A Site Plan Control application has been received from Roman Catholic Greek-Melkite (Makarios Wehbi) c/o Joseph Kostantin Architect (Joseph Kostantin) for 1 Lyndhurst Drive. The applicant is proposing to demolish an existing place of worship and construct a new place of worship and daycare. Please see architectural drawings here:

I am encouraged that the congregation has plans to redevelop the site for their use. I have had ongoing discussions with the Church leadership since 2019 about the suitability of their rebuilding plans and I am pleased they have submitted an application that will result in continued use by them of this site. I have written about this three times in seven of my newsletters (2018-2022) distributed by Canada Post to all Thornhill residences. I also want to express my gratitude to the neighbouring community for their patience considering the currently uninhabitable Church has been an eyesore for nearly seven years.

There will be an opportunity for residents to comment on what is being proposed at a future Committee of Adjustment Meeting. A date for the meeting is still to be determined.

Notes on the Committee of Adjustment

The Planning Act grants authority to Municipal Councils to appoint a Committee of Adjustment to review and either approve or deny what are considered to be minor variances to the city’s by-law(s).

Markham’s Committee is composed of seven citizen members. The city’s by-laws prohibit Councillors from sitting on the Committee and members of Council are not allowed to influence its decisions, nor do their decisions come before Markham Council for final review and approval.

After a Committee of Adjustment meeting where a decision has been made on an application, there is a 20-day appeal period. Any interested party (who spoke at, wrote to, or asked to be included on the interested parties list) can appeal an application to the provincial Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).

If you wish to pursue an appeal, please contact Brad Roberts who can explain the process.

  • Brad Roberts
  • Manager of Zoning and Special Projects
  • City of Markham
  • 905-477-7000 ext. 2800
  • broberts@markham.ca