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MINUTES - Special Council - 20120924- THE TOWN OF AURORA SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING MINUTES Council Chambers Aurora Town Hall Monday, September 24, 2012 ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Ballard, Buck, Gaertner, Gallo, Humfryes, Pirri, and Thompson MEMBERS ABSENT None OTHER ATTENDEES Director of Planning and Development Services, Manager of Development Planning, Manager of Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk, and Council/ Committee Secretary Mayor Dawe called the meeting to order at 7 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 Buck Seconded by Councillor Abel THAT the agenda as circulated by the Customer and Legislative Services Department, with the following addition, be approved: Correspondence from Beverley and Peter Phillips, Residents Re: Item 1 – PL12-038 – Applications to Amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law RCG Aurora North Limited Partnership 800 St. John’s Sideroad Part of Lot 26, Concession 2 Files: D09-02-12 and D14-09-12 CARRIED III PLANNING APPLICATIONS Mayor Dawe outlined the procedures that would be followed in the conduct of the public meeting. The Deputy Clerk confirmed that the 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. Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes Monday, September 24, 2012 Page 2 of 5 1. PL12-038 – Applications to Amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law RCG Aurora North Limited Partnership 800 St. John’s Sideroad Part of Lot 26, Concession 2 Files: D09-02-12 and D14-09-12 Planning Staff The Manager of Development Planning, Mr. Glen Letman provided a brief overview of the applications and staff report. He advised that the applicant has applied for Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments to allow development of the subject lands located at 800 St. John’s Sideroad, on the northeast corner of Bayview Avenue and St. John’s Sideroad, for Community Commercial purposes. Mr. Letman reviewed the surrounding land uses and the proposed site development. He noted that staff will undertake a technical review of the applications to address the matters outlined in the staff report, as well as any comments received from the public and Council raised at the Public Planning meeting. Mr. Letman stated that a staff report with recommendations will be presented to Council for consideration and direction at a future General Committee meeting. Applicant/Agent Mr. Michael Mendes, Development Manager of Rice Commercial Group, provided a brief summary of the applicant’s proposal to develop the subject lands to include an LA Fitness centre at the north property line, a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant at the corner of the site, and retail in the balance of the development. He said they are working with LA Fitness and design team to reduce the size of the retaining wall, and also with York Region regarding the traffic impact study and site access. Mr. Mendes noted that he was present along with Michael Rice, Owner of Rice Commercial Group, to answer questions from the public and Council. Public Comments No members of the public came forward. Councillor Humfryes withdrew from the meeting at 7:28 p.m. Moved by Councillor Abel Seconded by Councillor Pirri THAT report PL12-038 be received; and THAT comments presented at the Public Planning meeting be addressed by the Planning and Development Services department in a comprehensive report outlining recommendations and options at a future General Committee meeting. CARRIED 2. PL12-037 – Block Plan Application (Block F – Yonge Street South Secondary Plan OPA 34) South Aurora Landowners Group File: D12-01-10 Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes Monday, September 24, 2012 Page 3 of 5 Planning Staff The Director of Planning and Development Services noted that the first statutory Public Planning meeting for the subject application was held on October 26, 2011 where Council directed staff to complete the review and report back with a final report and recommendation to a further Public Planning meeting. He then provided some history regarding the application and process. Applicant/Agent Mr. Claudio Brutto, of Brutto Consulting, representing the owners, noted that half of the 100 acres would be environmentally preserved and the pet cemetery would be saved in its entirety. He stated they had met every challenge and delivered what was promised, including appropriate densities, preservation of environmental land, and location of arterial roads, as prescribed by the Secondary Plan. He requested that Council accept the recommendations and recognize that there