- Target:
- Development Services Committee of the Town of Markham
- Region:
- Canada
- Website:
- www.legacynet.ca
The Town of Markham is considering a by-law zoning change to allow development of a Wal-Mart Super Centre on a property north of Copper Creek Drive between Ninth Line and Donald Cousens Parkway ( the area just east of Longo's / Box Grove Shopping Centre).
Current zoning laws restrict retail outlets to less than 6,000 square meters. The bylaw is being amended to increase the size limit to 20,000 square meters and eliminate other restrictions so as to permit the development of a Wal-Mart on the property.
This change, while subtle, will have significant implications on traffic congestion in the area.
Consideration of the by-law change will take place on Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, Anthony Roman Centre, 101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham Ontario L3R 9W3.
We the undersigned, call on the Town of Markham Development Services Committee, to prohibit changes to the by-laws under consideration, at a minimum until completion of a thorough traffic planning review to accompany the proposed change.
The zoning by-laws were written as they exist today for a reason. Changing them on short notice to allow for a big-box retail development without a thorough review of traffic patterns and congestion is ill-advised. Traffic in the area is already congested and although road improvements are being made over the next few years, they will not be enough. The fact that the 407 ETR is a toll road will reduce the extent to which it is used as an access route. The only other access route, 14th Avenue, is a two lane road that already suffers from traffic congestion.
This proposed bylaw change will have serious long-term implications on traffic congestion in the area and may possibly impact property values in the nearby community. Any decision to change this bylaw should not be made in haste.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Review Box Grove Wal-Mart Traffic Implications petition to Development Services Committee of the Town of Markham was written by Ken Rahl and is in the category Government at GoPetition.