MINUTES - Special Council - 20010918 TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NO. 27-01
Holland Room
Aurora Town Hall
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Jones in the Chair, Councillors Griffith, Kean,
MacEachern, Pedersen, Timpson, Vrancic and
Wallace.
Councillor West was absent.
STAFF MEMBERS Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Corporate
Services/Town Clerk, Director of Planning, Senior
Planner and Council/Committee Secretary.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
II APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Moved by Councillor Wallace Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT the content of the Agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services
Department be approved as presented with the following addition:
• Memo from Councillor MacEachern re: Share Your Vision For The Oak
Ridges Moraine
CARRIED
III CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REQUIRING SEPARATE DISCUSSION
1. PL01-071 - Oak Ridges Moraine Update
Provincial Report “Share Your Vision for the
Oak Ridges Moraine”
D03-OAK
Planning Staff
The Senior Planner outlined the contents of Planning Report No. PL01-071 and
explained the draft provincial strategy for the Oak Ridges Moraine. Ms Henstock
advised Council that the intent of the province is to place similar restrictions on
the Oak Ridges Moraine that are currently in place for the Niagara Escarpment.
Ms Henstock outlined the core and natural linkage area’s permissive uses and
explained the panel’s recommendations to permit existing Hamlets etc. to
continue. Ms Henstock also explained the proposed “Oak Ridges Moraine
Legacy Trust” and some of the proposed ways in which to collect funding in order
to continually protect the future of the Moraine.
Special Council Meeting No. 27-01 Page 2
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
The Planner briefly summarized the recommendations of report PL01-071 and
their purposes. Ms Seibert suggested that Council support the recommendations
of Province along with staff’s recommendations and advised that the target date
for implementation of the legislation is November 17th, 2001.
Public Comments
Ann Gordon addressed matters related to water protection within the Oak Ridges
Moraine. Ms Gordon expressed that she felt it imperative to wait for the decision
of Justice O’Connor regarding the Walkerton water issue, and incorporate any
appropriate recommendations.
Susan Walmer, chair of the RAYS and ACORN, expressed concerns that the
document provided by the Province does not clearly state any increased
protective measures for private water well users on the Moraine. Ms Walmer
feels that the scientific data related to the headwaters and acquifers of the
watersheds should be considered in this regard. Ms Walmer suggested that clear
guidelines be made for the applications that have been frozen, to ensure their
compliance of the proposed new legislation protecting the Moraine. Ms Walmer
suggested a review on provincially held Moraine lands under comprehensive
Environmental Assessment and then place conservation easements on these
lands to safeguard them for generations to come. Ms Walmer has concerns
about the five-year review process, which suggests that changes could be made
to the protection plan the five years. Ms Walmer suggests that this type of
planning does not provide stability for investors or residents.
Dave Tomlinson raised concerns about the quality of the mapping and that
improved mapping should be provided to avoid disputes in the future. Mr.
Tomlinson also felt that more grassland should be protected and that only urban
development should be allowed within the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Moved by Councillor Timpson Seconded by Councillor Pedersen
THAT Council receive for information report PL01-071 regarding the
Provincial Report “Share Your Vision for the Oak Ridges Moraine”.
THAT report PL01-071 be forwarded to the Oak Ridges Moraine Advisory
Committee at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the
Region of York to represent the comments from the Town of Aurora.
THAT the Provincial Report “Share Your Vision for the Oak Ridges
Moraine” document be supported in principle subject to the following
issues being addressed:
i) that the Province bear the responsibility of their work and provide
ongoing technical, policy, and, if required, legal support to assist
municipalities through the implementation process and at any
resulting Ontario Municipal Board Hearings;
ii) that the resulting legislation and Provincial Plan be clear, concise
and straightforward;
iii) that the process take into consideration previous work on the
Moraine by the Province, the Regional municipalities, academia
and other agencies;
iv) that the Province review the impact on other Provincial legislation to
reconcile the legislation;
v) that the existing zoning of properties and conformity to the
proposed Provincial Plan be dealt with and reconciled at the
Provincial level;
vi) that the conformity with existing Official Plans be dealt with at the
Provincial level to negate the necessity for Official Plan
Amendments at the local level;
Special Council Meeting No. 27-01 Page 3
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
vii) that the Province undertake Growth Management work for southern
Ontario that examines the impact of this legislation on communities
and the inherent economic ramifications to provide clear growth
direction;
viii) that the mapping for the moraine be much more detailed, based on
property information and provided in a digital fashion to
municipalities to assist in interpretation;
ix) that the Province provide a residents guide for distribution at key
points in the process and especially after the legislation and
Provincial Plan are in place that is clear and easy to read to assist
residents in understanding the results and implications of the
legislation and Provincial Plan;
x) that, in addition to the land securement process outlined in the
Vision document, the Province develop a penalty process to assign
fines to landowners who destroy or damage environmental features
or areas;
xi) that the Province explore more thoroughly the opportunities for
funding from both the Provincial and Federal level and not expect
the municipalities to be the primary funding partner;
xii) that the province ensure protection of the headwaters of rivers
and streams;
xiii) that the province ensure protection of the Moraine’s forests;
xiv) that the province ensure protection of wetlands and kettle
lakes;
xv) that the province ensure protection of recharge and discharge
areas;
xvi) that the province ensure protection of the Moraine’s wildlife;
xvii) that the province ensure protection of well heads;
xviii) that policies be created based on scientific assessment of the
cumulative impact prior to permitting further development on
the Moraine;
xix) that the existing legislative freeze continue until the scientific
assessment of the Moraine is completed; and
xx) that an environment first approach be utilized protecting the
functions of the Moraine based on scientific assessment
where the developable areas would be the fall out of these
studies.
CARRIED
IV OTHER BUSINESS, COUNCILLORS
Councillor Pedersen requested that the report number PL01-071 with it’s
amendments be posted on the web site and be available at other Town facilities.
Councillor Kean inquired as to whether a reply to 12 Industrial Parkway has been
sent and was advised by the C.A.O. that it is in the process of being completed.
V ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Timpson
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
CARRIED
______________________ _________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK
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Tuesday, September 18, 2001