With a municipal election around the corner, Newmarket's current council held its last public meeting Monday.
As of Oct. 22, voters will elect a new mayor, new regional councillor and deputy mayor, and five local councillors. Ward 6 Councillor Kelly Broome and Ward 7 Councillor Christina Bisanz have been elected by acclamation as they had no challengers. Three-term Mayor Tony Van Bynen in February announced his retirement from public life, and Ward 4 Councillor Tom Hempen also decided not to seek re-election.
There was clear consensus among the local politicians to refrain from making any important decisions so close to the election. The new council that’s guaranteed to have at least two fresh faces will take their seats in council chambers for the first time in December, and begin to work through such things as complex development projects that come with a steep learning curve.
For example, a public meeting for the community to provide feedback on development along Old Main Street is on hold until the new year. There will be a new councillor in Ward 4 to represent constituents’ best interests.
Then there’s the challenge to keep the momentum going on offering developer The Rose Corporation a package of incentives to build the first affordable and rental units in decades in what’s known as Newmarket’s urban centre near Yonge Street and Davis Drive. Council on Monday were all in favour of moving the major project forward, which will provide seniors, those on a fixed income and students with more housing options. Ultimately, any decisions on the development at 175 Deerfield Rd. will be decided by the new council in 2019.
Regional Councillor and Deputy Mayor John Taylor said the decision will get development going at Yonge and Davis.
"Do we belive this (affordable housing) would occur with lesser incentives or without incentives? Do we believe incentives are necessary? If we do, then this is the right thing to do. We need to provide greater housing options for all residents."
“The mix of housing this project represents, I support,” Mayor Van Bynen said. “There’s a market for condos and somebody needs to break the seal, this project would do that.”
