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Engineering
Town of Newmarket Engineering Department
Rob Prentice, Commissioner of Community Services
Jim Koutroubis, Director of Engineering Services
Telephone: 905-895-5193
Fax: 905-953-5138
E-mail : engineering@newmarket.ca
The Engineering Services Department is responsible for:
- all design and construction services,
- infrastructure analysis and planning,
- asset management and lifecycle analysis,
- lot grading and infilling,
- subdivision and site plan development control,
- annual capital and annual capital construction program and delivery,
- parks development, trails and corporate building facility design and construction,
- traffic and transportation management,
- parking bylaws,
- surveying,
- traffic data,
- as well as dealing with all matters relating to municipal civil engineering.
Balancing the delivery of these services through funding from adequate, stable and sustainable funding sources, the department protects and maintains the Municipality's over $1 Billion investment in infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be getting a sidewalk on my side of the street?
Simply call or visit the Engineering Services Department with your street name and lot number and we will be able to advise on whether or not sidewalks are planned for your side of the street. There may also be other helpful information available when you contact us.
When will my lot be sodded?
In accordance with the subdivision agreement, the developer shall ensure that the builder completes the sodding of each lot shown on the plan no later than one year after the date of occupancy of the dwelling unit on that lot. The developer/builder determines the best timing for these things, based on a sufficient amount of work to justify bringing in the crews. Therefore, purchasers should contact their builder for timing questions.
Who should I speak to if there are going to be utility boxes on my lot?
The Engineering Services Department can let you know the proposed locations for utility boxes and hydro vaults. (Due to the nature of utility distribution systems, utility companies reserve the right to install additional access boxes where necessary).
Will the builder pave my driveway and if not, when should I pave it?
You will need to check your Purchase and Sale agreement to see if paving is included with your purchase. If not, the responsibility is the homeowner's. Since there are underground services that may settle with time, we suggest you hold off paving your driveway for at least a year or two. Where sidewalks exist, the Municipality ensures the portion between the sidewalk and the curb is paved by the builder/developer.
Can I widen my driveway?
Due to narrower lots there is less grassed boulevard room for things like trees, utilities and street parking. As a result, the Municipality does not generally permit widening of driveways beyond the approved widths. There may be exceptions made where a lot has a large frontage and sufficient boulevard remains for street utilities and on-street parking. These are approved at the sole discretion of the Municipality. If approved, the homeowner must first pay for a curb cut to be made.
Curb Cut
- In order to proceed with your request for a driveway widening & curb cut, please prepare a drawing using a copy of your property survey.
- The property survey must show the existing driveway width in meters as well as the proposed width.
- Following this step: please visit our Customer Service Department counter located at 395 Mulock Dr. (between Yonge St. and Bayview Ave), to apply for the curb cut and/or driveway widening.
- Most applications must be sent to the Planning Department to determine if the proposed driveway/ curb cut complies with the zoning bylaw.
- If the Planning Department approves the proposed widening, Public Works staff will investigate the site and ensure no existing street furniture prevents the widening and curb cut. This process usually takes 2-3 weeks.
- The Town of Newmarket will contact and advise you of the outcome of your application.
Generally, a curb cut request in new or "un-assumed" subdivisions is not approved.
Fees:
If your file is approved:
- Curb cuts are $ 241.50, - Standard curb cuts are performed once 2 cuts have been requested.
If your street is un-assumed, the Town of Newmarket will require a letter from your developer allowing us to proceed with the proposed curb cut.
NOTE: Residents who widen their driveways without approval are subject to fines and reinstatement costs.
Who can I speak to about Boulevard (street) trees and other streetscape matters?
Street trees in all new subdivisions are installed by the subdivision developer based on a landscape plan that is approved by the Municipality. Plans are submitted and approved long before the subdivision is built. The landscape plan establishes the tree types and the locations. While we endeavour to have one tree planted for each house this is often not possible because of required setbacks from light poles, utility boxes, intersections, stop signs, and driveways. Street trees are usually not installed by the developer until all of the streets and boulevards within a subdivision are completed. Trees that die before the Municipality assumes the subdivision will be replaced by the developer.
If you live in a new subdivision that has yet to be assumed by the Municipality and have a question about the street trees please call Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca .
Is my subdivision assumed?
While the timeframe varies for each subdivision, assumption generally occurs one year after it is totally built out. This can sometimes be 3 or 4 years after the start of construction. For further information please see attached document. If you are not sure if your subdivision has been assumed by the Municipality please contact Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca.
Who can I speak to about street trees in an older/ assumed subdivision?
Once a subdivision is assumed the street trees become the responsibility of the Municipality. Please contact Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca.
Where can I get information on new parks in my neighbourhood?
Please contact Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca.
Can I Install a fence on my new (un-assumed) property?
Fencing can be erected anytime you wish, keeping in mind that the fence by-laws are maintained. However, the developer although being responsible for the correction of any deficiencies on the lot (until the assumption of the sub-division), is not responsible to remove and/or replace any fencing that is erected by the homeowner in order to facilitate any possible repairs that they may be required to carry out.
Therefore, we suggest that if you wish to erect a fence prior to assumption that you contact your builder/ developer and ask their consulting engineer to visit your home and see if erecting a fence is feasible.
