Yorkregion.com - Markham - Main St. Unionville as is for now
Main St. Unionville as is for now
Markham
May 15, 2008 08:47 PM
Real estate sales firm wants change to 20-year-old bylaw to allow street-level entrance
By: Chris Traber
Changes to Main Street Unionville are on hold for now after a row between a trio of community groups and a real estate company was sent to a Markham council subcommittee for consideration.
At issue is a request by the real estate firm for a change in the bylaw that restricts the type of businesses that can operate on the first floor of Main Street Unionville buildings.
Contested is a 20-year bylaw forbidding offices, banks and fast food outlets from the ground floor of any Main Street Unionville property.
Council on Tuesday heard representatives from Royal LePage Your Community Realty and the Unionville BIA, Unionville Villagers and Unionville Ratepayers Associations. The real estate company, at 161 Main St., wants to open doors to a sales office at street level.
The associations are opposed, suggesting the move will compromise Main Street’s charm to the detriment of retail shops and restaurants.
Council referred the parties to a secondary panel of politicians, Town of Markham Development Services Committee chairman and Ward 5 Councillor John Webster said.
The associations and real estate company will have the opportunity to present their cases to a subcommittee of regional and ward councillors, he said.
“Hopefully, the parties will come to a compromise,” Mr. Webster said. “If not, Markham planning staff will complete a report.”
The subcommittee’s report and recommendations will be part of the June 10 Markham council.
The 1875 structure, built as a home, was bought by Royal LePage in 2002.
Inviting street-level office space will disrupt the continuity, charm and retail rhythm of Main Street, resident, former shop owner and Villagers Association director Jeanne Ker-Hornell said last week.
“There’ll be nothing to look at,” she said. “Other realtors are happily sticking to the bylaw. They have offices on the second floor.”
Ms Taylor-Galway said their request for an amendment to the bylaw is not a threat to the street’s intergrity.
“What is retail?” she asked. “It’s transaction of inventory. We sell inventory. There’s no other purpose or interest than to continue to be an asset to the community and continue being proud contributors to neighbouring establishments.”
Advocates of the bylaw said it is the saving grace that has made downtown Unionville the bustling spot it is today and suggested other towns are studying the bylaw in hopes of imitating its success.