RECOMMENDATION:
That
the report, dated June 15, 2004 entitled “Status Update – Unionville High
School Site Plan Agreement, 201 Town Centre Boulevard, File Number
SC00-246384”, be received;
And
that staff continue to work with the York Region District School Board to
resolve the access, traffic circulation and parking issues and execute the site
plan agreement.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to provide
an update on the status of the unfulfilled conditions of site plan approval for
the Unionville High School addition, and the status of the site plan agreement. Figure 1 identifies the location of the
subject lands.
BACKGROUND:
Property Location
The subject property is located on the
south side of Apple Creek
Boulevard, east of Town Centre Boulevard, west of Warden Avenue, and north of the Markham Theatre.
Unionville High School shares integrated access with the Town of Markham Civic Centre and also has separate access from Apple Creek Boulevard. The site is municipally
known as 201 Town Centre
Boulevard and the total
site area is 6.99 ha (17.3 acres).
OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:
The
site plan agreement remains outstanding
In 2000, a site plan application was submitted to
permit the construction of an addition to the existing high school. The site plan consisted of classroom space
(with an additional 14 classrooms for a total of 76, including portables), an
additional 102 parking spaces, improved traffic access and landscaping.
During the initial review of the site plan
application, staff identified traffic congestion and circulation problems
during peak hours throughout the school year, which could be partially managed
by construction of a new driveway to Warden Avenue, per the Town’s Peer Review consultant’s
recommendation. This Warden Avenue link was identified in the conditions of approval to
be a priority and directed that discussions be entered into immediately with
the School Board and Region of York regarding implementation, cost savings or
joint financing opportunities.
Discussions with the various parties did occur at that time, however in
order to facilitate the school board’s construction schedule, building permits
were issued in April 2001, and site plan approval was granted on the basis of a
signed Letter of Undertaking by York Region District School Board (YRDSB). In the letter, the YRDSB agreed to fulfill
several conditions in order to obtain a building permit for the addition to the
Unionville High School (UHS) and execute the site plan agreement. To date a site plan agreement has not been
executed.
In June 2002, the agent for YRDSB informed Town staff
that the school board was unwilling to sign the site plan agreement, primarily
due to cost implications with respect to construction and signalization of the Warden Avenue driveway connection.
Since then, planning staff have initiated several discussions with the
YRDSB to resolve issues associated with the conditions of approval and
outstanding site plan agreement.
In December 2003, staff again contacted the Region of
York to explore opportunities for cost sharing the proposed Warden Avenue link,
in conjunction with the proposed widening of Warden Avenue. Region of York representatives were receptive
to timing infrastructure works with the traffic improvements for the school.
In March 2004, staff again met with YRDSB staff
regarding the outstanding issues pertaining to the conditions of site plan
approval and execution of the outstanding agreement, and YRDSB’s on-going
concerns with the Warden Avenue connection.
YRDSB staff indicated that operational requirements have changed with
the elimination of Grade 13, reducing the need for the connection to Warden
Avenue. To understand current
conditions, the matter of traffic management for the area and adjacent
community requires further examination.
Discussions with the School Board identified the need to address travel
demand management and traffic congestion along Apple Creek Boulevard and within
the Civic Centre area. As a result,
staff will work with the School Board to address short term and long-term
opportunities for traffic circulation improvement. Staff have requested the YRDSB provide an
updated traffic circulation and parking demand study to determine the new site
demands.
Unionville High School is incorporating a student
travel demand management program
The
conditions of site plan approval identified the need for the school board to
develop and implement a student travel demand management plan for the school to
reduce the use of cars and identify opportunities for increased transit
usage. The Town of Markham introduced
the S-M-A-R-T Movement trip reduction program to Town staff and Unionville High
School in February 2003. Representing the interests of Unionville High
School, were 50 student leaders including members of the “EcoAction” club.
These students were requested to complete a “test” travel survey to determine
their mobility behaviour and assist Town staff in developing a larger survey
for the entire school population. This survey and associated discussion formed
the basis for an expanded travel study of all Unionville High School staff and
students.
In
November 2003, the Town in, cooperation with Unionville High School staff and
students, conducted a survey of over 1,000 students to determine their current
commuting behavior and their attitudes towards transit and active modes of
travel such as walking and cycling. Preliminary analysis concluded that
close to half of those surveyed live 3 km or less away from the school and many
of those are driven to school and dropped off.
Following
the survey, a youth and mobility program, coordinated by the Town of Markham
TDM Office, in partnership with the Green Communities Association, University
of Toronto - Innis College, and Pollution Probe and with the financial support
of Environment Canada (Climate Change Action Fund) has been working with the
Unionville High School “EcoAction” committee to develop a student travel demand
management program which can be expanded and offered to other secondary schools
in Markham and across Ontario.
