Council had before it the following original resolution for consideration:
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, Clarke 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.
Therefore, now be it resolved:
1. That while the City of Markham approved funding for the Yonge Street Corridor Secondary Plan as part of the 2021 Capital budget, the City should accelerate work around the Steeles, Clark and Royal Orchard station areas beginning with a land use/built form study as 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, 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
(generally 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 (generally eastern boundary is Dudley Avenue, north boundary is Elgin Street, Yonge Street is the western boundary, and the CN tracks are the southern boundary); and,
c. Royal Orchard Subway Station (MTSA 70) and lands within its 800-metre catchment area (generally 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);
2. That York Region, City of Toronto and City of Vaughan be consulted as part of the study to consider inter-municipal transit-oriented opportunities; and,
3. 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.
Be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to:
• Hon. Caroline Mulroney, Minister, Ministry of Transportation;
• Hon. Kinga Surma, Associate Minister of Transportation;
• Hon. Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure;
• Hon. Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation & Parks;
• Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing;
• Hon. Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade;
• Hon. Catherine Mckenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities;
• Phil Verster, President and CEO, Metrolinx;
• John MacKenize, CEO, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority;
• Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO, York Region;
• Chris Raynor, Regional Clerk, Regional Municipality of York;
• Stephen Huycke, City Clerk, City of Richmond Hill;
• Todd Coles, City Clerk, City of Vaughan;
• All Members of Federal Parliament in the Regional Municipality of York;
• All Members of Provincial Parliament in the Regional Municipality of York; and,
• All Members of Regional Council in the Regional Municipality of York.