MINUTES - Special Council - 20060426
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING
MINUTES
NO. 06-14
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Jones in the Chair; Councillors Buck, Hogg,
Kean, Morris, Vrancic, Wallace and.
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillors West and Gaertner were absent.
OTHER ATTENDEES Director of Planning, Manager of Planning/
Development, Administrative Coordinator/Deputy
Clerk, and Council/Committee Secretary.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:05 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 Vrancic Seconded by Councillor Buck
THAT the content of the Agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services
Department 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 property in accordance with
the relevant provisions of the Planning Act.
Special Council – Public Planning Minutes No. 06-14 Page 2
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
1. PL06-045 - Zoning By-law Amendment Application
Whitwell Developments Limited (First Professional)-Wal-Mart
Part of Lot 21, Concession 3 (Block 2 Plan 65M-3819)
File: D14-09-06
Planning Staff
The Manager of Development Planning provided a description of the application
and reviewed the contents of the report, outlining the location of the property and
current uses of the subject and surrounding lands. The Manager of Development
Planning advised that the owner has submitted an application to amend the site
specific provisions of Bylaw 4669-05.D to allow for a department store use (Wal-
Mart) of up to 20,392 m2 to sell a full range of food products beyond the ‘limited
range’ of foods as currently defined in the by-law. The Manager of Development
Planning also advised that the current by-law definition allows only ‘limited’ food
sales and that the new department store format would amount to 20,392 m2 or an
increase in size by approximately 8100 m2 which would actually amount to less
than a combined area of a department store and supermarket as currently
permitted on the lands. The Manager of Development Planning concluded by
advising that the applicant submitted a revised site plan on April 17, 2006, which
responds to several comments resulting from an early review by the Site Plan
Review Committee, and that staff are still reviewing the revised plan.
Applicant/Agent
Ms Mary Bull of Wood Bull, LLP, addressed Council to advise that Wal-Mart has
announced that a new prototype department store is being introduced in Ontario
which increases the store floor area and expands the range of food product sales
and she added that the Wal-Mart store proposed for this location is one of the
new format prototypes proposed in Ontario. Ms Bull reassured Council that the
total amount of retail space, as re-allocated for this newly proposed combination
of uses, will still amount to less that the current zoning for a full department store
and a full supermarket. Ms. Bull also advised that the there is still more
information coming in from the traffic consultant regarding the traffic study, as a
result of the new proposal.
Public Comments
Mr. Michael Evans of Aurora True Value Hardware expressed his concern
regarding the notification process for this application, impact on the downtown
core and the availability of hydro for the project.
Mr. Steven Zakem of Aird & Berlis LLP, addressed Council on behalf of Loblaw
Properties Ltd., to advise that the Real Canadian Superstore at Bayview Avenue
and St. John’s Sideroad is currently compiling a similar Official Plan and Zoning
By-law amendment applications for the purpose of expanding their store to
include a wider range of retail items, including clothing, house wares and other
home products that would be found in a department store. Mr. Zakem advised
that Loblaw Properties Ltd., supports this application, however requests that the
Town of Aurora offer the same consideration in regard to their forthcoming
application when it is submitted.
Mr. Donald Hill requested clarification regarding the number of levels in the
proposed building. The applicant’s representative advised that the building
would be a single storey structure.
Special Council – Public Planning Minutes No. 06-14 Page 3
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The public portion of the meeting closed at 7:38 p.m. and Council’s deliberations
began.
Moved by Councillor Vrancic Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT Council resolve that the application be brought back for further
consideration by Council at a future Public Planning meeting, to be
scheduled once staff have resolved all outstanding issues, received and
reviewed all necessary information, including the revised site plan, for
conformity to the Official Plan and associated urban design guideline
issues and taking into account the comments from the public and Council.
CARRIED
IV READING OF BY-LAWS
Moved by Councillor Morris Seconded by Councillor Hogg
THAT the following listed by-law be given 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings, and
enacted:
4797-06.C BEING A BY-LAW to Confirm Actions
by Council Resulting From This
Meeting - Wednesday, April 26, 2006.
CARRIED
V ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Hogg
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
CARRIED
______________________ _________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR K. EWART, DEPUTY CLERK