Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services, addressed the Sub-Committee and introduced Day 3 of the Markham Road-Mount Joy Secondary Plan Virtual Design Charrette. Commissioner Prasad provided a brief overview of the previous charrette sessions held to-date, and welcomed all stakeholders in attendance for the meeting.
Darryl Lyons, Manager, Policy, introduced the day's session as a continuation of the August 5, 2020 Markham Sub-Committee meeting to gather input from the Sub-Committee and stakeholders on the draft vision, guiding principles, and concept plans for the Markham Road-Mount Joy Secondary Plan. Key themes and discussion points emerging from the previous meeting in relation to the proposed study mobility framework were identified. Next steps in the study process, including opportunities for additional consultation and tentative timelines for presentation of a draft concept plan, were also outlined.
Shonda Wang, SvN Architects + Planners, consultant to the City of Markham, resumed the presentation on the draft vision, guiding principles, and concept plans developed for the Markham Road-Mount Joy Secondary Plan, and guided attendees through an interactive live drawing exercise to obtain stakeholder feedback on the thematic areas of parks and open space, land use, and placemaking.
The Sub-Committee and stakeholders discussed the following relative to the draft vision, guiding principles, and concept plans for the parks and open space, land use, and placemaking themes:
- Opportunities, requirements, and considerations associated with each of the proposed restoration concepts for the Mount Joy Creek to provide for appropriate activation and ecological benefits while addressing challenges related to maintenance and flooding;
- Considering the feasibility and appropriateness of alternative parkland standards within the study area, including potential parkland and open space credits for privately-owned public spaces and parks;
- Potential for more urban setbacks to enhance building face conditions on Markham Road;
- Considering the feasibility of a pedestrian or cycling path along the west side of the rail corridor in place of a parallel vehicular roadway;
- Evaluating appropriate parkland size, distribution, and mapping in consideration of urban density projections, property ownership patterns, and site-specific development applications pending within the study area;
- Exploring opportunities for strata parks and privately-owned public parks;
- Ensuring appropriate access and connectivity to new and existing park space and trail networks within and adjacent to the study area, including potential opportunities for pedestrian crossings over the rail corridor;
- Leveraging investments in transit infrastructure through appropriate density allocations, land use designations, and building forms for lands in proximity to the existing and proposed future transit stations;
- Planning for transit-supportive land use throughout the study area;
- Exploring opportunities for co-location of community infrastructure and facilities with residential and mixed-use development;
- Exploring opportunities to leverage and optimize land use values within the Mount Joy Business Park and adjacent properties, including enhanced integration with the existing GO Transit station and Markham Road corridor, potential appropriate expansion of uses, and potential opportunities for appropriate redevelopment and intensification while maintaining existing employment uses; and,
- Considering opportunities to plan for a potential gateway to the Rouge National Urban Park at Major Mackenzie Drive.