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TO: |
Mayor and Members of Council |
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FROM: |
Jim Baird,
Commissioner of Development Services Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning & Urban Design |
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PREPARED BY: |
Mavis Urquhart Senior Planner |
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DATE OF MEETING: |
2003-Jul-07 |
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SUBJECT: |
Sciberras Road South Precinct Plan - Status Update Markham Centre |
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RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the report entitled “Sciberras Road South Precinct Plan - Status Update”, dated July 7, 2003, be
received for information.
PURPOSE:
Some time has passed since
Council considered the Sciberras Road South Precinct Plan and directed staff to
undertake additional work. This report is intended to provide a brief update on
the status of the Plan and the anticipated timing for adoption of the Plan.
Figure 1 to this memorandum
identifies the location of the affected lands, Figure 2 is the current proposed
Precinct Plan (Longterm Demonstration Plan) and Appendix A is a copy of the principles,
as amended in May 2001.
BACKGROUND:
The Sciberras Road South
Precinct Plan and accompanying principles were initiated in June 2000, in
response to preparation for an Ontario Municipal Board appeal by the owner of
#4177 Highway 7 East.
Preparation of a Precinct
Plan is a requirement of the Markham Centre Secondary Plan (OPA 21) and is
intended as a guideline for assessing development applications in a development
area. The Sciberras Road South Precinct Plan and accompanying principles are
based upon engineering, planning and design work that was done by Development
Services staff with the assistance of consultants. The Markham Centre Steering
Committee and all landowners were consulted and participated in the process of
formulating the Plan.
On May 22, 2001 Council
received the Precinct Plan and principles and directed that further work be
undertaken prior to the item being brought back for Council consideration. This
memorandum outlines the current status of this project and the work that remains
to be completed, prior to adoption of the Precinct Plan.
Chronology and Status of
Precinct Plan:
June 2000 Study
authorized.
December
2000 Presentation of draft report of
consultant’s findings to Markham Centre Steering Committee (all landowners
invited).
January
2001 Copy of Sciberras Road Precinct
Plan sent to all landowners for comment.
May 1, 2001 Development Services Committee defers a report on
Precinct Plan and accompanying Principles to Council meeting of May 22, 2001
and directs staff to provide additional information and meet with the local
Councilor prior to that meeting.
May 22,
2001 Council receives report on Precinct
Plan and accompanying principles and makes an amendment to the Street System
and Open Space principles. They direct that a public meeting be held and that a
working group be established to address potential traffic infiltration issues.
September
17, 2001 A joint public information meeting for the
Precinct Plan and Environmental Assessment for Sciberras Road is held (all landowners
invited).
May 2002 A traffic report entitled “Unionville Traffic
Management Plan” presented to Council and approved in principle subject to a
Public Information Meeting being arranged to receive information from residents
in the Unionville area.
July 2002 Property at #4177 Highway 7 East purchased by the
Town to accommodate the extension of Sciberras Road.
January 2003
to date Public information meetings
held to address Unionville traffic management. Unionville Coalition organized
to liaise with the community north of Highway 7 on traffic management issues.
OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:
Outstanding
matters are being resolved
1. Traffic Issues
To fulfill the directions of Council, the matter of
traffic management for the community north of Highway 7 is being further
examined. Discussions at the Coalition meetings have identified local traffic
issues to be addressed and a preliminary work plan, which includes a series of
3 or 4 workshops has been planned. Staff is working with resident
representatives to develop a Unionville-wide traffic management plan for the
Sciberras Road/Birchmount Road area that will be implemented through short and
long term improvements. The Precinct Plan is on hold pending development of
that plan and will be amended to reflect any findings. Completion of the
traffic management plan is anticipated in the 4th quarter of this
year.
2. Environmental
Assessments
To establish the precise road alignment and the
bridge crossing of the Rouge River, an environmental assessment is required. It
is anticipated that a draft Environmental Study Report will be completed by the
end of June. Final design is anticipated in 2008 with construction occurring
sometime after 2012.
To establish the need and justification for
Riverside Drive, which is the east/west connection between Sciberras Road South
and, ultimately, Rodick Road, a feasibility study has been undertaken. The EA
will commence in 2004/2005 depending upon development applications.
Construction is anticipated around 2011.
The information from these two studies will
contribute to finalizing and justifying the conceptual road network shown on
the Sciberras Road South Precinct Plan.
3. Technical Issues
To finalize the limits of development further
information is required. TRCA staff is to:
The information about flooding impacts and the
defined limits of development link closely to work undertaken as part of the
environment assessment process by Markham engineering staff. As a result, the
TRCA will be working closely with staff in the environmental assessment review.
It is anticipated that the environmental assessment issues and technical issues
described above should be resolved concurrently in the fourth quarter of this
year, along with the Traffic Issues.
Finally, Town staff has been directed to review the
Special Policy Areas in the Town to determine opportunities to enhance the SPA
policies. Since the Sciberras Road Precinct is subject to the SPA designation
it will potentially be affected by the outcome of this work. This summer staff
will conduct a review of SPAs and anticipate reporting on this matter to
Council in lat 2003/early 2004.
Next Steps:
Staff continues to work with TRCA staff and conduct
research on the technical environmental matters. They are also working with the
community on resolution of the traffic concerns. Closure regarding all these
items is anticipated in the late fall of this year. Following that, any
revisions to the Sciberras Road South Precinct Plan and accompanying
principles, as needed, will be undertaken. The Plan will then be brought back
to Council for adoption.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
There
are no financial considerations respecting this matter.
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
Town Engineering and TRCA staff has been
consulted in the preparation of this update.
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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 |
FIGURE
1
DOCUMENT: Q:\Development\Planning\Teams\MarkhamCentre\Sciberras\dsc0707mu.doc
ATTACHMENTS:
Figure
1 Location Plan
Figure
2 Sciberras Road Precinct Plan
Appendix
A Proposed Sciberras Road South
Precinct Plan
APPLICANT/AGENT: n/a
LOCATION PLAN:
