MINUTES - General Committee - 20030429
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING
RECORD
NO. 03-07
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Jones, in the Chair; Councillors Griffith, Kean,
MacEachern, Timpson, Vrancic, Wallace and West.
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillor Pedersen was absent.
OTHER ATTENDEES Chief Administrative Officer, Director Corporate
Services/Town Clerk, Treasurer, Director of Leisure
Services, Director of Planning, Long Range Planer,
Director of Public Works, and Council/Committee
Secretary.
Mayor Jones called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act.
II APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Wallace
THAT the content of the Agenda as circulated by the Corporate
Services Department be approved as presented, with the following
additional item:
Delegation request from Mr. Don Hill, Resident Re: Item
#PL03-044 - Environmental Issues Related to the 2B/C lands
CARRIED
III PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Ray Simpson of Hemson Consulting Limited
Re: Five Year Official Plan Review - Final Report
“Strategic Directions for Aurora”
Mr. Ray Simpson of Hemson Consulting Limited provided a brief overview of the Five
Year Official Plan Review - Final Report “Strategic Directions for Aurora” outlining the
purpose for the study, the findings of the study and the possible next steps for the Town
of Aurora to take. Mr. Simpson advised that the key recommendations resulting from
this study are to initiate a Regional Official Plan Amendment process to expand the
urban policy area and extend the planning horizon to 2021; update greenlands mapping
for the 2C lands and work with the Region of York to develop new forecasts; proceed
with secondary planning and establish residential phasing policy for the 2C lands and
update Official Plan Policies.
Special General Committee Report No. 03-07 Page 2
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
IV DELEGATIONS
Mr. Gregory Dell of Greg Dell & Associates
Re: Five Year Official Plan Review - Final Report
“Strategic Directions for Aurora”
Mr. Dirk Blyleven of Beacon Planning Services advised that Mr. Dell was unable to
attend the meeting and that he had requested Mr. Blyleven to speak for him on behalf of
the Robbins Family who own property in the subject area.
Mr. Blyleven advised that a letter written by Mr. Dell, has been distributed to the Mayor
and members of the General Committee for consideration. Mr. Blyleven advised that
Mr. Dell is requesting a response to his letter regarding his proposal of incorporating
into the Five-Year Official Plan Review, certain provisions of the Oak Ridges Moraine
Plan that require an evaluation by the Province with an aim to possibly amending the
land use designation allowing for some growth, where warranted.
Moved by Councillor Kean Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT the comments of the delegate be received as information.
CARRIED
Mr. Dirk Blyleven of Beacon Planning Services Re: Five Year Official Plan Review
- Final Report “Strategic Directions for Aurora”
Mr. Dirk Blyleven of Beacon Planning Services provided a table, which illustrated the
timelines for the Town of Aurora’s Strategic Directions Plan along with the Oak Ridges
Moraine Conservation Plan. Mr. Blyleven suggested that the Town should give
consideration to making a request, in conjunction with the Lake Simcoe Region
Conservation Authority, to have a study of the Moraine conducted by the Province, to
justify intrusion into the Oak Ridges Moraine, to re-designate certain lands which are
currently “countryside” to become “settlement areas”, to allow for future growth within
Aurora. Mr. Blyleven indicated that such studies will be part of the mandatory review of
the Moraine, scheduled to take place in 2011, this request would just allow the process
to blend better with the Town of Aurora’s Strategic Plan.
Moved by Councillor Vrancic Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT the provisions of the Procedural By-law be waived, and the
delegate be permitted to continue past the time limit of 5 minutes, to
complete his delegation.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
Mr. Don Hill, Resident Re: Item #2, Report PL03-044 - Environmental Issues
Related to the 2B/C lands (Added item)
Mr. Don Hill addressed the Committee on Item #2 of the agenda regarding
environmental issues related to the 2B and 2C lands. Mr. Hill advised Members that he
had concerns regarding the Environmental Assessment Study in particular the possible
environmental effects on the 2C lands resulting from the installation of a sewer. Mr. Hill
advised that he has met with staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of
Environment and Ducks Unlimited, who share his concerns.
Special General Committee Report No. 03-07 Page 3
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Mr. Hill suggested that the Town of Aurora should conduct a full environmental analysis,
and up to date mapping of the 2C lands. Mr. Hill advised that he has met with the
Region of York and has withdrawn his request to bump up the environmental
assessment of the sewer provided that the Region agrees to conduct a hydrogeological
study prior to the construction of the sewer.
