Whereas the Province is undertaking the planning studies for the Yonge North Subway Extension (YNSE); and,
Whereas on March 18, 2021 Metrolinx released the Initial Business Case that affects the City of Markham and recommends advancing design of the YNSE; and,
Whereas the Initial Business Case proposes up to four stations along the 8-kilometre subway extension and a new easterly route realignment at Royal Orchard that proposes the subway travel under an established residential neighbourhood in order to connect to the GO/CN Corridor: and,
Whereas intensification and redevelopment needs to occur along major rapid rail transit corridors like Yonge Street to support Provincial growth direction and to build sustainable communities, including the realization of transit-oriented communities; and,
Whereas the City undertook a study in 2020 entitled “Yonge North Subway Intensification Analysis” to identify development potential and population and employment forecasts and densities within the Steeles Avenue, Clark Avenue, Royal Orchard Boulevard, Langstaff Gateway and Richmond Hill Centre Station Areas that was provided to Metrolinx as input into the Initial Business Case for the YNSE; and further,
Whereas it is necessary for the City to undertake additional technical work to confirm the Transit Oriented Community potential surrounding Steeles, Clark and Royal Orchard Station areas as preliminary work toward a Secondary Plan exercise for the Yonge Street Corridor and to inform the YNSE process.
Now therefore be it resolved:
- That the City of Markham immediately initiate the secondary plan for the Yonge Street Corridor approved as part of the 2020 Capital budget including more detailed analysis of growth potential along the corridor through a Preliminary Design Business Case which will include land use/built form study as preliminary work towards development of the Yonge Street Corridor Secondary Plan to confirm development potential and a preliminary land use concept, including 3D modelling and financial analysis, for three distinct areas along the Yonge Corridor, generally located within the Region’s “2020 Proposed Major Transit Station Areas, September 2020”, including:
a. Steeles Subway Station (MTSA 7) and lands within its 800-metre catchment area to the north,
(eastern boundary is Dudley Avenue, northern boundary is the CN tracks, western boundary is Yonge Street and southern boundary is Steeles Avenue)
b. Clark Subway Station (MTSA 6) and lands within its 800-metre catchment area; and (eastern boundary is Dudley Avenue, north boundary is Elgin Street, Yonge Street is the western boundary, and the CN tracks are the southern boundary)
c. Royal Orchard Subway Station (MTSA 70) and lands within its 800-metre catchment area; and (Royal Orchard is the southern boundary, Yonge Street is the western boundary, southern boundary of Holy Cross Cemetery is the northern boundary and eastern boundary to be determined); and
- That staff initiate the RFP process for the Preliminary Design Business Case and report back on remaining stages of the secondary plan exercise including a project schedule and resourcing of the secondary plan process; and,
- That the interview committee be comprised of the Thornhill Subcommittee, the CAO, the Commissioner of Development Services, the Director of Planning and Urban Design and a representative of the Purchasing Division; and,
- That Markham staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution and report back to Development Services Committee at completion of the study.