York Region developer Fifth Avenue Homes wants to build a new 24-townhome development at the corner of Davis and Hamilton drives.
Fifth Avenue Homes (Newmarket) Inc. plans to construct the townhouse development at 1041 and 1051 Davis Dr. and 15 and 23 Hamilton Dr. The proposal would have private road access, with driveways featuring two parking spaces and six visitor parking spaces.
But many in the neighbourhood have opposed proposed townhouse developments there in the past. Another 28-unit townhouse proposal directly across from this one was protested by some residents.
“I’m not happy about it,” nearby resident Elema Tchebotok said of the proposed devleopment. “I’m afraid it’s going to create more traffic. It’s a single-home residential area.”
The proposal from Fifth Avenue Homes goes back to February 2023, according to a planning justification report from KLM Planning.
The application has been in the works, with various discussions between Town of Newmarket planning staff and the developer. But the municipality confirmed the application should be complete soon, with a public meeting likely in the fall.
“As with all planning public meetings, advance notice will be provided to the surrounding community once a date has been established,” the municipality said.
The planning justification report said the proposal should meet all applicable planning policies.
“The proposed development has been comprehensively planned to meet the suite of provincial and municipal policies guiding development within the area. The vision of an attractive, compact, and transit-supportive residential development will be established and demonstrated,” KLM Planning said in the report.
The report confirms that signs and mailed notices will occur once the application is deemed complete. It also confirms the developer will not market the units as affordable, though said the townhomes are generally more affordable than the surrounding single-detached dwellings.
“This redevelopment supports the town's goal of enhancing housing affordability by increasing the overall housing supply and diversifying the housing stock,” the report said.
Despite some protests from residents, council approved a similar proposal across the street by Lulu Holdings in March 2023, with Mayor John Taylor calling that 28-unit project "gentle density."
But Tchebotok said neighbours have been unhappy with townhouses there.
“It will create busy noise and the intersection is getting very busy,” she said. “I would like to see a single home development in the area, not townhomes.”
A traffic impact study from GHD Limited said the site is expected to generate 31 two-way vehicle trips during the a.m. peak hour and 31 trips in the p.m. peak hour and said all intersections affected will continue operating at acceptable vehicle ratios.