Moved by Councillor Kean Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT the provisions of the Procedural By-law be waived, and the
delegate be permitted to continue past the time limit of 5 minutes, to
complete his delegation.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor West Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT the comments of the delegate be received for information.
CARRIED
V CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. OPR03-003 - Five Year Review of the Official Plan
Moved by Councillor Timpson Seconded by Councillor Griffith
1. THAT the recommendations as set out in the Strategic Directions Final
Report dated April 2003 be forwarded to Council and the following specific
recommendations, as revised by the Five Year Official Plan Committee at
their meeting of April 14, 2003, to be carried out in the order noted, be
adopted:
Expansion of Urban Area- Regional Official Plan
2.1 The Region of York be requested to process an Official Plan Amendment
to bring the 2C lands into the Regional Official Plan Urban Area.
2.2 As part of the Regional Official Plan Amendment that the Greenlands
System map be updated as appropriate to reflect Environmental Features
in the 2C area.
2.3 In conjunction with the above, and as part of the Regional Official Plan
Review, and Regional in-depth analysis on the Census Data, that the
population projections for the Town of Aurora be reviewed and lowered to
reflect the identified limitations on ultimate growth in Aurora once the
Region has reduced its numbers to deal with the limitations imposed by
the Oak Ridges Moraine and the East Aurora Wetland Complex.
Aurora Official Plan
3.1 That the Official Plan be amended to develop a new section devoted to
enhancing Economic Development including polices to solidify guidelines
for conversions of employment land to other uses in concert with the
revisions to the Economic Development Strategy and along with the
required public meetings, consultation with interest groups, reporting etc.
3.2 That the Official Plan be amended to update the Town’s commercial and
industrial policies along with the required public meetings, interest groups
consultation, reporting etc.
Special General Committee Report No. 03-07 Page 4
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
3.3 That the Official Plan be amended to update other polices as identified in
Appendix 3 to the Strategic Directions report also along with the required
public meetings and documentation.
Expansion of Town Urban Boundaries and 2C Secondary Plan:
4.1 That after the approval of the Regional Official Plan Amendment, the
Aurora Official Plan be amended to extend the Planning Period to 2021
and expand the urban policy area, update relevant sections related to
urban areas and population forecasts.
4.2 That the Official Plan be amended by the preparation of a comprehensive
Secondary Plan for the 2C lands including background studies dealing
with environment, transportation, parks, servicing, employment land,
commercial uses, residential, phasing and urban design taking into
consideration the Strategic Directions Report based on preference to
achieving employment land.
4.3 That a full public process be undertaken as part of the Secondary Plan
and urban boundary expansion Official Plan Amendment.
Financial Strategy:
5. That a Financial Strategy including a monitoring program to ensure that
potential negative fiscal impacts of new urban expansion areas are
minimized and mitigation measures to address potential impacts be
undertaken in conjunction with the Secondary Plan process.
Phasing Strategy:
6. That a phasing strategy be incorporated into the Secondary Plan for the
2C area to ensure that residential development does not occur prior to
substantial build out of the 2B area and allows the employment land to
proceed as the need/opportunity arises. The Town will use all available
mechanisms to ensure that employment land development is concurrent
or precedes residential development in the 2C lands.
Budget:
7. That Council provide a budget for the completion of these amendments
and studies as part of the 2004 Operating and Capital Budget Outlook
process.
8. That the Committee Record of the April 14, 2003 meeting No. 04-03 be
received as information.
AMENDMENT: Upon the question of the adoption of the resolution, it was:
Moved by Councillor Kean Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT an in depth environmental study be conducted for the entire 2C
lands prior to consideration of the recommendations set forth in the Five
Year Official Plan Review - Final Report “Strategic Directions for Aurora”.
DEFEATED
Special General Committee Report No. 03-07 Page 5
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
DEFERRAL: Upon the question of the adoption of the resolution, it was:
Moved by Councillor Vrancic Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT sections 2.1, 2.2 & 2.3 be deferred until a legal opinion is provided
to advise on the potential impact of adding the 2C lands into the Regional
Official Plan Urban Area, on the Town’s position with regard to future
development of the 2C lands.
DEFEATED
The main motion was CARRIED AS PRESENTED
2. PL03-044 - Environmental Issues Related to the 2B/C lands
Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Timpson
THAT Report PL03-044 describing the considerations of environmental
issues related to the 2B/C lands be received for information.
CARRIED
VI OTHER BUSINESS, COUNCILLORS
None
VII ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Griffith
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
CARRIED
(THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 03-07 WAS
CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY,
MAY 13, 2003, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NO. 1 WHICH WAS DISCUSSED
AND AMENDED)
______________________ _________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK