Two Thornhill neighbourhoods benefit from planned sewer construction

Markham to spend $2.7 million for relief stormwater system

Yorkregion.com
May 12, 2016
By Amanda Persico

Two Thornhill neighbourhoods will get some relief from occasional flooding thanks to planned City of Markham sewer construction.

During any heavy rainfall, overflow from Green Lane, John Street and Bayview Avenue often causes flooding at both the Thornhill Community Centre and the Glynnwood Retirement Residence parking lots. The seniors residence takes the brunt of overflow water, as it is adjacent to Glynnwood pond.

“After a storm, it looks like someone flushed a toilet,” Thornhill Councillor Valerie Burke said. “It’s just a rush of water.”

The city plans to build a $2.7-million relief stormwater sewer system, complete with a new storm sewer crossing and new catch basins to help reduce flooding in the area.

The first phase of the project is construction of the new storm sewer from Glynnwood Pond stormwater pond to Bayview Avenue, planned for 2017 pending the province’s approval of the city’s environmental assessment study.

The second and third phase - a new sewer crossing over Bayview Avenue and new catch basins in the Thornhill Community Centre parking lot - are tied to the Region of York’s future Bayview Avenue upgrade plan.

The plan should be looked at in conjunction with possible structured parking at the Thornhill Community Centre, which is one of the busier centres in Markham, said deputy mayor and Regional Councillor Jack Heath.

The centre has already expanded twice, added.

“One can expect it to grow again,” he said. “It’s that popular.”

The city is limited in its plans for the storm water pond, jointly owned by the retirement residence and adjacent Shouldice Hospital.

The city is looking to gain control over the pond to allow for more regular sediment removal, to mitigate flooding.

And since flooding is a major concern, more attention should be paid to permeable pavement options, Heath added.