MINUTES FROM THE NINTH MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE IN 2005

Town of Markham

York Room - Civic Centre

 

November 16 - 6:00 P.M.

 

 

Members

Regrets

Councillor G. McKelvey

Michelle Sukul-Chan

Helen Walter

Dianne More

Keith Thirgood

Frankie Rose

Dave Adams

 

Peter Ross

 

Councillor J. Webster

 

Mark Champion

 

                                               

Staff

S. Heaslip, Senior Project Co-ordinator

Chris Raynor, Committee Clerk

 

The meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee meeting convened at the hour of 6:10 p.m. with Councillor G. McKelvey in the Chair.

 

 

1.                  ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE EIGHTH MEETING OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE IN 2005

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the minutes of the Main Street Markham Committee meeting held on October 19, 2005, be adopted.

CARRIED

 

2.         UPDATES:

 

a)         Wismer Commercial Design Guidelines

 

The Committee was advised that the consultant’s report is available on the Town of Markham website. There was brief discussion surrounding some of the development applications received so far and further detail was provided regarding an approved site design for a development on the corner of Anderson Avenue and Highway 48. The ctee agreed to consider the consultant’s report for discussion at the next meeting.

 

b)         Highway 48 Transfer of Jurisdiction Discussions

 

The Committee was advised that negotiations with the province are ongoing.

 

c)         Environmental Assessment – Highway 48

 

The Committee was advised that a consultant for the project may be engaged by the end of 2005.

 

d)         Environmental Assessment – Markham By-pass south of Steeles Avenue

 

The Committee was provided with a detailed map showing the preferred alignment for the proposed By-pass. The Committee expressed concern with the indirect route and Mr. D. Adams agreed to develop the concerns in writing.

 

e)         Main Street Bumpouts – Phase 3

 

There was no update on this matter.

 

f)          Master Plan Environmental Sub-Committee

           

The Committee was advised that it may be possible to plant trees on Highway 48, south of Highway 7 but that it will require contending with a steep slope. It was suggested that additional benches and waste receptacles may still be required on Main Street Markham and Councillor G. McKelvey agreed to follow up once specific quantities have been identified.

 

Additionally, the Committee was advised that some benches will be temporarily moved to storage during the winter months.

 

g)         Tannery Pond

 

It is hoped that funds to develop the meander at Tannery Pond will be included in the 2006 Budget.

 

h)         Official Plan and Zoning Sub-Committee

 

There was no update on this matter.

 

i)          Update on Bypass

 

The Committee was advised that the province has still not installed appropriate signage indicating the direction of the By-pass. Discussions are ongoing and it is hoped the situation will be resolved in the future.

 

j)          Merge Lane on Main Street South

 

The Committee was provided with a brief update.

 

k)         Budget Update

 

Councillor J. Webster and Councillor G. McKelvey agreed to follow up with Mr. K. Thirgood regarding requirements for the 2006 Budget.

 

l)          Resurfacing of Main Street

           

There was no update on this matter.

 

m)        Newspaper boxes on Main Street

 

            The Committee was advised that By-law Enforcement staff will be removing any unauthorized newspaper boxes on Main Street.

 

n)         Researching Main Street history

 

            Councillor G. McKelvey advised that he will be meeting with the Manager, Markham Museum and the Manager, Heritage Planning to discuss the matter.

 

o)         Posting of flyers on Main Street

 

            The Committee will be provided with some advice on how to deal with this problem at the next meeting.

 

p)         2006 Meeting Dates

 

            The meeting dates for 2006 were confirmed as follows:

 

January 18

                        February 15

                        March 15

                        April 19

                        May 17

                        June 21

                        July 19

                        August 16

                        September 20

                        October 18

                        November 15

 

            It was agreed there will be no December meeting in 2006.

 

4.         NEW BUSINESS

 

a)         Markham Train Station Kiosk

 

The Committee was provided with a written update from the Manager, Heritage Planning. It advised that GO Transit will work with Town staff on a revised design for the newspaper kiosk at the train station that will be more suited to the surrounding heritage district

 

b)         Sign Replacement Program

           

The Committee suggested that Main Street retailers should be made more aware of the sign replacement grants offered by the Town. It was agreed to explore the matter further at the next meeting.

 

5.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee adjourned at 7.15 p.m.