Newmarket residents will have a chance to provide input on a new 201-unit rental development on Yonge Street that would have 60 affordable units.
Newmarket council will hold a public meeting Sept. 18 on a new development proposal from the St. Maurice and St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church.
Council will also consider incorporating more policies for housing affordability in its official plan and traffic controls on Lundy's Lane.
Here is what NewmarketToday will be following:
New apartment development
The group behind a new affordable rental development on Yonge Street is preparing to present it before council.
The 10-storey proposal has been in the works since last year. St. Maurice and St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church plans include a medical office on the ground floor, 224 underground parking spaces and for 43 of the units to be barrier-free.
The mission statement for the project is to “provide social impact and to serve the York Region community with affordable rental apartments, where residents can live with dignity and respect.”
Besides the 60 affordable units, the remainder would be at market rate to “help offset affordable units,” according to the church’s upcoming presentation to council.
No decisions will be made at the statutory public meeting, with it being a chance for the public to provide input. After the meeting, the proposal will go back to staff and could later come back to the council for zoning approval.
Affordable housing
Newmarket council is taking a look at affordable housing as it works through its official plan.
Council will be holding another workshop to discuss the official plan Sept. 18. The town is working to update this guiding document, with an expected completion in 2025.
The workshop will focus on progress in the area south of Davis Drive, as well as the direction the plan should take on housing. Ideas proposed by consulting firm WSP include more incentives for affordable and purpose-built rental, implementing housing targets, adding inclusionary zoning, adding policies to stop the conversion of rentals to other types and adding policies for group homes and shared occupancy.
Other areas of discussion will include natural heritage and urban design.
Following the workshop, more public consultation will occur with a community working group and open house to receive input.
You can visit heynewmarket.ca/NEWmarketOP for more information and submit questions to [email protected]
Lundy’s Lane
Newmarket plans to take some action to address traffic woes on Lundy’s Lane.
Staff have put forward several ideas, including new signs and pavement marking, bollards, the study of an all-way stop at Bayview Parkway and Hewman Street, a parking review of Eden Court and the north end of Bolton Drive and other measures. This comes after staff surveyed the area, getting 25 responses from a 250-home mailout. Further long-term measures include a raised crosswalk on Red Deer Street and widening the boulevard between the sidewalk and the street on the street.
Residents asked council Sept. 11 for significant action in the area.
“Traffic, speeding and parking are huge issues in this area that are only going to become more of a problem as we increase development in the area, as well as the natural increase in population in the town,” resident Lauren Merklinger wrote in a letter to council while requesting more action on Bolton Avenue.
The official plan workshop is at 9 a.m., while the council meeting will occur at 1 p.m. Both meetings can be attended at 395 Mulock Dr. and will be streamed at newmarket.ca/meetings. You can also arrange a deputation or send correspondence by emailing [email protected].
