Density focus of meeting on proposed development for Markham's York Downs

yorkregion.com
April 25, 2017
By Tim Kelly

Density was on the menu when the York Downs development subcommittee met at Markham council chambers Monday night before a sizable crowd.

Coun. Amanda Collucci, who chaired the meeting, was pleased with the turnout and the blend of those who both supported and voiced their concerns with the proposed 2,400-unit residential development north of 16th Avenue between Warden Avenue and Kennedy Road.

"It was important to listen to all the residents," Collucci said.

She indicated this first of four subcommittee meetings looked at Markham's history around density planning and said the city had passed an intensification target of 60 per cent in 2010, above the provincial target of 40 per cent.

With a target of 19.2 residents per acre, York Downs actually is less dense than comparable neighbourhoods like Cornell and Wismer, Collucci said.

Unionville resident Peter Miasek, who attended Monday's meeting, said he wanted a more focused dialogue on policy issues.

"We had a lot of people who wandered off topic. They saw it as an opportunity to make a statement...they were very supportive of the development or very negative to the development...it was a rerun of the old public meetings," said Miasek.

He wants future meetings to stick to the designated topic of the meeting.

"God help us if we get to the traffic side and affordable housing because we'll be all over the map," he said.

Collucci doesn't yet have a date for the second meeting. But she did say it will deal with transportation, including transit needs for York Downs as well as walking paths. The third meeting will deal with the environment, including tree removal, wildlife and water, while the fourth meeting will focus on built form like churches, community centres, etc.

Planning staff is in attendance at the meetings, taking notes and adding input from residents as part of its final report to committee and council on the development application.

The plan is to wrap up the subcommittee meetings by the summer break and have a final meeting in the fall.