TOWN OF WHITBY
REPORT
RECOMMENDATION REPORT
REPORT TO: Planning and Development Committee
REPORT NO: PL 40-11
DATE OF MEETING: June 13, 2011
FILE NO(S): N/A
PREPARED BY: Planning Department
LOCATION: Town of Ajax
REPORT TITLE/SUBJECT:
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Town of Ajax - Steeple Hill on the Lake Inc.
Natural Burial Cemetery
RECOMMENDATION:
1.
That Planning Report No. PL 40-11, regarding Town of Ajax planning
application for a Natural Burial Cemetery, dated June 13, 2011, be
received as information; and,
2.
That a copy of Report No. PL 40-11, be forwarded to the Town of Ajax
Clerk’s Department.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Town of Ajax is in receipt of applications for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning
By-law Amendment to convert approximately 8.87ha of an existing golf course to a
Natural Burial Cemetery, at the southwest quadrant of Bayly Street E, and Lake Ridge
Road S.
The subject lands to be converted to a cemetery use are currently designated “Rural”
in the Town of Ajax Official Plan and are currently zoned Golf Facility (GF) in the Town
of Ajax Zoning By-law 95-2003, as amended. An Official Plan Amendment application
has been submitted to allow for a site specific exception to permit a cemetery use on
the subject lands. An accompanying Zoning By-law Amendment application has also
been submitted to rezone the subject lands to a Cemetery (CE) zone category to
permit the proposed use.
Report to: Planning and Development Committee
Report No.: PL 40-11
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ORIGIN:
The Town of Whitby has been circulated the planning applications, which were
submitted to the Town of Ajax. The Town of Whitby is located within the 120 metre
circulation area for the applications.
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BACKGROUND:
According to the Town of Ajax, Steeple Hill on the Lake Inc. is proposing to convert
approximately 8.8 hectares (21.7 ac) of an existing 62.5 hectare (154.4 ac) golf course
to a Natural Burial Cemetery on the west side of Lake Ridge Road South,
approximately 145 metres south of Bayly Street.
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DISCUSSION/OPTIONS:
Based on the information provided by Steeple Hill on the Lake Inc, a natural burial
cemetery, also known as an eco-cemetery, is an alternative form of burial that allows
for the deceased to decompose naturally into the soil. They do not use chemical
preservatives or embalming fluids, pesticides, or any form of irrigation and the
deceased are buried in simple shrouds or biodegradable caskets. A natural burial
cemetery may use grave markers such as shrubs, trees, and stones that don’t intrude
on the surrounding landscape. Records of the exact location of each internment are
kept using modern GIS and survey techniques.
Access to both the proposed cemetery and the existing golf club will be from the
existing driveway on Lake Ridge Road South. The proposal includes a network of
mixed paved and gravel pathways to be constructed throughout the cemetery grounds.
Two existing greenhouses on-site are proposed to be converted into a
maintenance/storage facility and a columbarium, while an existing two-storey brick
structure will remain as an administrative building. The cemetery will be developed in
phases, as need arises. It is anticipated that approximately 10,000 plots will be
occupied in the next 15-20 years.
Greenbelt Plan
 Subject lands are designated Protected Countryside
 Rural areas of the Protected Countryside are intended to continue to accommodate
a range of commercial, industrial and institutional uses serving the rural resource
and agricultural sectors
 These lands are intended to support a range of recreation and tourism uses such
as trails, parks, golf courses, bed and breakfasts and other tourism based
accommodation, serviced playing fields and campgrounds, ski hills and resorts.
 Proposals for non-agricultural uses must demonstrate that:
o The use is appropriate for location in a rural area;
o The type of water and sewer servicing proposed is appropriate for the type of
use;
Report to: Planning and Development Committee
Report No.: PL 40-11
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o There are no negative impacts on key natural heritage features and/or key
hydrologic features or their functions; and
o There are no negative impacts on the biodiversity or connectivity of the Natural
Heritage System
Town of Ajax Official Plan
 Subject lands are designated “Rural”
o Golf courses and cemeteries are permitted in Rural designation, subject to an
Official Plan Amendment
 Official Plan Amendment required to allow for a cemetery use on the subject land
Town of Ajax Zoning By-law
 Subject lands are zoned Golf Facility (GF) under by-law 95-2003, as amended
 Zoning By-law Amendment required to facilitate development of a natural burial
cemetery and to establish appropriate development standards
Durham Region Land Division Committee
 An application to sever a vacant 53.7 hectare parcel of land with a golf course,
retaining an 8.8 hectare parcel of land has been made to the Durham Land Division
Committee
 The application is being deferred until the related Official Plan Amendment and
Zoning By-law Amendment applications have been considered by Town of Ajax
Council
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PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS/PLAN:
The Town of Ajax held a Public Open House on May 17, 2011. The meeting was
attended by approximately 100 residents from the Town of Ajax and the Town of
Whitby. The Town of Ajax is currently putting together a list of issues that were
identified by residents and will be available on the Town of Ajax’s website shortly.
The Town of Ajax has stated that the next steps will be for the applicant to address all
of the concerns and issues identified by the Town, Region and CLOCA as well as the
issues raised by the residents. The Town of Ajax will be holding a public meeting in
the future to advise residents how their concerns and issues have been addressed, a
date for this meeting has not been set.
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CONSIDERATIONS:
A.
PUBLIC
N/A
B.
FINANCIAL
N/A
Report to: Planning and Development Committee
Report No.: PL 40-11
C.
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IMPACT ON & INPUT FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS/SOURCES
The Planning Department and Public Works Department have reviewed the
application as submitted by Steeple Hill on the Lake Inc. The Planning
Department has no comments on the application. Public Works comments dealt
with the submitted Traffic Impact & Parking Study, submitted by Sernas
Transtech, dated October 2010.
Public Works Department:
 Comments were related to site trips calculated in the Study
 No major concerns were raised from a traffic perspective
Town of Ajax
One of the comments of the Town of Ajax is in regards to the submitted
Environmental Impact Study. The Town is concerned over the water levels at the
golf course and is requesting that these levels be tested. The Town of Ajax will be
having the EIS peer-reviewed.
D.
CORPORATE AND/OR DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
N/A
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The applications submitted by Steeple Hill on the Lake Inc., require Official Plan
Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment to convert a portion of the Carruther’s
Creek Golf Course to a Natural Burial Cemetery. The Town of Whitby has no Planning
or Public Works concerns regarding the proposal.
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ATTACHMENTS
Attachment #1: Location Map
Attachment #2: Concept Site Plan
Report to: Planning and Development Committee
Report No.: PL 40-11
For further information contact:
Melissa Markham, Planner II, Ext. 2344
___________________________________________
Robert B. Short, Director of Planning, Ext. 4309
___________________________________________
Robert Petrie, Chief Administrative Officer, Ext. 2211
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