MINUTES OF THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE

York Room - Civic Centre

 

June 16, 2004 - 6:30 P.M.

 

 

Members                                                                                  Regrets

Keith Thirgood                                                                         David Black

Peter Ross                                                                                Corina Sallaberger

Jonathan Mingay                                                                       Iggy Natoli

Niki Burns                                                                                Morley Lem

Elizabeth Plashkes                                                                   

Mark Champion

Councillor John Webster                                                          

Helen Walter                                                                           

Amy Pialagitis

Frankie Rose

Dave Adams

Dianne More

Councillor G. McKelvey

 

 

Staff

C. Raynor, Committee Clerk

S. Heaslip, Senior Project Coordinator

R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning

 

The Main Street Markham Committee meeting convened at the hour of 6:35 p.m. with Councillor G. McKelvey in the Chair.

 

 

1.                  ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE HELD ON MAY 19, 2004

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the minutes of the Fifth Meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee held on May 19, 2004be received and adopted with the following correction to Item 2 s):

 

“Mr. R. Hutcheson advised that York Region are willing to use stops that conform to the streetscape guidelines.”

            CARRIED

 

 

 

 

2.         UPDATES:

 

a)         Members’ attendance

Mr. C. Raynor, Committee Clerk, advised that Council had recently adopted a staff recommendation concerning Advisory Committee meetings without quorum. The recommendation was that meetings without quorum be permitted to convene but that any recommendations made therein be ratified at the next meeting with quorum.

 

 

b)         Update on Greenbelt

Mr. S. Heaslip, Senior Project Coordinator provided elevation diagrams of the proposed retaining wall. He advised that the construction material will be rough face concrete blocks measuring six (6) feet by two (2) feet. Atop the wall will be an acoustical fence with a height of approximately six (6) feet.

 

There was brief discussion surrounding access to Rouge Park. The Committee was advised that this matter had not been resolved.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

That the design of the acoustical fence be presented for review at the Main Street Markham Committee meeting on July 21, 2004.

CARRIED

 

Mr. R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning, provided an update on the property formerly located at 27 Main Street. He advised that the property had changed ownership numerous times since it was demolished and that it was very unlikely that any of the original materials would be available to create a cairn or similar monument. It was agreed that the matter be left with Heritage Markham to review.

 

 

c)         Wismer Commercial Design Guidelines

The Committee was advised that the Wismer Commercial Design Guidelines could not be finalized until the review of Markham’s overall commercial policy had been completed. It was suggested that the review will not be complete until the fall of 2004.

 

It was noted that although there is a theoretical floor space in the area of 1.8million square feet, less than half of that space has been zoned.

 

It was agreed that members would draft a letter to staff, and the consultant on the policy review, requesting that alternatives to big box malls be considered for the area.

 

d)         Public Space Recycling Containers On Main Street Markham

Councillor J. Webster briefly noted that businesses on Main Street Markham will be provided with all the necessary recycling bins. He advised that staff are reviewing the situation where there is more than one business to an address.

 

Staff are also reviewing solutions for dealing with public waste. The Committee suggested that the public would not use wet recycling bins, and that installing three (3) types of bins on Main Street would be excessive. Councillor G. McKelvey advised that he would provide an update at a later date.

 

 

e)         Main Street Markham Traffic Management & Streetscape Study (bump-outs)

There was no update on the matter of the Main Street Markham bump-outs.

 

 

f)          Master Plan Environmental Sub-Committee

The Committee was advised that staff had approved the majority of the proposed tree plantings and that a report was expected on the matter.

 

Photographs of the park benches in use in Dorothea Moss Park were circulated. It was stated that these benches are constructed from metal and require less maintenance than the wooden ones currently in use on Main Street.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

That the park benches in use in Dorothea Moss Park be approved for use on Main Street Markham.

CARRIED

 

 

g)         Master Plan Sub-Committee

There was no update on the Master Plan Sub-Committee.

 

 

h)         Mural - 107 Main Street

The Committee was advised that there had not yet been contact with Mr. D. Black on this matter.

 

 

i)          Tannery Pond

The Committee requested that the matter of the Tannery Pond meander be placed on the agenda for the November 17, 2004 meeting.

 

 

j)          Official Plan and Zoning Review Sub-Committee

The Committee was advised that the Sub-Committee had just received the draft Official Plan, and that it will be reviewed prior to the next meeting. An update will be provided at that meeting.

 

 

k)         Farmers’ Market

There was no update on the Farmers’ Market.

 

 

l)          Expansion of the Markham Community Library and

Development of Lands to the South of the Library

The Committee was advised that Development Services Committee had approved a design incorporating a shade garden between the arena and the library. There was considerable discussion surrounding the northern access to the library. It was noted that this issue will be tackled during the detailed design stage of the project.

 

 

m)        Trees

The planting of trees was discussed during consideration of Item 2 (f), the report of the Environmental Sub-Committee. 

 

 

n)         Heritage Signs

The Committee was advised that all the heritage signs were now erected.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

That the posts of the heritage signs in the Markham Village area be stained as dark as possible.

CARRIED

           

 

o)         Morgan Park

It was suggested that there may be a problem with some of the trees in Morgan park. Councillor G. McKelvey agreed to investigate the matter with staff.

 

 

p)         Markham GO Train Station Parking Lot Improvement Project

Main Street North

The Committee reviewed the Town of Markham Newspaper Box Placement Policy. Councillor G. McKelvey advised that staff had been instructed to remove all unlicensed newspaper boxes on Main Street.

 

There was no update on the Markham GO Train Station parking lot improvement project.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

That staff be directed to remove all newspaper boxes on Main Street that are in contravention of the Town’s Newspaper Box Placement Policy.

CARRIED

 

 

q)         Signage on Main Street from the 407 to James Scott Road/Princess Street

Mr. P. Ross noted that one (1) of the signs is now in place. He advised that the other three (3) will be in place within the next two (2) months. This should help reduce the risk to drivers in the area where the road narrows.

 

 

r)         Event signage indicating road closures

The Committee was advised that Town staff deliver the road closure signs prior to the road closure and then erect them shortly before the closure comes into effect. One year, signs had been mistakenly erected on the day of delivery.

 

s)         Quick Start transit stops

Mr. R. Hutcheson distributed photographs illustrating the transit stop design that will be used on Main Street.

 

t)          Box Grove Community Development Phasing Plan

The Committee appreciated the chance to review the Box Grove Community Development Phasing Plan.

 

u)         Cranford Developments Ltd. – Zoning By-law Amendment

The Committee appreciated the opportunity to review the Zoning By-law amendment relating to Cranford Developments Ltd.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

46 Main Street North

Mr. R. Hutcheson provided an update on the development at 46 Main Street North. He advised that Council had approved the apartment block in 2000. The Committee expressed concern that the planned access route to the apartments between the Thistle Inn and Falco’s restaurants on Main Street would prove damaging to both businesses. Further, the access route requires the removal of one of the largest trees on the street.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

That staff examine the possibility of alternative accesses to the apartment block with a view to preserving the large tree on Main Street.

CARRIED

 

 

5.         ADJOURNMENT

            The Main Street Markham Committee meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

 

 

NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee is on July 21, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.