would be further opportunities for review and input through the interim period of addressing the Master Environmental Servicing Plan (MESP) and addendum, plan of subdivision, and Zoning By-law. Mr. Brutto referred to a letter of concerns submitted from the Ratepayers Association of Yonge Street South (RAYS) which was then circulated to Council. The meeting was recessed at 7:53 p.m. and reconvened at 7:55 p.m. Mr. Brutto provided a presentation showing the property context within the quadrant north of Ridge Road on the west side of Yonge Street adjacent to Beacon Hall, being 100 acres of mainly unutilized land with significant woodlots. He noted that they have met all of the challenges of the Oak Ridges Moraine that have been set before them and he reviewed details of the Block Plan, work and studies completed to date, and the timeline. Councillor Humfryes returned to the meeting at 8 p.m. Moved by Councillor Buck Seconded by Councillor Ballard THAT the correspondence from Warren McClure, Co-Chair of the Ratepayers Association of Yonge Street South (RAYS), regarding Item 2 – PL12-037 be received and added to the agenda. CARRIED Public Comments Mr. Warren McClure, resident of 14 Steeplechase Avenue, referred to the concerns expressed in his correspondence and indicated there was some confusion around the application process. Mr. Arnold McMillan, resident of 12 Jarvis Avenue, expressed concerns regarding the potential increased traffic volume through the Gilbert Drive/Jarvis Avenue area in relation to the proposed private school and access alignment. Mr. Roy Cohen, resident of 14264 Yonge Street, expressed concerns regarding the access alignment with Gilbert Drive and suggested that the densities were not enough and a sports complex should be included. Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes Monday, September 24, 2012 Page 4 of 5 Mr. David Heard, resident of 15 Ransom Street, expressed concerns regarding the pet cemetery on the property, adjacent properties that may be loaded with artefacts, creeks that run by the pet cemetery and adjacent properties, and the proposed school. He requested that Council consider deferring this matter until the concerns have been addressed and water test results have been received from the Ministry of Environment. Mr. Tom Vagenas, resident of 134 Ridge Road, expressed concerns regarding the access alignment with Gilbert Drive, well water concerns and lack of assurances to existing well owners, installation of a sanitary pumping station, removal of building lots where the roadway intersects the wooded area in the centre of the development, net residential density versus gross residential density, and lack of notice to residents. Mr. Ron Prieur, resident of 302 Ridge Road, requested that the number of acres of the subject lands be clarified and outlined, and inquired whether there was a collaboration between the different adjacent landowners in relation to the subject lands. Mr. Brutto clarified the boundaries of the subject and adjacent lands and spoke to some of the issues and needs in relation to the adjacent properties. The Director of Planning and Development Services addressed the residents’ concerns including the block plan application process, site access points, density requirements, road alignment, infrastructure and pumping stations, impact on adjacent wells, notification, pet cemetery, soil and water samples taken from adjacent lands by the Ministry of Environment, and archaeological studies. Mr. Claudio Brutto addressed the comments regarding net residential density. Moved by Councillor Abel Seconded by Councillor Pirri THAT report PL12-037 be received; and THAT the Block Plan Application F, submitted by The South Aurora Landowners Group, File: D12-01-10, be approved. On a recorded vote the motion CARRIED. YEAS: 5 NAYS: 4 VOTING YEAS: Councillors Abel, Buck, Pirri, and Thompson, and Mayor Dawe VOTING NAYS: Councillors Ballard, Gaertner, Gallo, and Humfryes IV READING OF BY-LAW Moved by Councillor Buck Seconded by Councillor Pirri THAT the following listed by-law be given first, second, and third readings and enacted: 5457-12 BEING A BY-LAW to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting from Special Council – Public Planning meeting on September 24, 2012 CARRIED Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes Monday, September 24, 2012 Page 5 of 5 V ADJOURNMENT Moved by Councillor Gallo Seconded by Councillor Ballard THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:43 p.m. CARRIED GEOFFREY DAWE, MAYOR CINDY JANZEN, DEPUTY CLERK THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 RECEIVED FINAL APPROVAL AT COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 9, 2012.