Small Stouffville street subject of big debate

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 29, 2015
By Sandra Bolan

It’s only 415 metres long but opening up Bramble Crescent would create more traffic chaos then what is already being experienced by those who live on and around Edward Street, according to some residents who attended an information meeting on the potential opening.

The information session held last night in council chambers was supposed to be about town staff presenting potential design ideas and getting feedback from residents.

Instead, most of the 40 residents on hand wanted answers on how to keep people from speeding through the residential neighbourhood and driving through all the stop signs.

“Drivers think they’re too important to stop at stop signs before they go to their GO train,” said one resident.

The whole point of investigating the possibility of opening Bramble Crescent between Edward and Millard streets is to relieve traffic in other areas, according to Ward 4 Councillor Rick Upton. He requested town staff study this matter when he first took office last year.

“No one likes change,” Upton told The Sun-Tribune following the meeting, adding he expected the pushback.

“The people not in favour are always the most vocal,” he said.

Also in attendance were Ward 3 Councillor Hugo Kroon and Mayor Justin Altmann.

Options for opening the roadway range from maintaining the current condition to full urbanization, which includes road resurfacing as well as sidewalk and streetlight installations.

The cost estimates range from $50,000 to $820,000, according to the staff report.

Bramble Crescent is currently owned by the York Region District School, along with all of the land to the immediate east. It is the site of the former high school.

In order to open up Bramble Crescent, the town needs to gain ownership of that 415-metre stretch of land.

“They haven’t responded and they haven’t said if they are willing or not,” Rob Flindall, director of public works for the Town of Stouffville, told The Sun-Tribune.

He told the crowd, if the board doesn’t want to sell it, they “have other legal means of approaching it.”

“At this point, conversations are ongoing and staff are reviewing the information provided by the town,” Lauren Inouye, a spokesperson for the school board, told The Sun-Tribune via email.

As of this past July, when asked by The Sun-Tribune about the status of the entire parcel of land, we were told by Inouye: “Due to continued development in Stouffville, the board retains the school site to ensure we have flexibility in terms of accommodation options for students.”

A representative from the school board did not attend last night’s meeting.

There was at least one person in the crowd who wants the road open - Ron Schell, owner of Schell Lumber.

His trucks would be able to come and go from the Edward Street store and lumber yard via Bramble Crescent and Millard Street, completely by-passing Main Street.

Many of the residents had no issue with the company and their trucks, some even called them “tremendous neighbours.”

However, one resident suggested Schell move out of downtown Stouffville.

“Times change,” she said.

Schell has been in the same location for 93 years.

If Bramble Crescent were to open, it would cut through a recreation area. There are soccer pitches to the east, a track, tennis courts and hockey arena to the west.

“Why do you want to put big trucks through a park,” asked one resident.

“I don’t feel enough study or thought on alternatives have been put into it,” another resident said.

Suggested safety measures included speed bumps and more stop signs, as well as turning the Main Street GO station into a kiss-and-ride station, forcing people to park in Stouffville’s northeast station of Lincolnville.

“Those GO train traffic people have no commitment to downtown. They don’t care,” said one resident.

“I don’t think people realize how good a station Lincolnville station is,” Flindall said.

Upton told The Sun-Tribune looking at this option is now at the top of their list.

A report, that includes information garnered from last night’s meeting, is expected to be presented to council at the Nov. 17 meeting.