MINUTES FROM THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE IN 2008

 

Town of Markham

York Room - Civic Centre

June 18, 2008

 

Members                                                                      Regrets

Deirdre Kavanagh                                                        Phil Howes, BIA

Keith Thirgood                                                             Helen Walter

Dianne More

Peter Ross

Diane Kobelansky                                                        Guest

Councillor Carolina Moretti                                           Amy Pialagitis

Councillor John Webster

Wil Pialagitis

Ibrahim Ali

Jonathan Mingay

 

Staff

Regan Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning

Judy Kee, Committee Clerk

 

 

The Sixth meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee meeting in 2008 was convened at

5:40 p.m. with Councillor John Webster in the Chair.

 

 

1.         MINUTES FROM THE MAY 21, 2008 MEETING OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the minutes of the Main Street Markham Committee meeting held on May 21, 2008, be adopted.

CARRIED

 

 

2.         UPDATES:

 

a)         Parking Lot Signs

 

Members were advised that the parking lot signs will be installed by the end of June, and that they are being made of a very hard plastic called lexan.  Work is continuing on the production of the map signs.

 

 

 

b)         Interpretation Sub-Committee

 

Mr. Regan Hutcheson, Manager of Heritage Planning, distributed draft copies of a terms of reference document for the Markham Village Interpretive Project - Museum of the Streets.  He noted that the draft document is for discussion purposes at this time.

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the authority to finalize and approve the draft terms of reference for the Markham Village Interpretive Project – Museum of the Streets, to ensure that the proposed timelines for the project are met, be delegated to the Interpretation Sub-Committee.

CARRIED

 

 

d)         Downtown Markham

 

Members discussed various points of view with respect to the appropriate identification of the area on the east and west side of Main Street Markham, between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue, including: Downtown Markham; Markham Village; and Main Street Markham.  This matter will be moved to the list of Parking Lot items.

 

 

e)         Environmental Assessment – Main Street Markham

 

Mr. Peter Ross updated Members on the first meeting of the Community Advisory Group on the Main Street Markham Environmental Assessment.  The meeting had been held on Tuesday, June 3 in the Canada Room of the Markham Civic Centre.  It was the first of a number of meetings that are planned as part of an extensive consultation process to receive input on the EA.  A public consultation facilitator from Ogilvie, Ogilvie and Company led the discussion for the evening, and a consultant team from McCormick Rankin Corporation provided a presentation.

 

A number of the Members of the Main Street Markham Committee had been in attendance, in addition to Councillor C. Moretti and Councillor J. Webster, interested residents and Town staff.  Some materials had been distributed at the meeting, and an opportunity had been provided to send further comments by email. It is expected that minutes will be forthcoming.

 

Members discussed the various stakeholders that should be involved in future meetings to ensure that all viewpoints are provided, and it was suggested that issues relating to landscape, history, tree planting, and parks planning should also be considered in the consultation process.

 

After further discussion, it was suggested that all Members of the Main Street Markham Committee should ensure that they have a copy of the Final Report of the Main Street Markham Streetscape and Traffic Management Study.  The Committee Clerk will forward copies to those requesting copies.

 

 

 

 

 

h)         Public Washrooms

 

Committee was advised that the public washrooms are in place on Main Street Markham.  They are monitored daily and will be serviced when required, and are locked daily at 6:00 p.m.  If they are well used, they may become a permanent fixture on the Street.  This matter will be placed on the Parking Lot Items list and brought back in October.

 

 

n)         Trees on Private Property

 

Members were advised that the BIA was having some problems with tree planting on private properties, and further discussions are to take place with Town staff.  Jonathan Mingay will send any new information to the Committee Clerk for distribution to all Members.  This matter will be placed on the Parking Lot Items list and brought back in September.

 

 

o)         Status of Town Square Feasibility Study

 

Councillor Moretti advised that Legal staff are preparing a report on this matter for consideration by Council.  This matter will be placed on the Parking Lot Items list and brought back in October.

