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Dear Residents,
Summer is here and it is great to get outdoors. Maybe we can all be a little more optimistic that the worst is behind us and we will start to see some kind of normalcy before the end of the year. Numbers are increasing in parts of Europe and other places and we still need to be cautious and protect ourselves and others from emerging variants of Covid-19.
We are going to extend the hours of Morgan Pool until 10.30pm and we will be opening up the Rouge River pool at Legacy in Boxgrove, hopefully by the middle of July.
July 1st is normally a full day of festivities to celebrate Canada's birthday but with the recent discovery of unmarked Indigenous graves it is also time for pause and reflection.
Wishing you all a safe and healthy summer.
Regards,
Karen |
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Please find attached construction notification for project 029-T-19 Sanitary Sewer System Rehabilitation and Upgrade Program (2021).
The construction is scheduled to begin on July 2, 2021 and is expected to
be completed by the end of December 2021, weather permitting.
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Coyotes Update
Animal Control Officers confirmed mid-June that the coyote family has moved on from Parkway/Ramona Blvd area. Our staff will be putting up some wire mesh to try and discourage another family from inhabiting this location in the future. |
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Markham Road - Mount Joy Secondary Plan Study
The study, which started in November 2019, will address land use and urban design, transportation, and municipal servicing to support the development of a sustainable and complete community.
The Secondary Plan area is located in the northeast portion of the City’s urban area and includes lands along both sides of Markham Road from 16th Avenue in the south to Major Mackenzie Drive in the north, between the Stouffville GO rail line to the east and the westerly limit of properties fronting Markham Road to the west. |
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Check YourVoice Markham for more information about this plan. I encourage all of you to participate in this public process on how Markham Rd will ultimately be built out. This section of Markham Rd will be intensified and you could see building heights up to 40 story's in some locations. You can watch the last meeting that was held on June 3, 2021 by following this link - Markham Road – Mount Joy Secondary Plan Study Public meeting video
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On June 24, Staff provided Markham Village and Unionville residents with an update regarding:
- Findings of the Flood Study
- Next Steps
- Implementation Schedule
- Related Flood Control Program activities including the plumbing protection rebate program to help prevent sewer back-ups
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Project Cluster 1 (Markham Village) – Church St. East/Parkway Ave. Area Drainage Improvements
- Diversion of Flow from Parkway Ave., Sir Lancelot Dr., Jack Crt., Jill Crt., Rose Way to Church St., and upgrade of Church St. System
- Design scheduled to start in 2022 - construction in 2024
Project Cluster 2 (Markham Village) - Ramona Blvd., Parkway West, Church West, Friar Tuck, Daniel Court/Fincham Improvements
- Sewer Upgrades
- Design scheduled to start in 2022
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Project Cluster 4 (Markham Village) - Milne Lane, Rouge St., Major Buttons/Squire Bakers Lane System Improvements
- Upgrades of three systems
- Design scheduled to start in 2027
Phased construction is scheduled to start in 2023. We will be hosting more meetings and will make sure everyone is well informed prior to any phase of this project.
If you were unable to attend, you can find further details on this project and the upcoming public meeting as well as provide feedback on the Your Voice Markham website: https://yourvoicemarkham.ca.
I encourage you to complete the survey form if you would like to be contacted regarding further development with the Markham Village & Unionville Flood Mitigation project.
The Private Plumbing Protection Rebate Program has been extended to the end of April
2022 as approved by City Council.
The program eligibility and application process are updated too! |
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Markham's Affordable and Rental Housing Strategy
I think we can all agree that we have a housing crisis, there is a shortage of purpose built rental units and the cost to purchase a new home is no longer viable for many young families. No one solution is going to resolve the issue, so we need to start looking at alternate ideas and start thinking outside of the box for some possible solutions.
Click here for a copy of the report and presentation that was provided to Council June 22nd.
I will expand on my ideas in a future e-newsletter. |
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Vacant Housing Tax - Motion
Adding to the housing crisis, is also the number of vacant residential homes that are unoccupied. Having a tax on vacant properties would encourage property owners to occupy or rent out their homes.
This will help increase the housing supply by making vacant homes available for rent or sale, which means people will actually live in them. If owners do not want to rent or sell their properties, the vacant homes tax could contribute to an affordable housing strategy.
