<THORNHILL square: PLAN 20-130784 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT>
Thornhill Square Area
Thornhill Square Shopping Centre's
borders are marked in yellow.
The existing community shopping centre, built around 1980 (and used in 2004 in the making of the film Dawn of the Dead!), was acquired by Timbercreek of Four Quadrant GP2/Hazelview ("the developer") at the end of 2018.
Thornhill Square is part of the lands included in the Thornhill Centre area (which extends across Bayview and includes the Shouldice property). Visit our Bayview & John Vision.
Markham's Official Plan states that the Local Centre of Thornhill Centre, the heart of our community, is intended to “serve as an important focal point for the surrounding community, providing a range of housing, employment, shopping and recreational opportunities, as well as personal and human services."
Proposed Re-Development
More information on the proposed
Thornhill Square development:
- Re-Development Proposal Summary (the numbers)
- Proposal Application to the City of Markham
- Statutory Public Meeting Deputations
- The proposal in images
- Understand Community Impacts
- AWRA's Position
- Settlement Agreement details
- What are we doing
- What you can do
AWRA MEMBERS: THE ABOVE LINKS WILL NOT BE LIVE and/or CORRECT UNTIL WE PUBLISH.
<Thornhill Square: DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL SUMMARY>
<Thornhill Square: Development Application and OLT appeal>
PLAN 20-130784 / OLT Case 22-003917
On Friday, October 13th at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) Hearing, the developer, Timbercreek/Hazelview, presented a settlement agreement with the City of Markham.
The 'settlement' keeps the re-development proposal unchanged as of January/2023, with the addition of a "hold provision" on the development until the sanitary capacity issue has been addressed to the satisfaction of the City of Markham.
For details on the OLT case and the Settlement Agreement visit the OLT Case content.
The reports below were revised in 2023 under the OLT process:
- Submission Update Letter by Goldberg Group
- Architectural Plans (Revision 3) prepared by Graziani + Corazza Architects (Jan/2023)
- Functional Servicing/Master Servicing Report (FSR Revision 3) prepared by Counterpoint Engineering - Updated Jan/2023 (not the latest version)
- Transportation Impact Study (TIS) prepared by LEA Consulting - Updated Jan/2023
- Site Plan (updated in Jan/2023)
- Landscape Plan prepared by Landart Design (Jan/2023)
- Proposed Municipal Sanitary Sewer Improvements letter (June 29/2023)
- Functional Servicing/Master Servicing Report (FSR Revision 4) prepared by Counterpoint Engineering - Updated July 2023
Notes: Jan Files part of OLT Hearing: Joint Document Book, June/July files pending
The reports below were included in October 2021 updated application
(4 buildings up to 19 stories, 615 residential units, reduced non-residential space):
- Resubmission Letter prepared by Goldberg Group
- Architectural Plans package prepared by Graziani + Corazza Architects
- Functional Servicing/Master Servicing Report (FSR Revision 2) prepared by Counterpoint Engineering
- Transportation Impact Study (TIS) prepared by LEA Consulting
- Pedestrian Level Wind Study prepared by Theakston Environmental
- Landscape Plans prepared by Land Art Design Landscape Architects
- Shadow Study prepared by Graziani + Corazza Architects
On May 3, 2021 Markham submitted Preliminary Report to DSC
The reports below were included in the original Oct. 2020 application
(5 buildings up to 15 stories, 579 residential units, reduced non-residential space):
- Submission Letter prepared by Goldberg Group
- Planning Justification Report prepared by MHBC Planning
- Heritage Impact Assessment prepared by ERA Architects Inc.
Note: Unfortunately not all application files were provided. This development application is missing in Markham MappIT .
WARNING:
As usual, all reports and studies submitted by the developer are supportive of their proposal. Their conclusions are made in isolation and don't necessarily align with an overall urban plan for the area, nor include or consider the compounded impacts of other developments (proposed, approved or under construction) in the area.
<Thornhill Square Development Application Process>
Statutory Public Meeting (SPM)
In the City of Markham a major development application requiring a Zoning By-law Amendment (ZBA) and/or Official Plan Amendment (OPA) follows a series of steps (PLAN).
SPM is the last step before staff submits a Recommendation Report for consideration to the Development Services Committee (DSC). If approved will be sent to Council for vote.
A Notice of Public Meeting was sent on March 2, 2022 to residents on a 20m radius and persons who have requested to be included in the notification list.
Sending deputations
SPM accept both written and oral deputations.
Members of the public may submit written deputations by email to clerkspublic@markham.ca until the day before the meeting and instruction are included in the meeting announcement
For oral deputations check City of Markham website
March 22,2022 Thornhill Square SPM
There were 163 written deputations and 2 hours of oral deputations (around 20 deputants). The recorded session included brief presentations by staff, the developer, oral deputations and DSC members questions to staff and developers representatives.
On the same day a memorandum about the proposal changes was sent to members of Council
Some of the written deputations are listed below:
- L.O. on behalf of AWRA Executive
- Alena G. as area resident and AWRA Member
- Brian K. as area Resident and AWRA Member
- Debra H. as area Resident and AWRA Member
- Sue S. as area Resident and AWRA Member
- Eric L. on behalf of The Landmark of Thornhill
- Grandview Area Resident Association (GARA)
- Brian F. as area resident and member of Ward 1 (South) Thornhill Residents Inc (WOSTRI)
Click image to watch March 22, 2022 Statutory Public Meeting
AWRA Updates
As of May 1, 2025 content has been updated on:
- Bayview & John Visioning Exercise
Creating a new vision for the Bayview and John area is crucial for the future livability of Markham-Thornhill. Check out working session summaries and next steps
- Windy Hill Spring Clean Up & Meet was a Success!!
Over 10 people helped to keep the park beautiful including residents, area students and Councilor Keith Irish
- 2025 AWRA Annual General Meeting on April 3rd was a success!! Check out AWRA Executive and Ward 1 Councilor Keith Irish slide decks