What's inside:
YNSE Transit Corridor Land and 30 M Buffer Zone Designation
RORA has worked with Metrolinx to seek clarification of the following and has requested further follow up.
Notice on Title
Metrolinx does not consider this an “easement.” The designation, pursuant to the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020 ensures Metrolinx has the means to coordinate planned building, excavation, water drainage work with homeowners and has access to property for transit planning.
Metrolinx is in the process of registering the notices on the 30,000 properties identified along the entire YNSE (Finch to HighTech). This may take up to six months to complete. RORA has asked Metrolinx to provide affected homeowners with the wording of the notice. This will alleviate the necessity of homeowners paying the cost of a title search in order to ascertain the text of the notice.
Metrolinx has confirmed that the notice on title will be removed once construction is complete and the YNSE is in service. RORA has asked Metrolinx to remove notices in a staged manner as major project elements are completed (e.g. tunnels, stations, and systems).
Getting Permits for Planned Work
Metrolinx has clarified that the following type of work on residential properties will NOT require a permit:
Interior construction activities including renovation, restoration, reconstruction, and alteration such as painting, plumbing repairs, electrical repairs, heating/ventilation/furnace repairs, wood and wall reconstruction and repairs
Façade work – replacing in-kind windows, recladding, and roofing (non-structural or material alterations)
Finishing or repairing an existing basement, except basement underpinnings with a depth greater than 0.5m
Driveway/entryway/pathway repairs or repaving
Private tree planting
Temporary tent
Replacement and new fences and uncovered platforms with less than 0.5m deep excavation
Repairing or new landscaping features less than 1-metre in height and/or less than 0.5m deep excavation
Excavation for burial or exhumation activities that extend up to a maximum depth of 2.6m (8.5 ft)
Erection of monuments, headstones or statues that involve foundations up to a maximum depth of 1.25m (4 ft).
Metrolinx advises homeowners who have questions about their upcoming plans to contact: development.coordinator@metrolinx.com to discuss.
The permit review/approval process could take 20 to 30 business days from the date Metrolinx receives a complete permit application package. There is no charge for the Metrolinx permit. Per RORA’s request, Metrolinx will look into reducing the length of the review period. An additional permit could also be required from the City of Markham, depending on the type of work being done (for which there is a fee).
Precise Location of Homeowners’ property in the TLC and Buffer
RORA has asked Metrolinx to provide affected homeowners with detailed maps that delineate where their properties fall within the TLC and buffer, as well as, the exact location of the subway tunnels and distance in metres of the tunnels from homeowners’ properties.
Metrolinx has agreed to consider this request.
Agreement with CN
In their May 17, 2023 presentation to York Regional Council, Metrolinx’s CEO, Phil Verster, confirmed that “ [they have] worked through the transactions that was necessary to get the launch shaft and property requirements resolved with CN” and an agreement has been reached.
Development News
Greenpark Development: 10 Royal Orchard Blvd. & 8051 Yonge Street
The City of Markham is awaiting a revised submission from the developer in response to technical comments from City Planning staff and concerns from residents.
Thornheights Homes Inc: 16 Kirk Drive
Markham Council approved a revised proposal to construct five single-detached homes, instead of eight three-storey townhouses, in January 2023.
Thornhill Square Redevelopment
The developer appealed their application to the Ontario Land Tribunal. The City is represented at the Tribunal and is working to resolve issues of concern to city staff and residents.
Environmental News
State of the Environment Report
Deforestation, contaminated air, polluted water and the loss of wetlands are a growing concern, Ontario’s Auditor General, Bonnie Lysyk, concluded in a “state of the environment report” released on May 16, 2023. The report was co-authored with Tyler Schulz, the province’s Commissioner of the Environment.
Amongst its many findings, the report noted:
60 per cent of monitored rivers and streams rate “poor” to “very poor” for biological health.
The number of hectares lost to deforestation every year is nearly four times greater than the number of hectares of newly established forests.
The province has not met its biodiversity target, which was set in 2011 to conserve 17 per cent of land and water systems by 2020. As of last year, about 11 per cent of Ontario’s land and water area was being conserved through about 1,400 protected and conserved areas.
Audit of the Greenbelt Development
The Auditor General’s value-for-money audit into the financial and environmental impacts of the province’s removal of more than 7,000 acres of previously protected land is currently underway. The audit is expected to be complete by fall 2023.
New Directors Call Out
We need your passion, skills and experience for continued success. If you care about YOUR Royal Orchard community, please consider joining our Board.
We are looking for new directors to help us advocate for our community – to keep Royal Orchard healthy, safe and liveable. Peter Palframan has recently resigned as RORA’s Treasurer to pursue other commitments. We are, therefore, looking for someone with the skills and experience to be RORA’s new Treasurer.
We would like to thank Peter for his strong leadership, and commitment to our community as part of the Keep the Subway on Yonge committee and more recently on RORA. Peter’s dedication, knowledge and understanding of issues will be sorely missed.
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