Councillor Reid McAlpine and I moved a motion to ask staff to investigate the feasibility of implementing a vacant tax in Markham, similar to the City of Ottawa (see below), Vancouver and Toronto.
The motion will be discussed at the Development Services committee on July 12th at 9.30 am.
Reports from City of Ottawa:
Residential Vacant Unit Tax
Report - Residential Vacant Unit Tax.docx
DOCUMENT 1 - What We Heard Report - VUT Consultations.pdf
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Comprehensive Zoning By-law
The comprehensive zoning by-law was presented on June 7th. It included proposed changes to our infill by-law along with accessory dwelling units, hard and soft landscaping, development standards, etc.
Open houses dates over the summer will be announced to solicit feedback from the public, with a final recommendation report before the end of the year.
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LDD Infestation
I moved a motion on June 14 at the General Committee, seconded by Mayor Scarpitti, for staff to report back on mitigating options for the Lymantria dispar dispar - LDD (gypsy moths) infestation.
The defoliation is quite intense in some neighbouhood's in Ward 4, as you can see on this photo that was taken during a visit to an infested area.
The minutes and video of the General Committee meeting will be posted soon at the City Portal
LDD infestation is not only happening in Markham/GTA - many municipalities in North America are experiencing an infestation, which could be year 2 of an estimated 4 year cycle. We have estimated approximately 18,000 trees are at risk of defoliation. City staff will be tracking defoliation levels in order to fully understand the hotspot locations. City staff removed egg masses from over 6,000 trees earlier in the year to help control the infestation. The organic insecticide BTK is only effective when the caterpillars are small and the window to spray has passed.
If your tree is defoliated it does not mean that your tree is dead, the tree has just lost its leaves for this season.
We need everyone’s help to try and control the infestation. If you have an infested tree, burlap or duct tape bands (sticky side out) on the trunk of the tree will help keep the caterpillars from entering the tree canopy. Watch the video below to learn how to effectively use the burlap on your tree.
The City is looking at all options to try and minimize the infestation if the cycle continues next year. For more details please check the City website at www.Markham.ca/trees .
Video: European Gypsy Moth – Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD) Burlap Banding Trap
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has posted a recording of the LDD moth information webinar that they held in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation on their LDD moth webpage. In addition to the webinar recording, they also provide helpful information on the LDD moth lifecycle, identification and management techniques. You can access TRCA’s LDD moth webpage by following this link - LDD moth
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Holiday Service Alert
No collection on July 1 (Canada Day):
- Thursday moves to Friday - July 2
- Friday moves to Saturday - July 3
Recycling Depots are CLOSED July 1. |
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Covid-19 Vaccination Information
COVID-19 vaccination information can be accessed through York.ca or by calling Access York at 1.877.464.9675. Access York is available to receive calls 7 days a week between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. The Health Information Line is 1.800.361.5653. More information on preparing for a vaccination appointment can be found at this link. |
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Volunteer Services for Seniors
A local group, PinkCars, has been established to help seniors register for vaccines and to drive them to and from vaccine appointments. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact PinkCars.
Volunteer drivers are also welcome.
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Enforcement of Covid19 Related Violations |
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Volunteer Markham provides essential services across York Region through the generous support of the UW GTA and in collaboration with Volunteer Toronto and Volunteer MBC.
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Terry Fox Run 2021 -
a message from the organizers
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2020 Terry Fox Run both in Markham-Unionville and Thornhill. Together, the sites raised $120,144 for cancer research. Markham-Unionville was amongst the top 25 teams for funds raised in Ontario.
For 2021, the Terry Fox Run will once again be a virtual run and will take place on Sunday September 19. Registration is now open for both Markham-Unionville and Thornhill sites. If you have participated in past years, please consider doing so again this year and if you have never done a Terry Fox Run, why not this year? Register here for the Markham-Unionville and Thornhill locations. As always, volunteers are needed to help spread the word to get people to register and fundraise.
You can follow the Markham-Unionville Terry Fox Run group on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. If you are interested in volunteering, please send an email to the group organizer.
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Markham Food Bank Needs our Help
The Markham Food Bank has seen a great increase in the number of families using the food bank during the pandemic. Help our community members in need during these challenging times.
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Help to change the lives of homeless and at risk youth in York Region.
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If you have any municipal inquiry, please send an email to customerservice@markham.ca or call 905.477.5530. Our staff can investigate and address your concerns. |
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