Report to: DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE                Report Date: May 1, 2007

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Renaming of the by-passed section of Highway 7 east of Locust Hill and the Town owned Markham By-Pass in Cornell

PREPARED BY:               Robert Tadmore  Extension 6810

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled “Renaming of the by-passed section of Highway 7 east of Locust Hill and the Town owned Markham By-Pass in Cornell”, dated May 1, 2007, be received;

 

And that the Town of Markham request the Ministry of Transportation to rename the by-passed section of Highway 7, east of Locust Hill as Locust Hill Lane;

 

And that the Town rename the Town owned Markham By-Pass in Cornell as Cornell Centre Boulevard;

 

And that a by-law to rename the Town owned Markham By-Pass to Cornell Centre Boulevard be considered by Council at its meeting on June 12, 2007;

 

And that the Clerk be authorized to provide notice in accordance with notice By-law 2002-275;

 

And further that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

1. Purpose                     2. Background                      3. Discussion                        4. Financial        

 

5. Others (Environmental, Accessibility, Engage 21st, Affected Units)             6. Attachment(s)

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to recommend that the Town request the Ministry of Transportation to rename a by-passed section of Highway 7 east of Locust Hill to remove and avoid name duplication issues, and that the Town rename the Town owned old Markham By-Pass in Cornell.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

Highway 7

A section of Highway 7 at the east end of Markham has been subject to a realignment that necessitates a name change request to the Ministry of Transportation. Part of Highway 7, east of Locust Hill, has been realigned to permit the construction of Highway 407 east into Durham Region (Figure 1). This resulted in a section of Highway 7 (original alignment) being by-passed by the north-eastern realignment of Highway 7 to reconnect it to York-Durham Line. The by-passed portion of Highway 7 formerly connected to York-Durham Line has been closed off creating a cul-de-sac that is still named Highway 7. In a December 12, 2006 report, staff originally recommended this section of road be renamed as Old Highway 7 to distinguish it from the realigned portion of Highway 7 East.

 

Development Services Committee members requested that staff look into the request brought forward by Locust Hill residents to name the road as Locust Hill Lane. The name was placed on the latest version of the Town’s Street Name Reserve List, which has been adopted by Council. Staff followed up with a Part A presentation to Development Services Committee on February 13th recommending a renaming of the by-passed section of Highway 7 as Locust Hill Lane. The Ward Councillor contacted a majority of affected residents and confirmed their support for a name change. Town staff had consulted with Ministry of Transportation staff about the name change process for the by-passed section of Highway 7. MTO staff indicated that Town staff must obtain a Council resolution requesting the Ministry of Transportation for a name change. Development Services Committee asked staff to bring forward a resolution that the Town request the Ministry of Transportation to name the by-passed section of Highway 7 in Locust Hill as Locust Hill Lane prior to the transfer of ownership.

 

Original Markham By-Pass in Cornell

The Cornell Community contains part of a recently constructed portion of the new Markham By-Pass, now named Donald Cousens Parkway (Figure 3). It presently ends at Major Mackenzie Drive and runs south-east, crossing the 9th Line and 16th Avenue, then turning south along the eastern boundary of Cornell, terminating at an interchange with Highway 407. It connects to a north-south running section of the original Markham By-Pass (north and south of 16th Avenue) that is owned by the Town. The alignment of Donald Cousens Parkway within Cornell replaces the function of the Town owned section of the original By-Pass. In order to avoid confusion over the current function of the Town-owned Markham By-Pass, staff is requesting Council approval to rename the Town owned sections of the original Markham By-Pass to Cornell Centre Boulevard.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

It is recommended that the Town of Markham request the Ministry of Transportation to rename the by-passed portion of Highway 7, situated in the Hamlet of Locust Hill, as Locust Hill Lane.

 

In order to address the revised functionality of the Town-owned Markham By-Pass within the Cornell Community, it is recommended the Town rename the By-Pass to Cornell Centre Boulevard.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE: (external link)

Not applicable.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Fire Department, Region of York and Ministry of Transportation were consulted to confirm road ownership and obtain street name approvals.

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Valerie Shuttleworth,                          Jim Baird,

                                      M.C.I.P., R.P.P.                                M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

                                      Director of Planning and                      Commissioner of

                                      Urban Design                                     Development Services

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1 – By-Passed Section of Highway 7

Figure 2 – Markham By-Pass Road

 

 

Q:\Development\Planning\Teams\GEOMATIC\Admin\Reports\Rename Highway 7 and Markham By-Pass.doc