Report to: Development Services Committee Date Report Authored: January 22, 2010

SUBJECT: Proposed On-Street Parking on the West Side of South Town Centre Boulevard, Markham Centre

PREPARED BY: Brian Lee, Manager, Development Engineering and Transportation, ext. 4838

RECOMMENDATION:

1) That the report entitled “Proposed On-Street Parking on the west side of South Town Centre Boulevard in Markham Centre”, be received;

2) And that Schedule “C” of Parking Control By-Law 2005-188, be amended to prohibit parking on the west side of South Town Centre Boulevard, between a point 100 metres south of Highway 7 to a point 45 metres north of Clegg Road, during the hours of 7:00am to 10:00am, and from 4:00pm to 6:00pm;

3) And that Schedule “L” of Traffic By-Law 2005-188, be amended to permit on-street paid parking on the west side of South Town Centre Boulevard, between a point 100 metres south of Highway 7 to a point 45 metres north of Clegg Road, during the hours of 10:00am to 4:00pm and from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, with the parking rate and time stay period established by the Parking Advisory Committee of $1.00 per hour with a 3 hour maximum time stay;

4) And that the Engineering Department work with the Operations Department to install one pay and display parking meter, concrete pad and appropriate regulatory and information signs at the subject location, funded through the Engineering Department Parking Management Program capital account 83-53509328005 to be reimbursed by Times Development Group;

5) And that the Operations Department be directed to maintain the concrete pad and signs at the subject location;

6) And that the Parking Control Department be directed to include this new paid parking location in the current pay and display parking meter maintenance contract the Town has with Precise Parklink Inc. and to enforce paid parking upon the amendment of the Parking Control By-Law, the installation of the pay and display parking meter and associated regulatory signs;

7) And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

PURPOSE:

This report recommends that on-street paid parking be permitted on the west side of South Town Centre Boulevard, from a point 100 metres south of Highway 7 to a point 45 metres north of Clegg Road to a maximum of 3 hours at a parking rate established by the Parking Advisory Committee during the hours of 10:00am to 4:00pm, and from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

BACKGROUND:

Need to Provide On-Street Parking to Support Ground Floor Retail

In 2008, the Times Development Group constructed Majestic Court at 80 Clegg Road at the south west corner of Highway 7 and South Town Centre Boulevard. The building contains about 400 residential units with a number of retail units on the ground floor fronting South Town Centre Boulevard and Clegg Road. The concept of mixed use buildings is consistent with the Markham Centre vision to provide a compact urban form. The retail units have been on the market for some time but only a few units have been leased out. The owner cited that the lack of on-street parking has deterred a number of potential tenants.

The owner approached the Town and requested that on-street parking be permitted. A parking feasibility study entitled “On-Street Parking Feasibility Study, South Town Centre between Highway 7 & Clegg Road, Town of Markham”, dated July 2009 was prepared by Sernas Transtech. A further letter dated August 21, 2009 from the consultant was submitted to support such an initiative.

DISCUSSION:

On-Street Parking on South Town Centre Boulevard is Consistent with the Markham Centre Development Concept

Markham Centre is being developed as a compact, mixed use, urban centre where a number of amenities are within close proximity. The development of a mixed use building with retail on the ground floor is consistent with the Markham Centre vision and is supported by the Town.

As a compact urban form, the use of a large area for off-street parking is not preferred and on-street parking provides a number of advantages that advance the city centre building objectives. Therefore, paid on-street parking is supported in principle, subject to safety and operational considerations.

Safety and Operational Issues

The owner retained an engineering consulting firm to prepare a feasibility report. The report was reviewed by the Town’s Transportation Section and Traffic Operations Section. The report reviewed and evaluated sight line distance, driveway locations, and queuing and traffic operational issues. The accepted configuration consists of parking for approximately 8 vehicles on the west side of South Town Centre Boulevard, from a point 100m south of Highway 7 to a point 45m north of Clegg Road. The parking area is located with adequate separation from existing driveways to ensure traffic operation or safety issues are minimized.

Parking Operations and Fees

The Town supports a 3-hour maximum duration during off-peak hours of 10:00am to 4:00pm, and from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Parking rate were established by the Parking Advisory Committee at its January 25, 2010 meeting of $1.00/hr and parking up to a maximum of 3 hours. This encourages parking turnover and increase commercial exposure for local businesses.

Future Widening to Accommodate VIVA

The VIVA Rapidway dedicated lanes for the VIVA buses will run primarily on Highway 7. The Rapidway deviates from Highway 7 in order to serve Markham Centre by using South Town Centre Boulevard and Cedarland Drive. Because new dedicated lanes will be provided, widening will be required on both sides of South Town Centre Boulevard. The on-street parking for the widened South Town Centre Boulevard has been reviewed and will be feasible within certain limits to continue to provide on-street parking. The design of the Rapidway will incorporate the parking provision. See Attachment ‘C’.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The cost of materials and installation of the proposed pay and display parking meter, concrete pad and signs has been included in the Engineering Department Parking Management Program capital account 83-53509328005. The Times Development Group has agreed to fund 100% of all work related to the implementation of the on-street paid parking system.

On-going maintenance, operations and replacement costs for this installation will be included in future Town operating budgets and will be subject to the ultimate Parking Management program as determined through the Markham Parking Strategy.

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

This report aligns with the Markham Centre and the Green Print Community Sustainability vision of mixed use and higher density near rapid transit routes. The use of on-street parking has a number of benefits both to the Town and the retail establishments.

DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Traffic Operations Section has reviewed the parking study and supports the off-peak on-street parking. Their comments have been included in this draft report. The Parking Advisory Committee and the Planning Department are supportive of on-street parking at this location, which is consistent with the planning vision of Markham Centre.

RECOMMENDED BY:

________________________ ________________________

Alan Brown, C.E.T. Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P

Director of Engineering Commissioner, Development Services

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A – Proposed Paid Parking Location (Map)

Attachment B – Proposed Parking Prohibition By-Law

Attachment C – Preliminary Design of South Town Centre Blvd with VIVA Rapidway