Originally
designed as a local high school, school programming has evolved and now offers
a specialized “York Arts Program” which is Region-wide. For the 2004-05 school
year it is estimated that 550 students will attend the school from outside of
the immediate catchment area and therefore they will not qualify for York
Region District School Board sponsored bus service. Town staff is working with
the school administration and parents to coordinate a carpooling initiative for
these students.
Several
landscape elements also remain outstanding
In
March 2003, staff requested the school board address the removal and replacement
of several dead trees. In the
summer/autumn of 2003, the YRDSB removed 9 dead trees on their site. Landscape staff has since identified the
remaining deficiencies, and are waiting for a response from the York District
School Board. These deficiencies
include:
§
2-3 oak trees on
the north side of the parking lot require replacement.
§
The perennial bed
adjacent to the future parking lot expansion has not been planted.
§
Stakes need to be
removed from all trees & woodchip mulch added to all planting beds & trees.
§
Dead trees have
been removed at the corner of Applecreek and Warden, but have not been
replaced.
FINANCIAL
CONSIDERATIONS:
None at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Addressed in site plan approval.
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:
Addressed in site plan approval.
ENGAGE 21ST
CONSIDERATIONS:
The goal
of infrastructure management within the Town’s Engage 21st Markham
Strategic Plan is intended to build,
renew and strategically manage the Town’s infrastructure to meet the demands
and expectations of a growing community. Finalizing a site plan
agreement for this regional school for the arts will improve traffic
circulation for the surrounding area as well.
It will also aid in the management of traffic on regional and local
roads.
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
Staff have discussed this matter with the Region of York who are
prepared to coordinate the timing of their infrastructure improvements with the
traffic improvements for the Warden Avenue intersection.
CONCLUSIONS:
Staff continue to work with the YRDSB to execute the
site plan agreement while resolving the outstanding issues associated with the
conditions of approval. A traffic and
parking study is currently being undertaken by the YRDSB, and staff will report
back when the study is completed and reviewed.
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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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DOCUMENT:
Q:\Development\Planning\APPL\SITEPLAN\00246384 Unionville High School\DSC
06-15-2004 status update2.doc
ATTACHMENTS:
Figure 1 – Location Map
Figure 2 – Aerial Photograph
Appendix A – Conditions for site plan approval
Appendix B – Letter of Undertaking
Figure 1 –
Location Map
Appendix A – Conditions for site plan approval
Excerpt containing item #0003 of the Development Services Committee of
Meeting No. 15 (September 18, 2001) - York Region District School Board
Unionville High School, site plan approval for alterations & additions
(SC.00-246384) (10.6).
The Committee had before it the report dated September 18, 2001, from the
Development Services Commission regarding an application by York Region
District School Board for Site Plan approval at Unionville High School.
Committee
discussed parking congestion concerns.
Maureen O’Shaughnessy, of Carruthers, Shaw and Partners Architects,
representing York Region District School Board, advised that parking
alternatives will be provided, and that the Board is anxious to proceed.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Development
Services Commission Report entitled “York Region District School Board -
Unionville High School - Application for Site Plan Approval (SC.00-246384)
to Permit Alterations and Additions”, be received;
And that the Town of Markham coordinate with the
York Region District School Board and the Region of York potential
cost-sharing, approvals and implementation of the recommended school access to
Warden Avenue at the existing traffic signal located at Warden Avenue/Town
Square Plaza;
And that the York Region District School
Board/Unionville High School develop and implement a Student Travel Management
Plan for Unionville High School to reduce the use of cars and identify
opportunities for school busing and increased public transit usage for
students, in consultation with Transit Authorities;
And that the Unionville High School continue to
use both the Town Centre Boulevard and Apple Creek Boulevard accesses for
student pick-up and drop-off;
And that the York Region Board of Education be
required to expand the parking lot at Unionville High School by 102 parking
spaces for a total of 273 parking spaces;
And further that the site plan application be
approved subject to a site plan agreement being entered into by the York Region
District School Board to include the following provisions:
1. That revisions
to the site plan necessary to reflect the recommendations of this report be
incorporated into the
final plans to be approved by the Commissioner of Development
Services or designate;
2. That the site
plan, grading plan and landscape plan be approved by the Commissioner of
Development Services or
designate;
3. That provision
be included for the timing, funding and construction of the driveway access
from to the existing signalized
intersection at Warden Avenue/Town Square Plaza to the
satisfaction of the Town and the
Region of York;
4. That provision be
included for continued monitoring of parking and traffic demand for a
period of up to 5 years and
arrangements for any additional traffic and/or parking
improvements to meet requirements;
5. That standard
provisions and requirements of the Town and public agencies be included;
6. That provision
be included for the watering and maintenance of the newly planted and
relocated trees on the property;
and,
7. That provision
be included for the payment of all applicable fees and recoveries.
