services.

15.1.12

Correspondence from Erin Ryan, World Animal Protection Canada, dated March 12, 2025, regarding the Member Motion submitted by Councillor Cilevitz with respect to Provincial regulations needed to restrict keeping of non-native wild animals

- (CW Item 11.12)

• a) That the correspondence from Erin Ryan, World Animal Protection Canada, dated March 12, 2025, regarding the Member Motion submitted by Councillor Cilevitz with respect to Provincial regulations needed to restrict keeping of non-native wild animals, be received.

15.1.13

Member Motion - Councillor Cilevitz - Provincial regulations needed to restrict keeping of non-native ("exotic") wild animals - (CW Item 12.1)

• Whereas Ontario has more private non-native (“exotic”) wild animal keepers, roadside zoos, mobile zoos, wildlife exhibits and other captive wildlife operations than any other province; and,

  Whereas the Province of Ontario has of yet not developed regulations to prohibit or restrict animal possession, breeding, or use of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals in captivity; and,

  Whereas non-native (“exotic”) wild animals can pose very serious human health and safety risks, and attacks causing human injury and death have occurred in the province; and,

  Whereas the keeping of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals can cause poor animal welfare and suffering, and poses risks to local environments and wildlife; and,

  Whereas owners of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals can move from one community to another even after their operations have been shut down due to animal welfare or public health and safety concerns; and,

  Whereas municipalities have struggled, often for months or years, to deal with non- native (“exotic”) wild animal issues and have experienced substantive regulatory, administrative, enforcement and financial challenges; and,

  Whereas the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) and the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers' Association (MLEOA) have indicated their support for World Animal Protection’s campaign for provincial regulations of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals and roadside zoos in letters to the Ontario Solicitor General and Ontario Minister for Natural Resources and Forestry;

  Now Therefore Be It Resolved:

  1. That the City of Richmond Hill hereby petitions the provincial government to implement provincial regulations to restrict the possession, breeding, and use of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals and license zoos in order to guarantee the fair and consistent application of policy throughout Ontario for the safety of Ontario’s citizens and the non-native (“exotic”) wild animal population;
  2. That this resolution will be forwarded to all municipalities in Ontario for support and that each endorsement be then forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, Ontario Solicitor General, Ontario Minister for Natural Resources and Forestry, and Richmond Hill MPP’s, AMO, AMCTO, and MLEOA.

15.2

SRPBS.25.040 - Request for Approval - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Arash Azimifar and Zohreh Mirbagheri - 262 Douglas Road - City File D02-18011 (Related Files D06-18022 and D06-18023) - (April 2, 2025 CW Item 11.3) - (Proposed By-law 39-25)

(Referred from the April 9, 2025 Council Meeting)

• a) That the Zoning By-law Amendment application submitted by Arash Azimifar and Zohreh Mirbagheri for lands known as Part of Lot 9, Registered Plan 163 (municipal address: 262 Douglas Road), City File D02-18011, be approved, subject to the following:

  1. that the subject lands be rezoned from Residential Third Density (R3) Zone under Zoning By-law 1703, as amended, to Single Detached Two (R2) Zone under By-law 313-96, as amended, with site specific exceptions;
  2. that the draft Zoning By-law Amendment, attached as Appendix “B” to staff report SRPBS.25.034, be finalized to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Planning and Building Services and brought to the April 9, 2025 Council meeting for consideration and enactment; and,
  3. that pursuant to Section 34(17) of the Planning Act, Council deem that no further notice be required with respect to any necessary modifications to the draft amending Zoning By-law to implement the proposed development on the subject lands.

15.3

Memorandum from Gus Galanis, Commissioner of Planning and Building Services, dated April 23, 2025, regarding Clarification of Technical Matters - Staff Report SRPBS.25.040 - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - 262 Douglas Road  

- City File D02-18011 - (refer to Item 15.2)

• a) That the memorandum from Gus Galanis, Commissioner of Planning and Building Services, dated April 23, 2025, regarding Clarification of Technical Matters - Staff Report SRPBS.25.040 - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - 262 Douglas Road - City File D02-18011, be received.

15.4

Correspondence from Joe Di Giuseppe, Greenpark Group, dated April 15, 2025, regarding the Tree By-laws Review Final By-laws - (refer to Item 15.1.8)

• a) That the correspondence from Joe Di Giuseppe, Greenpark Group, dated April 15, 2025, regarding the Tree By-laws Review Final By-laws, be received.

16.

Other Business

17.

Emergency/Time Sensitive Matters

18.

By-laws

18.1

By-law 19-25 - A By-law to Prohibit or Regulate the Injuring or Destruction of Trees on Private Property in the City of Richmond Hill

Explanation: Item 15.1.8

18.2

By-law 20-25 - A By-Law to Prohibit or Regulate the Injuring or Destruction of Trees on City Lands in the City of Richmond Hill

Explanation: Item 15.1.8

18.3

By-law 39-25 - A By-law to Amend By-law 313-96, as amended, of The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill By-Law 1703 as amended of the former Township of Whitchurch

(Referred from the April 9, 2025 Council Meeting)

Explanation: Item 15.2

18.4

By-law 45-25 - A By-law to Amend By-law 1275, as amended by By-law 146-76

Explanation: Item 15.1.9

18.5

By-law 48-25 - A By-Law to amend By-law 69-16 of the City of Richmond Hill

Explanation: Item 15.1.8

18.6

By-law 49-25 - A By-Law to amend By-law 69-16 of the City of Richmond Hill

Explanation: Item 15.1.8

19.

Closed Session

19.1

Resolution to Move Into Closed Session and General Nature Thereof:

• That Council move into Closed Session:

  a) To consider personal matters about identifiable individuals, including municipal or local board employees, with respect to Citizen appointments to the Heritage Richmond Hill Committee for the remainder of the 2022 to 2026 Term of Council, pursuant to Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001;

  b) To consider personal matters about identifiable individuals, including municipal or local board employees, with respect to Citizen appointments to the Accessibility Advisory Committee for the remainder of the 2022 to 2026 Term of Council, pursuant to Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001.

19.2

Resolution to Reconvene in Open Session

19.3

Adoption of the Recommendations Arising from the Closed SessionMeeting (if required)

20.

By-law to Confirm the Proceedings of Council at this Meeting

20.1

By-law 60-25

21.

Adjournment