This way you ensure that you and your neighbours do not experience any drainage concerns, and avoid the possibility of having to remove and/or replace your fence in order to get a grading deficiency repaired by the developer.
Who can I talk to about Lot Grading?
Purchasers are strongly encouraged to contact the Engineering Services Department to determine the approved grading design for the lot they are interested in before they buy. The purchasers will be informed as to whether the approved grading proposal requires retaining walls, slopes, rear yard catchbasins and drainage from abutting lands. Please contact Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca.
I gave my builder a grading deposit but it has been some time now and I still haven't been given it back.
The Municipality is not party to any grading or damage deposits in plans of subdivision. The amount and conditions for refund are between the builder and the purchaser through your Purchase and Sale agreement. Lot grading deposits are held by the developer and/or builder and are generally returned to the purchaser after the lot grading has been approved by the Municipality.
Contact the Please contact Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca to confirm that the lot grading has been approved and then contact your builder for return of the deposit.
I don't understand, the builder says that the return of my deposit has something to do with the Municipality. Who has my money and when do I get it back?
The Town of Newmarket does hold letters of credit from developers to ensure that all works (such as roads, storm sewer, fencing and landscape works), that have been approved under the subdivision agreement, are completed in accordance with Municipal standards and specifications. This agreement however, is a separate legally binding agreement between the Municipality and the developer only.
Sometimes, but not always builders will charge the purchaser for deposits on their home. When this is required you should check the purchase agreement carefully before you sign to determine what the deposit is for, who will be holding it and when it will be returned. Deposits paid by the purchaser to the builder are a private matter and come under a distinctly separate legal agreement between the purchaser and the builder. In the case of such private agreements the Town of Newmarket has no authority whatsoever to intervene on the purchaser's behalf in obtaining a refund for any deposits paid.
I am in a new subdivision and have just moved in, does the town supply new waste bins to new home owners?
The green bin distribution program occurred in August 2007, each house received a green bin through the Town's capital program and the bin was to be part of the property of the house. The blue box was distributed in the mid 1990's under a subsidize capital program. New residents or home buyers have had to purchase blue boxes since then.
Recently, site plan agreements have a fee included to provide a green bin and two blue boxes to each new home or some builders have purchased them as a gesture to the new home buyer as part of purchasing a home from them. If your builder for your development chose not to do either, then residents are required to purchase their bins.
When residents purchase green and blue bins they become the owner of the bins. The town does provide free replacements for damaged or broken green bins and blue boxes purchased from the Town.
Who do I contact about excessive mud and dust in a new subdivision?
Mud and dust are inevitable with construction but there may be times when a call to the Municipality is needed to ensure reasonable efforts are being made to minimize the problem. The Municipality instructs all developers and builders in new or existing subdivisions that once any of the houses have been occupied the streets must be kept reasonably clean.
If you believe that the mud and dust is excessive in your subdivision please contact Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca to confirm that the lot grading has been approved and then contact your builder for return of the deposit.
What is the purpose of the large pond in my subdivision?
Stormwater management ponds protect natural creeks and watercourses by reducing silt and erosion damage from water runoff. This is done by diverting rainfall runoff from roads and properties into the ponds where the water is then gently released at a controlled rate. This minimizes erosion downstream and also captures the silt in the ponds where it does not harm the environment.
What is the purpose of the square drain located on the street known as a catchbasin?
The purpose of a catchbasin is to collect rainwater during rainstorms. Disposing of any other substance into the catchbasin is illegal since this water ends up in our creeks and rivers and other substances may harm the wildlife.
Who is responsible for the cleaning of rear lot catchbasins in a residential subdivision?
Once the subdivision has been assumed, the responsibility of cleaning and maintaining the rear lot catchbasin belongs to the Municipality. Any maintenance prior to assumption is the responsibility of the developer.
Who do I contact for information on re-zoning?
Please contact Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca to confirm that the lot grading has been approved and then contact your builder for return of the deposit.
Who do I contact to find out about Site Plan submissions?
Please contact Customer Service at 905-895-5193 or customerservice@newmarket.ca to confirm that the lot grading has been approved and then contact your builder for return of the deposit.
I would like to know what is being built in a certain area.
Contact the Planning Department at (905) 953-5321. They will look up this information from their maps to determine if there has been an application submitted.
Where can I get more information on Development Charges / Levies?
Please contact the Planning Department at (905) 953-5321 to confirm that the lot grading has been approved and then contact your builder for return of the deposit.
Traffic responsibilities
The Town of Newmarket's Engineering Services department handles all traffic-related issues on Town-owned roads. They work with the community to address traffic issues and determine if the addition of traffic control measures would help or hinder traffic flow. This includes:
1. Investigating and researching ways to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
2. Monitoring traffic flows across all Town roadways, and tracking concerns initiated by
residents and businesses.
3. Creating and implementing traffic signs on Town roads, and operating and maintaining all
traffic signals within the Town.
4. Monitoring and reduce traffic infiltration in consultation with the community.
5. Creating, establishing and implementing parking and roadway bylaws.
6. Working with York Regional Police to develop education and enforcement programs to
monitor and reduce aggressive and dangerous driving.
Determining Traffic Control Methods
When traffic calming measures must be used, it is because research and investigation clearly shows that it is the best solution to resolve the problem. The following situations usually generate a warrant examination to determine if a control method would be effective.
