Report to: DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE Report Date:
SUBJECT: Renaming of Highway 7 Progress Update
PREPARED BY: Robert Tadmore, Extension 6810
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report entitled “Renaming
of Highway 7 Progress Update”, dated
And that Staff will continue to
provide Development Services Committee with additional updates on the Region of
York process for renaming Highway 7, as required.
And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
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
provide the Development Services Committee with update information from a
BACKGROUND:
On
The June 19th staff report
outlined Regional Staff concerns regarding the impact of a name change on
residents and businesses fronting onto Highway 7, and the likelihood of
opposition to a change in name. Regional
Staff had cited street name continuity and addressing issues for other
municipalities within and beyond York Region. The report also identified that Ministry
of Transportation staff was opposed to a name change for the portion of Highway
7 east of
Town staff recommended that a
formal request be submitted to the Region of York for the renaming of Highway 7
and that a consultation process with affected municipalities, residents and
businesses be included as part of this request. Staff also requested the Region
obtain a transfer of ownership for the section of Highway7 in
Committee deferred all but one of the recommendations in the June 19th report until September 2007 to consider alternative naming options. Committee adopted the recommendation to have the Region obtain ownership of the section of Highway7 still under MTO jurisdiction.
A subsequent report was submitted on
September 18, 2007 to the Development Services Committee with a request for the
Region of York to consider options for renaming Highway 7 in Markham under the
Region’s jurisdiction from Highway 7 to a name more representative of an urban
arterial road. It also incorporated a request that the Region consult with
other municipalities (Vaughan and
Committee approved the first two recommendations and recommended reliance on the Region’s public consultation process regarding street name options.
Regional Transportation Staff
hosted a meeting for staff from
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:
Regional Consultation Process Underway
Subsequent to Town Staff’s meeting
with the Region, staff of their Transportation Services Commission submitted a
report to the Region’s Transportation and Works Committee on
The report covered a brief history
of the transfer of sections of Highway 7 into Regional authority, indicating
the section east of
The report included an acknowledgment
of requests from both Markham and Vaughan Councils for Highway 7 renaming arising
from concerns that development along Highway 7 has altered its function to that
of an urban arterial roadway. It also noted that the Town of
Regional Staff recommended additional meetings with municipal staff and all emergency services to discuss the renaming proposal and that municipal staff inform their respective Councils of the parameters that will be developed to implement a renaming process. Establishment of these parameters is expected by October 2008.
Although some residential
properties will be affected by the renaming, the report indicates the largest
impact will be to commercial and business interests related to letterheads,
business cards, web-based documents, etc. Town Staff estimates there are
approximately 218 properties with Highway 7 addresses in
The Municipal Act does not require public notice of a road name change, but due to the magnitude of affected residents and businesses, Regional Staff recommends a process that involves hosting public consultation centres to permit residents and business owners to review the proposal and provide input. The Region will follow their prescribed notification policy of a notice publication in a local paper two weeks prior to the date of the meeting and personal notices to any affected person, or anyone on record who has demonstrated an interest. A notice will be provided to the Clerk of the local municipality where the public meeting will be hosted.
Markham Staff will continue to work with the Region toward implementing the public consultation process and provide Council with additional updates, as required.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE:
Financial implications for the
public consultation process are currently unknown. This matter will be
discussed with Regional Staff to establish a cost sharing scheme in a
subsequent meeting(s). There are currently 218 Highway 7 addresses in
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, street name approvals and to obtain street name change procedural information.
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________ ________________________
Valerie Shuttleworth, Jim Baird,
M.C.I.P., R.P.P. M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director
of
Urban
ATTACHMENTS:
Q:\Development\Planning\Teams\GEOMATIC\Admin\Reports\Rename
of Highway 7 Report 3.doc