MINUTES OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE

MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE

York Room - Civic Centre

 

May 19, 2004 - 7:30 P.M.

 

 

Members                                                                                  Regrets

Keith Thirgood                                                                         David Black

Peter Ross                                                                                Dave Adams   

Jonathan Mingay                                                                       Frankie Rose

Morley Lem                                                                             Iggy Natoli

Elizabeth Plashkes                                                                    Dianne More

Corina Sallaberger                                                                    Mark Champion

Councillor John Webster                                                           Niki Burns

Helen Walter                                                                           

Amy Pialagitis

 

 

Staff

C. Raynor, Committee Clerk

S. Heaslip, Senior Project Co-ordinator

R. Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning

 

The Main Street Markham Committee meeting convened at the hour of 7:40 p.m. with Councillor J. Webster in the Chair.

 

 

1.                  ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE HELD ON APRIL 21, 2004

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee held on April 21, 2004be received and adopted.

            CARRIED

 

 

2.         UPDATES:

 

a)         Members’ attendance

It was briefly noted that there is a staff recommendation that will allow advisory Committees to meet without quorum. An update will be given following its presentation to Council.

 

It was noted that Ms. M. Jones is no longer serving as the Heritage Markham representative on the Committee and that Ms. E. Plashkes is replacing her.

 

b)         Update on Greenbelt

Mr. S. Heaslip, Senior Project Coordinator stated that there had been discussions with the developer regarding the construction of the retaining wall. He noted that the developer had agreed to make some modifications to the top of the wall, and that Ms. I. James, Landscape Planner is pursuing the matter.

 

There was further discussion surrounding the plans for landscaping the area in front of the wall. Staff agreed to present elevation diagrams at the next meeting.

 

Ms. E. Plashkes noted that south of the library there had been an historic building that had been demolished some time ago. The original plan had been to create a commemorative cairn using rubble from the demolition but this had not occurred. Ms. E. Plashkes and Mr. R. Hutcheson agreed to examine the matter further with a view to examining the possibility of either erecting the cairn, or placing a plaque, on the walkways proposed for the area.

 

 

c)         Wismer Commercial Design Guidelines

Mr. S. Heaslip distributed a copy of a report reviewing Markham’s Commercial Policy that had been presented to Development Services Committee on May 18, 2004. He advised that the Wismer commercial guidelines likely will be on hold until Markham’s overall strategy is finalized. He noted that, as yet, there were no applications for “big box” developments in the area.

 

There was some discussion as to whether the Committee should put forward its own recommendations as to preferred commercial development in the Wismer area. Mr. K. Thirgood, and Ms. H. Walter, agreed to draft a letter incorporating some of the findings of the review of Markham’s Commercial Policy. Members will be invited to provide input to its contents.

 

THE MAIN STREET MARKHAM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the Clerks Department ensure that members of the Main Street Markham Committee are informed of all applications for developments fronting onto Highway 48, from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive;

 

And that members of the Main Street Markham Committee be informed when commercial policy issues are to be presented to Council.

CARRIED

 

 

d)         Public Space Recycling Containers On Main Street Markham

Councillor J. Webster gave a brief outline of the current status of the three-stream collection program. He advised that the program was scheduled to begin in September for the areas currently receiving waste pickup on Fridays.

 

Councillor J. Webster agreed to review whether the recycling bins currently in use on Main Street are appropriate for the new waste collection program.

 

 

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

There was no update on this matter. Councillor J. Webster indicated that he had general information on bumpouts that he could circulate to members if desired.

 

There was some discussion surrounding the development of the Markham By-pass. Councillor J. Webster advised that the By-pass should be completed to Steeles Avenue in 2006.

 

 

f)          Master Plan Environmental Sub-Committee

Mr. J. Mingay advised that a walkthrough of the area to examine potential locations for additional trees and benches is scheduled for May 28, 2004.

 

Information was provided indicating that installation of outside electrical outlets can be arranged during the development of the Main Street bumpouts.

 

 

g)         Master Plan Sub-Committee

Mr. K. Thirgood advised that he had nothing to report but that the next meeting of the Master Plan Sub-Committee is scheduled for June 2, 2004.

 

 

h)         Mural - 107 Main Street

Mr. K. Thirgood agreed to approach Mr. D. Black in order to determine whether any timelines have been set for this project.

 

 

i)          Tannery Pond

Information was provided indicating that Ms. L. Irvine, Manager, Parks & Open Space Planning, is still working on the signage project at Tannery Pond. Further updates will be provided when available.

 

 

j)          Official Plan and Zoning Review Subcommittee

Mr. P. Ross advised that the Sub-committee had met with a consultant and that a draft plan could be ready for circulation prior to the next meeting of the Committee. He noted that there is a site plan process in place in the event that any inappropriate development is put forward prior to the Official Plan and Zoning review being completed.

 

 

k)         Farmers’ Market

Mr. K. Thirgood advised that the Farmers’ Market was performing well. A number of special events are planned for the weekends. Ms. H. Walter noted that in response to an article in the Toronto Star, the Market had sent information to the newspaper. It is hoped this will result in further publicity for the Market.

 

 

l)          Expansion of the Markham Community Library and

Development of Lands to the South of the Library

Councillor J. Webster advised that there is still ongoing discussion surrounding the development of the lands. An arena, that engineers suggest will have a lifespan of fifteen (15) years, is proposed for the area and there is some discussion as to what will replace it in the future.

 

 

m)        Trees

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

 

 

n)         Heritage Signs

There was considerable discussion surrounding the heritage signs in the area. It was suggested that painting the posts black could enhance the signs. It was suggested that the signs in Unionville were more decorative. Mr. R. Hutcheson advised that all the signs were supposed to be the same.

 

There was some discussion surrounding the placement of the signs, particularly one at 16th Avenue. It was felt that the sign was set too far back from the road and, due to its angle, it did not effectively designate the area. Mr. R. Hutcheson noted that he had initially decided on the best locations for the signs but that the final placement was left to the discretion of the Roads Department, based on safety and land ownership issues.

           

 

o)         Morgan Park

There was brief discussion surrounding a fund of $50,000 that had been established in perpetuity by the Morgan family to pay for the maintenance of the park.

 

 

p)         Markham GO Train Station Parking Lot Improvement Project

Main Street North

Mr. R. Hutcheson advised that he was only aware of improvement projects involving the east platform of Markham GO Station. He has not received information regarding the proposed parking lot improvements.

 

Ms. E. Plashkes advised that the station is soon to be repainted and that GO has agreed to help fund the installation of a new wooden sign that will comply with the streetscape guidelines.

 

The Committee requested that the Town policy regarding the installation of newspaper boxes be brought to the next meeting on June 16, 2004.

 

 

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

Information was provided indicating that Town staff deliver the signs a few days ahead of festivals and that festival staff actually erect them. Mr. K. Thirgood disputed this and suggested that it is Town staff that erect them. Dr. M. Lem agreed to raise the matter at an upcoming BIA meeting in order to ensure that festival organizers are aware that signs should not be put up until the day of the festival.

 

There was some discussion surrounding the possibility of designing new signs that could be erected a few days prior to a festival. These could provide advance notice of the road closure, and also advance notice of the festival itself.

 

s)         Quick Start transit stops

Mr. R. Hutcheson advised that GO are willing to use stops that conform to the streetscape guidelines. These will be of the barrel-roofed design.

 

 

5.         ADJOURNMENT

            The Main Street Markham Committee meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

 

 

NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Main Street Markham Committee is on June 16, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.