Burkholder Neighbourhood Environmental Assessment

Project Background

Burkholder Street is an east-west road approximately 700 metres in length that passes through a portion of Memorial Park and connects the Burkholder Neighbourhood to the park and surrounding collector and arterial roads. In 2013, a portion of the Leisure Centre Driveway was designated as public highway and connects the Leisure Centre with Burkholder Street. Based on the need to balance transportation with pedestrian safety of the Town’s largest park, consideration has been given over the years to options that include: temporary, intermittent, and permanent closures of Burkholder Street and the Leisure Centre Driveway.

In 2018, the Town approved the new Leisure & Community Services Master Plan. A new concept plan for Memorial Park was proposed as part of the Master Plan. The concept plan proposed changes to the transportation network, including the closure and removal of Burkholder Street as a public roadway through the park and the realignment of the south segment of the Leisure Centre Driveway to intersect Park Drive, north of new access to the Leisure Centre.

For more information about the park redesign, visit Memorial Park Redesign page.

In 2019, the Town consulted the public to gather feedback on the concept plan. Through this consultation, the residents of Burkholder Street and the surrounding neighbourhood identified two main priorities:

1. Maintain secondary neighbourhood access and egress
2. Calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety

The Municipal Environmental Assessment Study (MCEA) explored how Burkholder Street and the Leisure Centre Driveway should function as access points to the Burkholder Neighbourhood. The study considered the needs of the transportation network, traffic habits, pedestrian safety, and previous work completed by the Town.

Notice of Study Reclassification and Conclusion - March 16, 2023

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has completed a study to explore how Burkholder Street and the Leisure Centre Driveway should function as access points to the Burkholder Neighbourhood. The study considered potential solutions for traffic routing, access, and pedestrian safety.

The study commenced in May 2022 and initially followed the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process for ‘Schedule B’ projects (October 2000, as amended in 2015). The ‘Schedule B’ process was selected at the outset of the project because one of the potential options carried into the study for consideration involved a new roadway. Two Public Information Centres (PICs) were convened during the study process.

Based on the study findings and feedback received, additional or enhanced traffic calming measures on Burkholder Street and through the Leisure Centre Driveway have been identified as the preferred solution. Specific traffic calming measures will be determined in a future design phase. In addition to the preferred solution, recommendations for sidewalk, pedestrian crossing, and active transportation facility improvements were made as part of the study. The study recommendations were presented to Council on March 8, 2023.

The preferred solution and the other study recommendations are categorized within the Municipal Class EA as Schedule A/A+ activities. Therefore, the project has been reclassified, and the Schedule B process is no longer required.

At this time, the Burkholder Neighbourhood Municipal Class Environmental Assessment study has concluded. The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will proceed to the detailed design of the study recommendations.

Detailed Design Completed.

The Town and the Design Consultant have completed the detailed design process. While the full design will be released with the formal Request for Tenders (date TBC), the design includes the following components:

• New pavement markings and signage, between the Fitness Centre driveway and Park Drive and on the Fitness Centre driveway
• Reconstruction of pedestrian crossing, immediately east of Stouffville Creek, complete with upgraded lighting at the crossing
• Reconstruction of the multiuse path on the north side of Burkholder Street, from Stouffville Creek to Park Drive
• Removal of existing temporary speed humps and replacement with permanent speed cushions on Burkholder Street and the Fitness Centre driveway
• Upgrading of Burkholder Street and Park Drive intersection to emphasize pedestrian and bicycle crossing

Public Information Centre #2 - Recording and Presentation Now Available

Thank you for participating in Public Information Centre #2!

A recording of the virtual meeting held on September 22, 2022, and a copy of the Public Information Centre #2 presentation is now available for your review.

Public Information Centre #1 - Recording and Presentation

Thank you for participating in Public Information Centre #1!

A recording of the virtual meeting held on June 23, 2022, and a copy of the Public Information Centre #1 presentation is now available for your review.

Notice of Study Commencement

The Project

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study to explore how Burkholder Street and the Leisure Centre Driveway should function as access points to the Burkholder Neighbourhood. The study considered potential solutions for traffic routing, access, and pedestrian safety. The Town has retained CIMA+ to undertake this study.

The Process

The study is following the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process for Schedule ‘B’ projects (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, and 2015). The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment is an approved planning and design process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.

Two Public Information Centres (PICs) are planned for this project. The PICs provided an opportunity for interested parties to discuss the study with the project team and provide feedback. The PIC were scheduled and advance notification was provided.