FIRST MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

York Room, Markham Civic Centre

January 21, 2004 - 6:30 P.M.

 

    MINUTES

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Members Present:                                                                 Members Absent:

 

Dave Adams                                                                            Marie Jones

David Black                                                                             Morley Lem

Mark Champion                                                                       Iggy Nagoli

Judi McIntyre                                                                           Corina Sallaberger

Jonathan Mingay

Dianne More

Elizabeth Plashkes

Frankie Rose

Peter Ross

Keith Thirgood

Helen Walter

Regional Councillor Jack Heath

Councillor George McKelvey

 

Staff:

 

Candy Davidovits, Committee Clerk

Regan Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

Scott Heaslip, Project Coordinator, East District, Planning Division, Development Services Commission

 

Also Present:

 

Councillor John Webster, Ward 5

Ms. Niki Burns, Manager, Markham BIA

 

 

The Main Street Markham Committee meeting convened at the hour of 6:38 p.m. with Regional Councillor Jack Heath and Councillor George McKelvey co-chairing.

 

 

1.         ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE NINTH MEETING OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE – DECEMBER 10, 2003

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

THAT THE MINUTES OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 10, 2003, BE ADOPTED SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CORRECTIONS:

 

(i)         that the item headed “Planning Application – 9401 Highway 48” be amended to refer to 9404 Highway 48; and

 

(i)         that the heading “Heritage Property on Main Street Markham North – 9404 Highway 48” be amended to read “Property on Main Street Markham North – 9401 Highway 48”, as this property is not a heritage property.

 

 

2.         UPDATES:

 

Wismer Commercial Design Guidelines

 

Mr. Scott Heaslip, Project Coordinator, East District, Planning Division, Development Services Commission, gave a presentation respecting the Official Plan designation of various properties along Main Street Markham and Highway 48 from Bur Oak Drive to Major Mackenzie Avenue.

 

Regional Councillor Jack Heath circulated drawings outlining the Town of Markham’s 10 year major roads projects for the period 2003-2012.

 

The Main Street Markham Committee:

 

(a)        requested that staff provide an update to the next meeting of the Committee on the plans for the roadway from 16th Avenue to the roundabout;

 

(b)        requested Development Services staff to provide information to the Main Street Markham Committee whenever an application is received that would be of interest to the Committee;

 

(c)        requested Scott Heaslip to attend the next meeting of the Committee and provide a further update, such update to include information on the Subaru dealership at 9401 Highway 48;

 

(d)        requested Stan Lau, General Manager, Technical Services, to report to the Committee at the next meeting on the status of negotiations with the Region of York and the Province of Ontario on development of a Memorandum of Understanding dealing with the bump-out study; and

 

(e)        expressed its thanks to Scott Heaslip for his presentation.

 

Public Space Recycling Containers On Main Street Markham

           

Councillor McKelvey advised that he spoke to Mr. Peter Veiga, Waste Management Coordinator, who indicated that the concerns of the Committee have been addressed and that a staff decision on this matter is pending the adoption by the Town of a three-stream program based on the Region of York’s position.

 

Main Street Markham Traffic Management & Streetscape Study (bump-outs)

 

This matter was discussed in connection with the presentation given by Mr. Scott Heaslip respecting the Wismer Commercial Design Guidelines.

 

Master Plan Environmental Sub-Committee

 

No update provided.

 

Master Plan Sub-Committee

 

No update provided.

 

            Mural - 107 Main Street

           

No update provided.

 

Tannery Pond

 

No update provided.

 

Official Plan and Zoning Review Subcommittee

 

No update provided.

 

            Farmers’ Market

 

No update provided.

 

Planning Application - 9401 Highway 48

 

This matter was discussed in connection with the presentation given by Mr. Scott Heaslip respecting the Wismer Commercial Design Guidelines.

 

Expansion of the Markham Community Library and

Development of Lands to the South of the Library

 

The Committee had before it a report from Regan Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning, providing the following staff comments on the resolution passed by the Committee regarding the Archibald Barker House and on maintaining Main Street South as a two-way lane road in perpetuity:

 

-           the widening of Main Street South, south of Highway 7, was deferred by Council pending completion of the Markham By-pass and the Ninth Line widening (2006).  Staff is to continue to monitor volumes and traffic demand;

 

-           reference in the Official Plan is for a 4 lane road cross section;

 

-           the Town is still collecting development charges as applications along the road are processed;

 

-           no schedule for any EA for the expansion;

 

-           next review will likely be later this decade when the other roads have been opened and/or expanded, and volumes are known.  Staff will report back to Council on whether 4 lanes are needed at this location; and

 

-           the Markham Transportation Planning Study, adopted by Council on June 25, 2002, supports this position, a copy of which was attached for the information of the Committee.

 

            Trees

 

No update provided.

 

Planning Application– 9404 Highway 48

 

No update provided.

 

Heritage Signs

 

No update provided.

 

Morgan Park

 

No update provided.

 

Markham GO Train Station Parking Lot Improvement Project

Main Street North

 

Regan Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning, provided an update respecting improvements to the Markham GO Train Station and advised that staff will be receiving revised drawings from GO Transit.

 

Councillor McKelvey advised that he spoke to the General Manager of GO Transit regarding the newspaper boxes on the site and was advised that GO Transit also wants to move the newspaper boxes. However, they do provide a revenue and GO Transit is considering moving them to a screened area on the site.

 

The Committee requested a further update on this matter at the next meeting, such update to include the newspaper boxes at Main Street and Robinson Avenue.

 

            Markham Museum Reception Centre

 

Councillor McKelvey provided a brief update on this matter advising that the issues relating to this Centre have been resolved and that the project will be presented to Council in the next week or so.

 

Signage on Main Street from the 407 to James Scott Road/Princess Street

 

Councillor McKelvey advised that he will be meeting with staff on this issue and will update the Committee at the next meeting.

 

 

3.         NEW BUSINESS

 

Heritage Property Tax Reduction Program

 

Regan Hutcheson advised the Committee that Council has approved the Heritage Property Tax Reduction Program and that packages on the program are now available.

 

46 Main Street

 

The Committee received a presentation from Regan Hutcheson respecting the apartment building proposed for 46 Main Street.

 

Nomination of Kenneth J. Hoyle for Urban Leadership Award

 

The Committee had before it material circulated by Elizabeth Plashkes advising that the Markham Village Conservancy is submitting a nomination to the Canadian Urban Institute recommending that Kenneth J. Hoyle be awarded the Urban Leadership Award.

 

The Committee endorsed the nomination of Kenneth J. Hoyle for the Urban Leadership Award to be awarded by the Canadian Urban Institute.

 

4.         NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Markham Main Street Committee is scheduled for February 18, 2004.

 

5.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee adjourned at 8:47 p.m.