Newmarket continues to provide extraordinary spaces and places with Parks and Recreation Draft Capital Plan
The Town of Newmarket is embarking on its largest 10-year capital program in Newmarket's history. This ambitious plan is aimed at enhancing the community's recreational facilities over the next decade, outlining a range of projects reflecting the Town's commitment to creating extraordinary public spaces, promoting environmental sustainability, and fostering an inclusive community.
A draft of the plan was developed and presented to Council, which serves as the first step in the Capital Plan roadmap. After consultation with interested parties and user groups, staff will report back to Council with a final draft of the Parks and Recreation Capital Plan. Approval for any new projects will occur through the annual budget process.
Some projects in the 'Active Stage' that will be delivered over the next 0-5 years include but are not limited to Mulock Park, a new tennis clubhouse and facility, an outdoor rink at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, the Mulock Multi-Use Path, Stackhouse Trail and more. Projects in the 'Planning Phase' that will be delivered over the next 5-10 years include but are not limited to the Hydro Corridor Trails, Quaker Trail Connection, and parks and trails within planning developments such as Shining Hill, Redwood Development and more!
The Town is exploring various funding strategies, including federal and provincial grants, and aims to balance project delivery with available resources, emphasizing a need for additional staffing and third-party contracting to support the plan.
The report underscores the Town's successful track record in delivering recreational projects and highlights the importance of aligning the Capital Plan with Council's priorities. The detailed list of projects showcases a wide array of initiatives designed to enhance the recreational landscape of Newmarket, ensuring that the town remains a vibrant, active, and welcoming community for residents and visitors.
Watch the presentation from the Committee of the Whole meeting on June 17 or read the Staff Report to learn more.
Newmarket continues to support housing options for all by adding almost 1,000 units to the Newmarket Urban Centres Secondary Area
At the most recent Council Meeting, Newmarket Council approved 983 units set for development at 201 Davis Drive and 615 Davis Drive – a significant milestone for the Newmarket Urban Secondary Plan Area.
201 Davis Drive will see 216 units developed through a 9-storey apartment with two levels of underground parking. 615 Davis Drive will see two mixed-use buildings (one 6 and one 15 storey) with 767 apartment units in total.
As part of the Town's Urban Centres Secondary Plan, 25 per cent of new housing must be affordable to low- and moderate-income households to ensure there is housing for all in Newmarket. The Town continues to work with applicants to see where it's possible to add affordable housing elements within every major development.
About the Urban Centres Secondary Plan
Newmarket is a growing community, and the majority of the growth is expected to occur in the Davis Drive and Yonge Street corridors. The goal is to transition these corridors into vibrant mixed-use, sustainable, inclusive places, consisting of 33,000 residents and 32,000 jobs.
Newmarket's Urban Centres Secondary Plan guides this redevelopment to allow for a wide-range of residential, commercial, use in a mixed-use manner, including a variety of heights and densities that have been pre-zoned to accommodate these uses. This means that planning applications can go straight to a site-plan application process, effectively speeding up the development process and ensuring Newmarket continues provides housing options for all during a housing crisis.
Learn more about the Urban Centres Secondary Plan.
Newmarket Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program final business plan and endorsement by Council
At the most recent Council meeting, an update to the Newmarket Energy Efficiency Retrofit final business plan was presented to Council which sought endorsement for the Town to apply for funding ($15 million) from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) program to carry out a four-year pilot program.
With the discontinuation of the Federal Government's Greener Homes Grant for Ontario participants, residents have been left with a significant gap in available financing supports and educational opportunities for home energy retrofits.
If the funding is successfully obtained, the four-year pilot NEER program will provide an innovative residential home energy retrofit program to Newmarket residents. The products offered would be turnkey retrofits focused on the conversion of natural gas furnaces to an electric heat pump, paired with a smart thermostat and weatherized insulation, provide financing options, and access to an online digital concierge service to connect residents to the appropriate experts.
The business plan also outlines the creation of a Municipal Services Corporate (NEWCO) to manage the program and to ensure limited liability for the Town while enabling private equity participation.
Learn more by reviewing the staff report to Council.
About the Newmarket Energy Efficiency Retrofit (NEER) Program
The Newmarket Energy Efficiency Retrofit (NEER) initiative is a municipal project that is designed specifically for Newmarket residents to retrofit their homes and save on energy all while lowering the community's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The NEER initiative was a recommendation in Newmarket's Community Energy Plan [PDF/3.5MB] (CEP). By creating an organization that will deliver high-quality residential energy efficiency retrofit solutions using local contractors and public/private financing mechanisms, the project will take steps toward addressing the CEP target of reducing GHG and primary energy use by 50% per capita over 2017 levels by 2041.
Learn more at newmarket.ca/neer
Town of Newmarket receives Community Spirit Award
For the third year in a row, the Town of Newmarket was presented with the Nature's Emporium Run for Southlake Community Spirit Award! This award recognizes the municipality that brings out the largest volume of people in their community and demonstrates the importance of bringing the community together.
Each dollar raised helps Southlake provide leading edge care, close to home. This year, the Run for Southlake raised more than $450,000!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the walk/run and helped support one of Newmarket's greatest assets. The tremendous work done by the residents of Newmarket will make a huge difference.
Watch the presentation from the Council meeting to see more.