MINUTES - Special Council - 20030326
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL - PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING
MINUTES
NO. 03-09
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Jones in the Chair; Councillors Griffith, Kean,
MacEachern, Pedersen and Wallace
Councillors Timpson, Vrancic and West were absent.
STAFF MEMBERS Deputy Clerk, Director of Planning, Planner and
Council/Committee Secretary.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
I DECLARATIONS OF 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 be approved as presented.
CARRIED
III PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Mayor Jones outlined the procedures that would be followed in the conduct of the
public meeting. The Deputy Clerk confirmed that appropriate notice had been
given and that signs had been posted on the subject properties in accordance
with the relevant provisions of the Planning Act.
Aurora Special Council – Public Planning Minutes No. 03-09 Page 2
Wednesday, March 26 2003
1. PL03-032 - Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law
Amendment and Subdivision Applications
Chilldan (Aurora) Limited
Part of Lot 86, Concession 1, W.Y.S.
West of Yonge Street and North of St. John’s Sideroad
Files D09-01-03, D14-01-03 and D12-03-1A
Planning Staff
The Planner gave a description of the application and summarized the contents
of the Planning Report No. PL03-032. The Planner advised that the applicant is
proposing to have the Official Plan and Zoning By-law amended, in order to
develop the subject lands for a subdivision consisting of 102 single-detached
dwelling units, a parkette and open space, a stormwater management
block/pond, a future development block and associated roads. The Planner
indicated that staff had no objections in principle to the application but indicated
that a number of outstanding issues, such as appropriate approvals from the
Region of York, road and traffic concerns, the provision of a geotechnical study
for the lands, issues related to density and compatibility in relation to the
surrounding lands, appropriate road access into the undeveloped lands to the
west of the subject lands, grading and drainage. Many other issues, as well as
those raised at this meeting, will need to be addressed prior to the site plan
approval process.
Applicant/Agent
Mr. Don Given of Malone Given Parsons Ltd., representing the applicant, advised
that the archaeological study could not be conducted until the existing soccer
pitches on the property are relocated. Mr. Given advised that the applicant’s
proposal will include appropriate fencing to protect the agricultural lands to the
north of the area and that the potential owners will be given notice of the
agricultural uses to the north, and encouraged to refrain from using any
pesticides or environmentally damaging chemicals. Mr. Given also advised that
the design will include a buffer of vegetation along the streetscape of St. John’s
Sideroad, to maintain the natural setting and to provide privacy for the residents
of the proposed development. Mr. Given noted that the issues of grading and
drainage should be suitably addressed by the placement of the proposed
Stormwater Management block/pond in the north/east corner of the property
where the land naturally slopes down to the floodplain area. Mr. Given also
advised that there is an existing pond on the south/west corner of the property
containing a dam, which is in need of repair, and it was requested that the Town
advise the owner of the Town’s preferred course of action with respect to the
pond and dam.
Public Comments
Comments were made from the following people who were in opposition to the
application:
• Mr. Andrew Dunin, resident of 488 St. John’s Sideroad
• Mr. Vladimir Alter, resident of 203 St. John’s Sideroad
• Mr. Jeff Allan, resident of 2 Willow Farm Lane
Many of the residents raised concerns regarding additional strain on traffic and
potential congestion at the entrance into the proposed development, and
suggested that other options be looked at to increase the number of access
points into the proposed subdivision. Some residents were concerned about the
possibility of run-off from the proposed development seeping into the
neighbouring farmland and wetlands, which could have a negative impact on the
environment. Concerns also included various issues regarding higher density of
homes per acre, creating a more crowded and unattractive atmosphere, potential
decrease to the value of existing estate homes in the surrounding area, and the
potential to lose the natural wild setting of this portion of Aurora.
Aurora Special Council – Public Planning Minutes No. 03-09 Page 3
Wednesday, March 26 2003
The public portion of the meeting closed at 8:10 p.m. and Council’s deliberations
began.
Moved by Councillor Kean Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT the York Region Police be requested to take appropriate measures
to monitor traffic along St. John’s Sideroad, between Yonge Street and
Bathurst Street, to help diffuse the ongoing problem of speeding.
THAT report PL03-032 be received as information and referred back to
staff to report back as to the resolution of outstanding issues, as identified
in the report and those which were expressed at the meeting, including but
not limited to:
• Comments from the Region of York and the York Regional District
School Board.
• Reduction in density of units and increase lot sizes within the proposed
development to ensure compatibility with the surrounding area;
• Issues relating to grading and drainage onto and off of the subject
lands;
• Environmental protection measures with respect to pesticides and
chemicals and their effect on the surrounding farmland and wetlands.
• Adding pedestrian and vehicular access into block 104 for
maintenance purposes;
• Blocks 104-106 inclusive should be conveyed to the Town;
• Consideration of a road connection to the western lands to provide
access in the event they are developed in the future;
• Increasing the set back of the proposed properties adjacent to the
farmlands to the north, and the lands to the west;
• Traffic issues relating to pedestrian and vehicular safety, and overall
impact on the community;
• Investigation into the installation of traffic signals at the entranceway to
the proposed development, and lighting along St. John’s Sideroad;
• Maintenance, preservation and/or replacement of any lost or damaged
trees and vegetation during and subsequent to construction of this
development;
• Peer review of the Environmental Impact Study;
• Environmental impact as a result of the proposed relocation of the
soccer pitches;
• All other comments received with respect to this proposed
development.
CARRIED
IV ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Griffith
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
CARRIED