The Town of Newmarket's plan to increase the maximum cap developers might have to provide for parkland or cash-in-lieu is garnering some opposition.
The municipal council is planning on passing an updated parkland dedication bylaw Aug. 29 that will see the cap go from 25 per cent of the land used to 50 per cent.
Council will also be discussing traffic concerns and confirming support for a new ministerial zoning order.
Here is what NewmarketToday will be following:
Parkland dedication
Developers could have to pay more in parkland or in cash to build within urban centres.
The town is updating its parkland dedication bylaw that will see a maximum 50 per cent of land area cap for such agreements, or cash-in-lieu equivalent, up from 25 per cent.
The previous version of the bylaw in 2017 intended to implement this change three years after it was enacted. But staff indicated that although the cap was previously approved, it was never enforced due to the pandemic impacting businesses in 2020, and the 25 per cent cap was maintained.
OPGI Management Limited Partnership wrote to council on behalf of Upper Canada Mall opposing the change.
It raised concern that the definition of development in the bylaw was too broad, and could capture things like zoning changes done before any development occurs.
The firm further said the 50 per cent cap is “too high” and will “create a significant disincentive to high-density intensification, contrary to both provincial policies encouraging intensification within the existing built-up areas and to the town’s own goals of seeking development in the corridors.”
Traffic concerns
Residents of Lundy’s Lane are getting traffic concerns heard as council is set to direct a comprehensive traffic management study there.
Councillor Jane Twinney raised the issue at the Aug. 22 committee of the whole meeting. She said traffic issues there have been significant, with residents circulating petitions and York Regional Police issuing more than 30 tickets in a two-day stint monitoring the neighbourhood.
The study would encompass Lundy’s Lane, Heman Street, Bayview Parkway and Red Deer Street.
MZO approval
Town council is set to confirm its support for a ministerial zoning order to speed up development of Inn From the Cold’s new building on Yonge Street.
The shelter is seeking the order to ensure it can have a new space ready before the lease expiry on its current building in fall 2024.
The municipality will stream the meeting at 1 p.m. You can view the stream at newmarket.ca/meetings or attend in person at 395 Mulock Dr. You can arrange a deputation or send correspondence by email [email protected].
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