Markham Centre Secondary Plan Update. August 20, 2020. A listing of numerous key areas of detail that URA will be tracking, and higher-level comments including use of precincts, key public areas, compitable with historic Main Street, relocation of City Hall, Rouge Valley green space, road sections tailored to pedestrians and cyclists.
Concerns with Bill 108 on Community Benefits Charge (Parkland Acquisition), June 19, 2020
Arterial Road Widening in Markham, April 16, 2020, dealing York Region on (a) specific alternatives to the widening of 16th Avenue (currently undergoing Environmental Assessment (b) input to traffic modeling to study long-term need for road widening in established communities (Transportation Master Plan update)
Response to York Region Letter on 16th Avenue EA. January 28, 2020. URA responded and presented counterarguments to York Region on our three concern areas – engagement, strategic fit and alternatives.
Comments on 16th Avenue Environmental Study Report, January 8, 2020. Our concerns fell into 3 bundles (a) stakeholder engagement (b) strategic fit (c) other alternatives, including intersection improvements only, improve transit priority, reversible centre bus lane, reduced lane widths and reduced speed limits, alternate E/W corridors.
2019
Comments on Ontario Bill 108 (More Homes, More Choices Act), May 30, 2019. Our concerns were (a) timelines for consultations completely unreasonable, (b) financial issues appear significant (c) shortened timelines for decisions on development applications will be counterproductive (d) inclusionary zoning should be permitted beyond Major Transit Station Areas (e) LPAT reversion to “de novo” evidence is problematic (e) Conservation Authorities need to continue to review development applications in detail and engage in watershed planning and resource management
Consultations on Regional Government Review, February 12, 2019. Our letter to the province touched upon many points, including taxes, service levels, funding, boundaries and elected representatives.
Op-Ed by URA. Published by The Markham Economist and Sun in February, 2019 about the regional government review being undertaken by the Province. We raised questions about taxes and service levels.
2018
York Downs status update. September 12, 2018. URA sent a letter to Markham Council summarizing agreed-upon points from a meeting that day.
York Downs issues. September 3, 2018. URA letter a letter to Markham Council summarizing our issues of concern: TRCA approval, traffic, Block 19 (Red Block), Block 20 (condos).
2016
Input to Markham Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw Project, May 16, 2016. Our letter covered (a) affordable and shared housing and sccondary suites (b) student housing (c) review and assessment of minor variances (d) zero underground setbacks.
Scardred downzoning application. November 13, 2015. URA opposed this downzoning application unless a means was found to transfer the extra units to another transit-friendly corridor in Markham.
Unionville Main Street Community Vision, January 8, 2015. Comments were submitted to Markham staff . We urged prompt start on “low-hanging fruit” ideas, including appointing a project manager, and urged avoiding complex projects like the east side parking deck. In an Appendix, we provided more detail. We also provided a list of member likes, concerns and questions.
