MINUTES - Public Planning - 20201208 1
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
7:00 p.m.
Video Conference
Council Members: Mayor Mrakas
Councillor Kim
Councillor Gaertner
Councillor Thompson
Councillor Gilliland
Councillor Gallo
Members Absent: Councillor Humfryes
Other Attendees: David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services
Edward Terry, Senior Policy Planner
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
Samantha Yew, Deputy Town Clerk
Ishita Soneji, Council/Committee Coordinator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Procedural Notes
This meeting was held electronically as per Section 19. i) of the Town's
Procedure By-law No. 6228-19, as amended, due to the COVID-19 situation.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
2. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
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That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, be approved.
Yeas (5): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Kim, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor
Thompson, and Councillor Gallo
Absent (2): Councillor Humfryes, and Councillor Gilliland
Carried (5 to 0)
3. 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.
4. Planning Applications
The Mayor outlined the procedures that would be followed in the conduct of the
public meeting. The Town Clerk confirmed that the appropriate notice was given
in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Planning Act.
4.1 PDS20-077 - Official Plan Review
Planning Staff
Edward Terry, Senior Policy Planner, provided background information and
status update on the Official Plan review process outlining the public
engagement initiatives undertaken by the Town leading up to the February
11, 2020 Council Public Planning meeting such as planner pop-up events
and provided a summary of the public comments received. He noted that
after the Council Public Planning on February 11, 2020, staff has retained
technical and public engagement consultants, developed a project
webpage with an introductory video, and established three steering
committees (leadership, community, and technical) to provide feedback to
the project team throughout the review process.
Consultants
David Riley, Principal & Planning Consultant, and Paul Lowes, Principal &
Project Director from SGL Planning and Design Inc., presented an overview
of the Official Plan review process thus far noting that the twelve
fundamental principles of Official Plan have been refined to four focus
area themes: growth and infrastructure, natural heritage, complete
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communities, and cultural heritage and archaeology. He further provided
details of the project timelines and phases and the process of developing
discussion papers on the four focus area themes. Sabrina Coletti,
Manager, Planning, from WSP Canada presented an overview of the public
engagement process that will be carried out throughout 2021 and the key
focus themes. She further provided details on the roles of the three
steering committees and the schedule of upcoming meetings in 2021, as
well as next steps regarding drafting the discussion papers, and an
overview of the project plan.
Public Comments
Nicholas Dell, representing an Aurora property owner, and Aurora
residents Peter Smith and Rebecca Beaton provided the following
comments for consideration in the Official Plan review process and
question:
• Comments regarding:
• Mitigation of homes with high water tables leading to possible
water problems in surrounding areas
• Maintaining building heights to allowable limits and inclusion of
fines for non-compliance in the revised Official Plan
• Retention of mature trees in existing older neighbourhoods and
inclusion of stronger tree protection measures in the revised Official
Plan
• Possible differential approach for each of the four Stable
Neighbourhood Areas and consider necessary amendments to
preserve their separate characteristics
• Mitigating growth and avoiding over development
• Question regarding:
• Possible changes to the existing Oak Ridges Moraine designation
for 14897 and 14773 Leslie Street as a result of the Regional
Municipal Comprehensive Review
Planning Staff
Staff provided a response regarding the Oak Ridges Moraine designated
lands noting that no changes were made after the Provincial review of the
Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) was completed in 2017
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and that the removal and/or redesignation of the subject lands from the
ORMCP is not part of the Regional Municipal Comprehensive Review.
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
1. That Report No. PDS20-077 be received; and
2. That staff report back prior to releasing the Discussion Papers for
public consultation and to provide an update on the Official Plan
Review work plan.
Yeas (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Kim, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor
Thompson, Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Gallo
Absent (1): Councillor Humfryes
Carried (6 to 0)
5. Confirming By-law
5.1 6298-20 Being a By-law to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting from a
Council Public Planning Meeting of December 8, 2020
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
Yeas (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Kim, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor
Thompson, Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Gallo
Absent (1): Councillor Humfryes
Carried (6 to 0)
6. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
Carried
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Tom Mrakas, Mayor Michael de Rond, Town Clerk