‘Devastating impact’: Markham residents rally against proposed Markville development plan

City is targeted to build 44,000 new homes by 2031

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 20, 2023

The burgeoning growth in Markham is poised to not just reshape the city's skyline, but also exert pressure on the community's lifeline.

In a resounding display of community opposition, residents have joined forces to defy the proposed Markville Secondary Plan, which seeks to develop 110 hectares of land with high-density residential buildings.

At the heart of the Markville development plan, it’s the redevelopment of the iconic Markville Mall. Cadillac Fairview has proposed to intensify the site, adding 14 new buildings up to 45 storeys tall that would deliver roughly 4,340 units.

The overall plan, which residents believe would introduce an influx of 40,000 to 50,000 more residents, has sparked major worries about traffic gridlock along McCowan Road and Highway 7. Longer commute times and increased accidents are looming threats.

“The traffic will be 10 times worse,” said Nick Dmitrenko, who commutes via Highway 7 to Hamilton.

The lack of new schools and daycare facilities has also raised concerns about overburdening the already stretched education system. Markville

Secondary School, already operating at 30 per cent above capacity, will resort to using six portable classrooms.

“It's going to have a big impact on the school system,” said Linda Parsons. “Kids at Markville High School are sharing lockers. How long will it be before they have shift classes?”

On the health care front, residents dread local facilities being unprepared for more residents. The absence of a health-care expansion plan could lead to prolonged clinic wait times and a shortage of family doctors.

“The lineups at emergency are already very long,” said Alfredo Maciak, whose father had lost 20 pounds in one month but was told to wait for 10 to 11 months for a colonoscopy at Markham Stouffville Hospital.

Residents are also concerned about the lack of public recreational resources in the proposed development. The lack of investment in parks and community centres threatens to overcrowd existing public spaces.

In a nutshell, residents say, there is not enough foresight in the development, while many issues will become afterthoughts.

“It's ridiculous,” said Teresa Daz-Soldon. “The infrastructure is not built for it.”

Matthew Wong wants the city and developers to clarify on environmental assessment, traffic study, population growth study, power grid and sewage review, among others.

Mike Parsons blames "greed" for the “for-profit development” in lack of care for the existing community. “(Building more homes) might be the driving force behind it, but the people that are in the middle are seizing the opportunity and taking advantage.”

As part of the Ford government’s push to build 1.5 million new homes by 2031 to ease the housing crisis, the City of Markham has a target of 44,000 new homes and is updating the secondary plans for core communities such as Markham Centre and Markville.

In a collective plea, Steven Wang and his Markham Community Connect Association have garnered more than 2,000 resident signatures for a petition against the proposed Markville Secondary Plan and submitted it to council.

“While we recognize the need for growth and development, we firmly believe that this plan will have a devastating impact on our city and the local residents,” stated the petition.

But at recent meetings with several local resident groups, including Unionville Residents Association, the city explained that the previously cited population projection of 40,000 to 50,000 residents was incorrect.

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According to the city, the likely density is expected to be close to 20,000, including jobs and residents. Schools, parks, roads and other physical and social infrastructure will be clearly defined in the Secondary Plan, which is currently in the phase of developing draft concept. A report to council on the preferred development concept, including needed infrastructure, is planned by year end 2023, followed by additional public meetings.

According to experts, it’s the responsibility of three orders of government, along with builders, developers, the higher education sector and the skilled trades, to work together to build more homes.

“It will take a wartime-scale effort,” said Mike Moffatt, founder of the PLACE Centre. “They must work together to make it happen.”