RECOMMENDATION:
That the report dated May 17, 2005, entitled
“Markham Centre – East Precinct Plan, Request to call a Public Information
Meeting” be received;
And that a public information meeting be held
to discuss the proposed East Precinct Plan, and that notice be given in
accordance with the procedures outlined in this report.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to advise Council
of the status of the work that has been on-going on the East Precinct Plan in
Markham Centre, and to seek direction to call a public information meeting.
BACKGROUND:
In
February 2004, the Town of Markham retained the consulting firm
of Urban Strategies to undertake concept plans and review development
alternatives in order to draft a Precinct Plan for Markham Centre’s East Precinct. The East Precinct encompasses the lands east
of the GO transit line, north of Highway 407, west of Kennedy Road and south of the Rouge River. These lands are in multiple ownerships and
this work was precipitated, in part, by the extension of Enterprise Boulevard through to Main Street South Unionville, and recent
development initiatives such as construction of the new YMCA and the York
Region District School Board acquiring a site for a future high school.
The
consultants have completed their initial review and since then, staff met with
the individual landowners within the East Precinct to discuss the draft
Precinct Plan, as well as the draft of the proposed Density Allocations (Figures
1 & 2 enclosed). On April 22, 2005, staff and the local Councillor hosted a meeting with
affected landowners.
DISCUSSION:
A Precinct Plan is a requirement of
the Markham Centre Secondary Plan intended to define a smaller geographic area
within Markham Centre, suited to more detailed study of such matters
as street, block and lot pattern, type, height and location of buildings,
streetscape components and implementation strategy. The plan is intended to establish parameters
for detailed land uses and built form, and ultimately assist the Town in
determining appropriate zoning, subdivision and infrastructure requirements.
Precinct Plans are typically prepared by area
landowners and submitted to the Town for approval, prior to approval of any
development application. In this
instance the Town has initiated the Precinct Plan work in order to provide a
framework to assist in the detailed review of future development applications
in this emerging portion of Markham Centre.
With the construction of Enterprise
Boulevard new development parcels
will be created freeing up lands which might not otherwise be available for
development until much later. In
addition, the Markham Centre High
School proposed to be constructed
on the golf course lands (Unionville Golf Centre), creates a number of cross-property
access issues which need to be addressed on a more comprehensive basis.
The Draft Precinct Plan (Figure 1) and accompanying
Draft Development Principles (Attachment No. 1) provide a contextual overview for
the introduction of a mixed-use concept which recognizes office and business
park uses on the lands adjacent to Highway 407; provides for the introduction
of a series of local roads; identifies opportunities for the introduction of
new parks, a place of worship and storm water ponds; and, recognizes the
opportunity to introduce residential densities consistent with the Region’s
Centres and Corridors Strategy.
Prior to finalizing the Precinct Plan for adoption by
Council, there are a number of issues which staff have been requested to
consider, and a public information meeting should be held with the local
Councillor to inform the immediately adjacent community of the work that is
on-going. The Precinct Plan is a
non-statutory document, in this regard it is recommended that the expanded
notice procedures for development applications within Markham Centre not be
employed for the public information meeting.
Staff suggest the boundaries for circulation purposes should be the
greater of 120 metres or the limits of the GO line to the West, Highway 7 to
the north, Kennedy Road to
the east and Highway 407 to the south.
This circulation approach would exceed statutory notice requirements for
typical development applications.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
There are no financial considerations
associated with this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
There are no environmental considerations
associated with this report.
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:
There are no accessibility considerations
associated with this report.
ENGAGE 21ST
CONSIDERATIONS:
The proposal aligns with the
following key Town of Markham Corporate Goals: Managed Growth,
Quality Community and Infrastructure Management.
ATTACHMENTS:
Figure 1 – Draft Precinct Plan
Figure 2 – Draft Precinct Plan Density
Allocation
Appendix 1 – Draft Development Principles
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Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director of Planning & Urban Design
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Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Commissioner of Development Services
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