SIXTH MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

York Room, Markham Civic Centre

July 16, 2003 - 6:30 P.M.

 

MINUTES

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Members Present:                                                                 Members Absent:

 

Dave Adams                                                                            David Black

Mark Champion                                                                       Marie Jones

Morley Lem                                                                             Robert Lipka

Jonathan Mingay                                                                       Judy McIntyre 

Elizabeth Plashkes                                                                    Dianne More

Peter Ross                                                                                Iggy Natoli

Corina Sallaberger                                                                    Frankie Rose

Keith Thirgood                                                             Councillor George McKelvey

Helen Walter                                                                           

Councillor Jack Heath

 

 

Staff:

Stan Lau, General Manager of Streets Services

Candy Davidovits, Committee Clerk

 

 

The Main Street Markham Committee meeting convened at the hour of 6:45 p.m. with Councillor Jack Heath chairing.

 

 

1.         ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE –JUNE 18, 2003

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT THE MINUTES OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON JUNE 18, 2003, BE ADOPTED.

 

 


2.         UPDATES:

 

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

 

Mr. Stan Lau, General Manager of Streets Services, provided an update respecting the Main Street Markham Traffic Management and Streetscape Study advising that the final report has now been submitted to the Town of Markham by Harrington and Hoyle; that a report on the matter is being prepared for submission to the Finance and Administrative Committee at its meeting to be held on August 25, 2003; that staff will be recommending to Council that the study be endorsed, in principle, and that staff be authorized to proceed with the detailed design stage for the phases at 16th Avenue and Highway 48 and Highway 7 and 48.

 

Stan Lau also advised that he has received confirmation from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario and the Region of York that they will contribute towards the cost of improvements to the intersection at 16th Avenue and Highway 48, however, he does not yet have a memorandum of understanding on this issue.

 

Mr. Ken Hoyle, Harrington and Hoyle, appeared before the Main Street Markham Committee respecting this matter and advised that the entire project will take about six years to complete and that he is recommending that it be done in phases starting with: 

(i) 16th Avenue and Highway 48 in the spring of 2004;

(ii) the residential area from 16th Avenue to Beech Avenue;

(iii) the area from Beech Avenue to Bullock Avenue;

(iv) Bullock to Highway 7; and

(vi) the intersection of Robinson and Main Streets. 

It is proposed that the area south of Highway 7 be included in the Phase 5 stage in 2006.

 

The Main Street Markham Committee received the foregoing presentations and requested that a copy of the Final Report from Harrington and Hoyle respecting the Main Street Markham Management & Streetscape Study be provided to each member of the Main Street Markham Committee for their information and future reference.

 

Master Plan Environmental Sub-Committee

 

Mr. Jonathan Mingay advised that he has prepared a draft of the Terms of Reference for the Master Plan Environmental Sub-Committee but that he would like to obtain input from members of the Main Street Markham Committee before submitting it to the Committee.  Jonathan Mingay agreed to e-mail a copy of the draft Terms of Reference to all members of the Main Street Markham Committee for their comments.

 

Master Plan Committee

 

No update provided at this meeting.

 

Markham Museum

 

No update provided at this meeting.

            Mural - 107 Main Street

 

            The Chair advised that he had received an e-mail from Judi McIntyre advising that this matter is still up in the air as there is new renter coming into the building that this may affect.

 

Tannery Pond

 

No update provided at this meeting.

 

Official Plan and Zoning Review Subcommittee

 

No update provided at this meeting.

 

            Farmers’ Market

 

The Chair advised the Main Street Markham Committee that he had received an e-mail from Judi McIntyre advising that two more produce vendors have been added to the Farmers’ Market; that attendance is down slightly; that ads will be placed in the Markham Economist and the Sun to get attendance back up; and that Saturday, July 19, 2003, is Tiny Talent Time.

 

Tremont Hotel

 

Councillor Heath advised the Main Street Markham Committee that he recently had a lengthy discussion with the owner of the Tremont Hotel respecting a 40 per cent property tax rebate for heritage properties, subject to the granting of an easement to the Town, and that Mr. Kwok indicated to him that he was not interested in this proposal.

