MINUTES - Public Planning - 20190327
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Attendance
Council Members Mayor Mrakas in the Chair; Councillors Gaertner, Gallo, Gilliland,
Kim, and Thompson
Members Absent Councillor Humfryes
Other Attendees Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer, David Waters,
Director of Planning and Development Services, Lawrence Kuk,
Manager of Development Planning, Samantha Yew, Deputy Town
Clerk, and Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 9:01 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at
9:13 p.m.
On a motion by Councillor Thompson seconded by Councillor Gaertner, Council
consented to extend the hour to 11 p.m.
On a motion by Councillor Gallo seconded by Councillor Gilliland, Council consented on
a two-thirds vote to extend the hour to 11:15 p.m.
1. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, as amended with the
following additional item, be approved:
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Page 2 of 6
• Item 2 – Memorandum from Town Clerk; Re: Petition to Allow Regency Acres
Equal Zoning Standards
Carried
2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50.
3. Planning Applications
Mayor Mrakas outlined the procedures that would be followed in the conduct of the
public meeting. The Deputy Town Clerk confirmed that the appropriate notice had
been given in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Planning Act.
1. PDS19-025 – Stable Neighbourhood Study
Consultant
Mr. David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services, introduced
Mr. Ron Palmer, Principal, The Planning Partnership, who provided an
overview of his report, Infill Design Guidelines for Stable Neighbourhoods,
addressing the four Stable Neighbourhoods of Regency Acres, Aurora
Heights, Town Park, and Temperance Street. Mr. Palmer highlighted various
aspects of the report including background, the difference between guidelines
and a zoning by-law, the definition of compatible development, and the
proposed design guidelines and Zoning By-law amendments.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including Adam Aldred, Neil Asselin, Lexie Badali, Annelies
Bottenheim, Jan Bottenheim, Jackie Bristol, Janusz Butylkin, Kevin
Charbonneau, Nadia Chychrun, Ron Cocking, Paula Cooke, Paul Cooke,
Peter Curtis, Frank D’Amico, Darlene Dejardine, Susan Gilliver, Allison Halls,
Anna Kroeplin, Terry Miller, Adam Mobbs, Brian Murphy, Georgia Pottage,
Peter Rankel, Sandra Sangster, Spencer Shand, Peter Smith, Charlie Street,
Jorma Takki, Leslie Torok, and Cameron Weighill, provided the following
comments:
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Page 3 of 6
• Support for:
• Changes to control building scale and height
• Proposed building height measured to roof peak
• Proposed gross floor area
• Opposition to:
• More rules
• Proposed Zoning By-law amendments
• Proposed restrictions of design guidelines
• Same zoning for all Stable Neighbourhoods
• Proposed building height
• Proposed gross floor area
• Colour restrictions
• Consultant’s recommendations
• Questions regarding:
• Inclusion of new builds in calculation of gross floor area
• Inclusion of basement in gross floor area
• Angular plane of 45 degrees in relation to shallow roof line
• Permeable driveway/buffer zone where foundation can’t accommodate
• Cost-benefit ratio and Town expectations of revenue
• Implications of legal non-compliance and risk to Town
• Enactment of restrictive covenants
• Enforcement of Zoning By-law and design guidelines
• Staff report’s Link to Strategic Plan section re collaboration with
development community vs. residents
• Timing of Stable Neighbourhood designation and why parts of streets
are not designated
• Proposed maximum lot coverage of 35 percent
• Consideration of lot shape and natural encumbrances, e.g., flood plain
• Criteria used for averaging age of houses in study
• Concerns regarding:
• Impact on property value and retirement income
• Impact of down-zoning
• Gross floor area measurement methodology
• Affordable housing in Town
• Privacy, lighting, and shading issues
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Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Page 4 of 6
• Outreach of ratepayer associations
• Protection of mature trees
• Developers who employ repetitive design
• Proposed minimum rear yard setback of 7.5 metres
• Alignment of Zoning By-law with Official Plan
• Compatibility of new homes
• Potential increase in transition to rental properties
• Boundaries of Regency Acres Stable Neighbourhood core area vs.
inclusion of Golf Glen
• Report data skewed, assumptions and guidelines not realistic
• Protection of distinctiveness of neighbourhoods
• Use of social media to conduct consultation and tone of responses
• Communication, timing, language, and outreach of Town’s Stable
Neighbourhood Study online PlaceSpeak survey
• Single-storey dwelling built to 9-metre height excessive
• Suggestions:
• Extend proposal to entire Town or abandon proposed changes
• Larger garage and driveway width
• Respect Town’s Official Plan
• Clearer building height measurement process
• Encourage tree protection
• Remove three homes on Metcalfe Street from Stable Neighbourhood
designation
• Exclude large homes/anomalies from data analysis
• Exclude Aurora Heights from Stable Neighbourhood designation
• Find compromise/middle ground; protect opportunities for existing and
new homeowners
• Further study and implementation of survey by Town
• Neighbourhood-specific guidelines, including approval process and
timelines
• Flood plain area to be included in square footage of lot size
Consultant
Mr. Palmer addressed the questions and concerns regarding: the financial
impact of down-zoning; exclusion of basement in ground floor area calculation;
implication of legal non-compliant properties created by changes to the Zoning
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Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Page 5 of 6
By-law; inclusion of newer homes as part of calculations for ground floor area;
the 50 percent limitation on front-facing garages in relation to the main front
wall of dwelling; context to the identification of Stable Neighbourhoods in the
Official Plan; maximum lot coverage of 35 percent; considerations for pie-
shaped lots and flood plain areas; and potential for a single-storey building
height of nine metres.
Planning Staff
Mr. Waters addressed the questions and concerns regarding implementation
and enforcement of the proposed zoning standards and the design guidelines.
Mr. Kuk addressed the questions and concerns regarding: background to the
selection of the Stable Neighbourhood areas under study; and the link to the
Strategic Plan (Objective 5) respecting collaboration.
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
1. That Report No. PDS19-025 be received; and
2. That comments presented at the Public Planning meeting be addressed by
Planning and Development Services in a comprehensive report outlining
recommendations and options at a future General Committee meeting.
Carried
2. Memorandum from Town Clerk
Re: Petition to Allow Regency Acres Equal Zoning Standards
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That the memorandum regarding Petition to Allow Regency Acres Equal
Zoning Standards be received for information.
Carried
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Page 6 of 6
4. Confirming By-law
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the following confirming by-law be enacted:
6169-19 Being a By-law to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting from a
Council Public Planning Meeting on March 27, 2019.
Carried
5. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the meeting be adjourned at 11:15 p.m.
Carried
_________________________________ _________________________________
Tom Mrakas, Mayor Samantha Yew, Deputy Town Clerk