How tall is too tall? Hwy 7 high-rise development proposal returns to staff for review
The new proposal for the high-rise development at the now-demolished Sheridan Nurseries on Highway 7 was returned to staff for review following deliberations at the September 24th Development Services Public Meeting (DSPM). The applicant, Kingdom Development, plans to add five storeys to two towers currently capped at 25.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti emphasized in the meeting that these changes to the original application were initiated by the city after “extensive negotiations” and not by the applicant. He explained that the increase will have “significant community benefits” for Markham.
While the mayor did not specify the benefits, community benefit charges have become a tool for municipalities to acquire funding for public spaces, such as parklands, from these high-density developments. These funds are increasingly important for municipalities.
Scarpitti’s optimism, however, is not matched by many residents.
Representatives from the Unionville Residents Association (URA) such as Stella Yu expressed concerns about density and traffic, saying “the population growth… [is] going to cause a gridlock.”
URA’s concerns echo those raised at the September 16th Unionville Subcommittee Meeting regarding five proposed 40 to 55-storey towers surrounding the Hilton Hotel on Hwy 7 & Warden. Aside from traffic, residents were also concerned about shadows and wind patterns affecting those living below. Earlier this year, the Markville Secondary Plan, which proposes five 30 to 45-storey towers, faced a petition aimed at halting the development.
“We as a city need to think about these development projects and impacts on our communities holistically…every developer is asking for more— more storeys, more units. If we’re going to tackle these applications one by one, we will end up with even more population than we [can] afford to have in this city right now,” Yu said.
The pressure for rapid housing development stems from Bill-23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, passed by the Ford Government in 2022.
As Markham works to meet its quota, updates are being made to the Markham Centre Secondary Plan. Former URA President Peter Miasek highlighted at the DSPM the importance of Policy 10.8.8 in holding developers accountable. It mandates assessments/studies on the city’s capacity to handle a population increase if the project’s density exceeds the Secondary Plan’s.
Senior Development Manager Stephen Lue reiterated that the Secondary Plan is still under review.
Have a concern about these developments? You can voice your opinion on Markham’s development by attending public meetings, voicing your opinion on Your Voice, or tracking projects on MappIT.
*Story submitted by Dina Dong.