 

Planning Application - 9401 Highway 48

 

On May 21, 2003, the Committee requested Council members to provide a detailed landscaping plan for the Subaru dealership at 9401 Highway 48.

 

This matter was not dealt with as the requested landscaping plan was not provided.

 

Expansion of the Markham Community Library and

Development of Lands to the South of the Library

 

The Main Street Markham Committee had before it the following material:

 

(a)                copy of an e-mail communication (June 25, 2003) from Councillor Jack Heath forwarded to the Mayor and Members of Council providing a summary of the community meeting held on June 18, 2003, at the Train Station respecting the Library Expansion; and

(b)               report (July 16, 2003) from the Manager of Heritage Planning providing an update on the status of “The Archibald Barker House”, a heritage house at 49 Main Street South, and forwarding an extract from the Heritage Markham meeting held on May 12, 1999, which outlines the position of Heritage Markham respecting this property.

 

Ken Hoyle, Harrington and Hoyle, appeared before the Main Street Markham Committee and gave a presentation respecting the plans for the area south of Highway 7.

 

The Main Street Markham Committee recommends that the Town of Markham Council be advised:

 

(1)               that the Main Street Markham Committee opposes moving “The Archibald Barker House” from its present location at 49 Main Street South; and

 

(2)               that as an integral part of the Heritage District, the Main Street Markham Committee strenuously requests Council to maintain Main Street Markham South as a two-lane road in perpetuity.

 

 

3.         NEW BUSINESS

 

            Dorothea Moss Plaque

           

            The Main Street Markham Committee had before it two e-mails (June 26 and June 27, 2003) from Karen Boniface, Parks Planner, advising that an error had been made on the wording inscribed on Dorothea Moss Plaque and submitting suggested revised wording for the plaque.

 

            Keith Thirgood advised the Main Street Markham Committee that he had requested Karen Boniface to make one revision to provide that “1800’s” be changed to read “1800s”.

 

            The Main Street Markham Committee concurred with the revised wording proposed for the Dorothea Moss Plaque with the date revised as suggested by Keith Thirgood.

 

            Trees

 

            Keith Thirgood enquired about the status of the trees on Main Street Markham which were provided for in the 2003 budget and have not yet been planted.

 

            Councillor Heath advised that he thinks the planting might be undertaken in the Fall but that he will ask Mark Ingwersen and Karen Boniface for information.

 

 

 

 

            Caribbean Day Festival

 

The Chair advised that he had received an e-mail from Judi McIntyre advising that a Caribbean Day Festival is being held on Sunday, July 20, 2003, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Main Street Markham; that there will be four stages of entertainment at this event, a dance contest, fashion show, crafters and lots of Caribbean food.

 

Acquisition of Property

 

Mr. Morley Lem provided information respecting a property that has been recently listed for sale.  Councillor Heath advised the Main Street Markham Committee that he has asked some of the Councillors for their comments respecting this matter and that he is waiting to hear back from them.

 

Heritage Property on Main Street Markham North

 

Elizabeth Plashkes provided information to the Main Street Markham Committee respecting a heritage house located two driveways north of the Markham Museum which is proposed to be demolished.  Further information on this matter will be provided to the Heritage Markham Architectural Review Sub-Committee at its meeting on July 17, 2003.

 

Heritage Signs

 

Keith Thirgood circulated a copy of signs proposed to be installed in parking lots providing directional information so that visitors to Markham Village would be better informed on alternate parking locations in the Village.  Councillor Heath agreed to discuss this proposal with the appropriate Town of Markham staff.

 

Doors Open Markham

 

Elizabeth Plashkes circulated invitations to all members of the Main Street Markham Committee for the Doors Open Markham event being held on August 23 and 24, 2003.

 

 

4.         NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 2003, at 6:30 p.m. in the York Room at the Civic Centre.

 

 

5.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee adjourned at 9:05 p.m.