Secondary Plan for Yonge/Bernard Area Set to Guide Transformation to New Kind of Urban

The Yonge/Bernard Key Development Area (Yonge/Bernard KDA) is an intensification area for future development located on Yonge Street, north of Elgin Mills. Key Development Areas as identified in the Official Plan are existing major nodes of retail and/or commercial development with access to rapid transit, where opportunities for redevelopment of large land parcels exist. Richmond Hill’s Official Plan requires that a Secondary Plan be prepared for areas designated as Key Development Areas. The Yonge/Bernard KDA Secondary Plan will help guide the transformation of the area from an auto-oriented commercial area to a more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly mixed-use destination. The area is envisioned to become a mixed-use area with a range of building types, including various forms of townhouses, mid-rise and high-rise street related buildings. The highest and most dense buildings are directed along Yonge Street. Heights and densities will transition down from Yonge Street to respect the adjacent lower-rise neighbourhood. There will also be opportunities for expanded commercial and retail space and office development. For more information, contact Patrick Lee, Director, Policy Planning, at 905-771-2420.

Richmond Hill Council Sets Target Date for Yonge Subway Extension

Richmond Hill Council identifies the Yonge North Subway Extension as the top transit priority for the Town and continues to advocate that the Yonge Subway extension needs to be a top priority for Metrolinx. As such, Council provided official comments to Metrolinx on the draft 2041 Regional Transportation Plan, including a request for the Yonge Street subway extension to be constructed and operational by no later than 2031. The completion of the Yonge Subway extension is important to realize the Town and Region’s vision for the Richmond Hill Centre as an Urban Growth Centre, and will be a primary point of convergence for the Regional and Rapid Transit network, with substantial demand for the Yonge subway to connect to Downtown Toronto, and other key destinations throughout the subway network. The draft 2041 Regional Transportation Plan is based on five strategies, including Complete the Delivery of Current Regional Transit Projects (which includes the Yonge Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Bloomington GO Station), Connect more of the Region with Frequent Rapid Transit (which includes both the Yonge subway extension and all-day GO Service to Richmond Hill), Optimize the Transportation System, Integrate Land Use and Transportation and Prepare for an Uncertain Future. Council has also requested that Metrolinx consider the addition of a grade separation on Elgin Mills Road at the Richmond Hill GO Rail Line, the addition of a GO Station or Mobility Hub at Yonge/16^th Avenue, and advancing Regional Express Rail on the Richmond Hill GO Line as part of the 2041 Regional Transportation Plan. For more information, contact Richard Hui, Manager, Transportation, at 905-771-5478. 

National Public Works Week Raised $2000 for Hill House Hospice

Mayor Barrow and Richmond Hill’s National Public Works Week (NPWW) Organizing Committee were presented with a Canadian Public Works Association’s (CPWA) award for this year’s Public Works campaign and celebration. This marks the second year in a row Richmond Hill has won the top award for medium-sized municipalities (population 75,000 to 250,000). Richmond Hill’s 2017 National Public Works Week events, including the NPWW Open House and Healthy Yards event, were held in May. NPWW highlights the important role Public Works professionals play in everyday life and illustrates how they contribute to building vibrant, connected and sustainable communities. The events also raised $2000 for Hill House Hospice. For more information about National Public Works Week in Richmond Hill, visit RichmondHill.ca/NPWW or contact Mario DiSalvo, National Public Works Week Committee Chair, at 905-780-2949 or mario.disalvo@richmondhill.ca. 

Photos of the above presentation are available upon request.

The next Committee of the Whole Meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 4 at 4:30 p.m. and the next Council Meeting is Monday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held in Council Chambers.