Town of Newmarket

Minutes

Special Committee of the Whole (Detached Additional Residential Units)

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Streamed live from the Municipal Offices
395 Mulock Drive
Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X7
Members Present:
  • Mayor Taylor
  • Deputy Mayor & Regional Councillor Vegh
  • Councillor Simon
  • Councillor Woodhouse
  • Councillor Twinney
  • Councillor Morrison
  • Councillor Kwapis
  • Councillor Broome
  • Councillor Bisanz
Staff Present:
  • I. McDougall, Chief Administrative Officer
  • E. Armchuk, Commissioner of Corporate Services
  • P. Noehammer, Commissioner of Development & Infrastructure Services
  • J. Payne, Commissioner of Community Services
  • L. Lyons, Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk
  • K. Saini, Manager of Legislative Services/Deputy Town Clerk
  • P. Freeman, Chief Planner and Director, Planning and Building Services
  • S. Granat, Legislative Coordinator
  • E. Thomas-Hopkins, Legislative Coordinator

For consideration by Council on November 17, 2025

Mayor Taylor in the Chair

The meeting was called to order at 9:07 AM.

The meeting recessed at 10:38 AM and reconvened at 10:45 AM.


1.

 

Mayor Taylor advised that the Municipal Offices were open to the public, and that members of the public could attend this meeting in person or view the live stream available at Newmarket.ca/meetings. Residents who would like to provide comment on an item on this agenda were encouraged to provide their feedback in writing through email to Legislative Services at [email protected] or by providing a deputation electronically or in-person. He advised residents that their comments would form part of the public record.

Note: Shawn Smith, Project Manager, WSP Canada will provide a presentation on this matter.

The Chief Planner and Director Planning and Building Services provided an introduction.

Shawn Smith, Project Manager, WSP Canada provided the Residential Parking Study Phase 2 Update presentation including the study area, what has been done, project goals, recap from December 2024 Council Workshop and six key observations; impact of existing regulations to on-street parking; additional residential units, predominant year of construction, hot spot areas, minimum parking requirements and vehicle ownership, key objectives to update parking regulations, jurisdictional scan, accessible parking, driveway widenings, updating design standards and interventions for area specific parking challenges, and a public survey in eight hot spots. 

Members of Council queried the presenter regarding multigeneration households, Additional Residential Units (ARU), age of housing stock, winter parking, community survey, on-street parking permit process and fee, driveway widening, other jurisdictions, regulatory enforcement, the artificial intelligence driveway project, resident feedback, cycling and road design considerations, the active transportation plan, and the public survey.

Members of Council discussed parking on the road and driveways, driveway widening, considerations for infractions in policy-making, communication with residents, unregistered ARUs, pilot project study area, and condo road on-street parking.

  • Moved by:Councillor Woodhouse
    Seconded by:Councillor Bisanz
    1. That the presentation provided by Shawn Smith, Project Manager, WSP Canada regarding the Residential Parking Study Phase 2 Update Presentation be received. 


    Carried

Note: Ed Starr, Founding Partner, and Matt Pipe, Manager SHS Inc. will provide a presentation on this matter. 

The Chief Planner and Director of Planning and Building Services provided an introduction.

Matt Pipe, Manager and Dalton Wudrich, Analyst SHS Inc. provided a presentation regarding the Housing Needs Assessment and Inclusionary Zoning including an overview of Housing Needs Assessment findings, affordable rental definitions in Newmarket, inclusionary zoning regulation (O. Reg 232/18) and Bill 23, what is inclusionary zoning, policy directions and recommended inclusionary zoning framework, housing action plan objectives, and project phasing schedule. 

Members of Council queried the presenter regarding the definition of 'affordable', vacancy rate, core housing need, severe core housing need, upcoming rental developments, rents in condos, the date for the data, household income deciles. inclusionary zoning in other municipalities, wait list length, incentivizing affordable housing and inclusionary zoning, rental housing in York Region, feedback from developers, and a cash-in-leu.

Members of Council discussed affordable housing, and resident need, the Globe and Mail's article on renter friendly cities, and current rental availabilities in Newmarket.  

  • Moved by:Councillor Simon
    Seconded by:Councillor Broome
    1. That the presentation provided by Ed Starr, Founding Partner, and Matt Pipe, Manager SHS Inc. regarding Housing Needs Assessment and Inclusionary Zoning be received.


    Carried

None.

Council did not resolve into Closed Session.

  • Moved by:Councillor Broome
    Seconded by:Councillor Morrison
    1. That the meeting be adjourned at 12:03 PM.


    Carried