Stouffville council reverses 'knee-jerk' decision to close roads

Closures 'inconvenienced and aggravated' hundreds of residents, neighbour says

Yorkregion.com
December 13, 2018
Lisa Queen

Admitting they had a “knee-jerk” reaction to accommodate the safety concerns of some residents, Whitchurch-Stouffville councillors have reversed a decision to close roads near Memorial Park in Stouffville.

On Dec. 11, council approved the immediate opening of Burkholder Street from Park Drive to Franklin Street. In addition, Franklin will be reopened and a three-way stop at Franklin and Burkholder will be implemented.

Franklin runs off Burkholder into the parking lot of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Leisure Centre on Park Drive.

The roads had been closed since the summer after some residents voiced safety concerns.

But the issue was reopened after Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban said she has received several complaints from residents upset they can’t access roads to the south of the park.

Of the 32 emails she received on the issue in three days, Sherban said only two wanted to keep the roads closed.

Hundreds of residents have been “inconvenienced and aggravated” by the road closures, resident Sig Kusatz told council.

Next spring, town staff will look at traffic issues on Burkholder, Franklin and neighbouring Lloyd Street, as part of the Memorial Park master plan and the Main Street master plan.