 

 

r)         Truck Traffic Concerns

 

Councillor Moretti expressed appreciation to Ms. Dianne More who has been very pro-active in monitoring the truck traffic on Main Street Markham, and provided details of recent efforts by residents and staff to follow up with the Region of York on trucks illegally travelling on the Street.  In addition, concerns with buses parking and idling on the west side of Main Street, just south of 16th Avenue and blocking the merge lane were also related. 

 

Committee was advised that York Regional Police will continue to monitor the Street, and an upcoming blitz is planned.  Members were encouraged to send emails regarding any infractions sighted to Wendy Lucas of Councillor Moretti’s office (wlucas@markham.ca), who will forward them on to the contact at York Regional Police.  This matter will be placed on the Parking Lot Items list.

 

 

s)         Winter Damage to Trees

 

It was reported that a dead tree had been removed beside Tim Clark’s Flowers, and the issue relating to the electrical receptacles in the tree wells will be followed up by Jonathan Mingay.

 

 

f)          Incoming Planning Applications

 

Mr. Regan Hutcheson advised Members of an application for a zoning by-law amendment which has been filed with the Planning Department for 2 Peter Street.  Councillor Moretti declared a conflict on this matter.

 

The proposal is to amend the zoning by-law to permit the severance of 2 Peter Street to create one new lot while retaining the existing heritage house on the retained lot, and to sever a small portion of 4 Peter Street and add it to 2 Peter Street to allow a new driveway north of the heritage house on 2 Peter Street.

 

The Chair advised that there will an opportunity for the public to attend a public meeting prior to the application’s consideration by Council

 

 

3.         NEW BUSINESS

 

a) James Walker Court

 

The issue of the application for variance regarding the placement of a garage at 27 James Walker Court was briefly discussed.

 

b) 16th Avenue/Main Street Markham Median

 

Some concern was expressed regarding the unattractive state of the median at 16th Avenue and Main Street Markham.  A copy of the drawings of the planting beds was circulated, and Members discussed the Town’s process for the planting of flower beds. 

 

Mr. Regan Hutcheson will make a copy of the drawings and forward them to Deirdre Kavanagh, and Mr. Jonathan Mingay will contact Members of Committee by email once work begins on the Median. 

 

c) Joseph Street Shade Structure – Re-installation

 

Mr. Keith Thirgood advised that the Joseph Street ornamental shade structure is back up.  The re-installed structure is located beside Tim Clark’s Flowers, and is made of aluminum, with a hammered metal look.

 

d) Development of Interpretive Plaque Program

 

Mr. Regan Hutcheson reported that Council has agreed in principle to approve a request from the Markham Village Conservancy for a grant from the Heritage Reserve Fund to assist with an interpretive plaque project for the Mount Joy portion of the Markham Village Heritage Conservation District.  This will be a pilot project.

 

The objective of the program is mainly educational, and to also foster pride in home ownership.  The Heritage Markham Committee is supportive of the project for Mount Joy, but they would like to see a coordinated approach for all three of the Town’s heritage conservation districts.  Some research has determined that the plaques could be made of cast aluminum, either blue or black, and a suggested size would be 11 x 17 inches, however, community representatives will be requested to provide feedback over the next few months.  The cost would be approximately $400 per plaque.  Staff will report back to Council in the fall with the results of the consultation with the other district representatives.

 

Appreciation was expressed to Ms. Donna Wigmore, who initiated the program and carried out much of the research.

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the Main Street Markham Committee is in agreement with the interpretive plaques project for the Mount Joy portion of the Markham Village Heritage Conservation District.

CARRIED

 

 

4.         NEXT MEETING

 

It was agreed that a meeting would not be scheduled for July, however, it was suggested that a meeting should be held in August so that updates could be presented on pertinent issues.

 

The Clerk was requested to poll all members to determine their availability on Wednesday, August 20, or Wednesday, August 27.  Members will be advised by email once the date has been confirmed.

 

 

*Note:  Subsequent to the meeting, the date of the next meeting was confirmed as:

 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2008 AT 5:30 P.M. IN THE YORK ROOM

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Sixth Main Street Markham Committee meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.