Report to: Development Services Committee                             Date of Meeting: June 20, 2006

 

 

SUBJECT:                          RECOMMENDATION REPORT

                                            York Region District School Board.  Application for site plan approval to permit a new elementary school at 571 Country Glen Boulevard in the Cornell Community.

                                            File No. SC 06 110328

                                             

PREPARED BY:               Nilesh Surti, Planner, ext. 4190

                                            East District Team

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the site plan application by York Region District School Board to permit a new elementary school at 571 Country Glen Boulevard in the Cornell Community, be endorsed in principle, subject to the conditions attached as Appendix ‘A’.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There are no financial impacts to the Town in this report.

1. Purpose                2. Background         3. Discussion             4. Financial         5. Environmental

 

6. Accessibility       7. Engage 21st             8. Affected Units       9. Attachment(s)

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to recommend endorsement of a site plan application submitted by York Region District School Board to permit a new public elementary school at the southeast corner of Bur Oak Avenue and Country Glen Boulevard in the Cornell Community. 


 

BACKGROUND:

Property and Area Context

The 2.42 ha (5.98 ac) site is located at the southeast corner of Bur Oak Avenue and Country Glen Boulevard (See Figure 1).  The property is presently vacant with no significant vegetation or natural features.  Abutting the property to the east is a vacant parcel of land intended for a neighbourhood park.  To the north, across Bur Oak Avenue, are existing street townhouses. To the west, across Country Glen Road, and to the south, across Northvale Road, are existing single detached dwellings (See Figure 2 & 3). 

 

Proposal is for a new elementary school in the Cornell Community.

York Region District School Board has submitted an application for site plan approval to construct a new 5,918 m2 (63,703 ft2) two-storey elementary school containing a total of 33 classrooms.  The site plan also shows up to eight future portable classrooms (See Figure 4 & 5). The subject school will be the second public elementary school constructed within the Cornell Community.  

 

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Official Plan and Zoning

The subject lands are designated “Urban Residential” in the Official Plan.  The property is presently zoned Open Space Two (OS2) under Zoning By-law 177-96, as amended, which permits schools. 

 

A minor variance application has been submitted to exempt the proposed school from the by-law provision requiring two loading spaces.  The applicant has advised staff that elementary school sites typically do not require loading spaces that are sized to accommodate larger trucks.   A smaller loading area has been provided on the south side of the proposed building to accommodate garbage collection vehicles and other smaller trucks which will service the proposed school.

 

Site Plan and Building Elevations are acceptable

The proposed site plan shows all vehicular access to the site will be from Country Glen Boulevard.  A one way drop-off and pick-up loop has been provided to accommodate the school bus lay-by as well as drop-offs and pick-ups by parents of children in the day care and kindergarten.  Also further south, a full-moves driveway is proposed, which is intended to serve the parking lot, as well as the main drop-off and pick-up area for use by parents.

 

The Town’s Parking By-law requires a total of 64 parking spaces for the proposed school.  The applicant proposes a total of 70 parking spaces on-site. 

 

The proposed two-storey elementary school will be sited generally close to the intersection of Bur Oak Avenue and Country Glen Drive providing a strong building presence at the corner and a sense of enclosure to this section of Bur Oak Avenue.  A decorative metal fence along the north section of Country Glen Boulevard and continuing east along Bur Oak Avenue emphasizes the urban nature of the neighbourhood.  The proposed building is to be clad in red brick with three additional accent colours to provide interest and variation in the building façade.  The height of the proposed building from the finished grade to the top of the roof is 8.9 metres.  In addition, the school site includes pedestrian walkways that can be accessed from Country Glen Boulevard and Northvale Road (See Figure 4 & 5). 

 

Staff are satisfied with the site layout and building elevations.

 

A traffic operations and circulation study remains to be submitted

Prior to final site plan approval, the applicant will be required to submit a traffic operations and circulation study to the satisfaction of Director of Engineering,  The study will review the traffic operations of the proposed school and its impact on the local road network as well as the on-site traffic circulation.   Also, a provision will be included in the Letter of Undertaking which will require the York District School Board to submit a pavement marking and signage plan in accordance with the School Safety Zone requirements to the satisfaction of the Director of Engineering.  The pavement markings and signage will be in place prior to the opening of the school.

 

Conclusion

Staff are satisfied with the proposal and recommend that it be endorsed in principle, subject to the conditions attached as Appendix ‘A’.

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE (Separate Attachment):

Not applicable

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There is no significant vegetation or natural features on site.

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

The site plan shows a total of two parking spaces for the physically disabled, in accordance with the Parking By-law, located close to an entrance.  In addition, barrier free pedestrian connections leading from the building entrances to the municipal sidewalks and the parking area have been provided. 

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

The proposed development is consistent with Markham’s Community vision of managing growth proactively by building community infrastructure in time to meet the demands of the Cornell Community.  In addition, good urban design is also seen as critical to the success of the community.  Through the use of consistent building materials and colours the proposed building is designed to complement the architectural context of the surrounding Cornell Community.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The application was circulated to all Town departments and external agencies, and their recommendations/concerns have been incorporated into this report.

 

RECOMMENDED BY:

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________        _________________________________

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.                  Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director of Planning and Urban Design                  Commissioner of Development Services

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1 – Location Map

Figure 2 – Area Context and Zoning

Figure 3 – Air Photo

Figure 4 – Site Plan

Figure 5 – Building Elevations

Appendix ‘A’ – Site Plan Conditions

 

Applicant:   York Region District School Board

                    Mr. Jerry Stoangi

                    1260 Gorham Street

                    Newmarket ON  L3Y 8W4

                    Tel: (905) 727-0022; Fax: (905)830-1640

 

Agent:         Ms. Natalie Tam

                    Robertson Simmons Architects Inc.

                    1179A King Street West, Suite 300

                    Toronto ON  M6K 3C5

                    Tel: (416) 203-7977; Fax: (416) 203-1679

 

File Path: Q:\Development\Planning\APPL\SITEPLAN\06 110328 YRDSB - 571 Country Glen Road\Final Recommendatiion report.doc