MINUTES - Public Planning - 20210511 1
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
7 p.m.
Video Conference
Council Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas (Chair)
Councillor Wendy Gaertner
Councillor John Gallo
Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Councillor Sandra Humfryes
Councillor Harold Kim
Councillor Michael Thompson
Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services
Edward Terry, Senior Policy Planner
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
Samantha Yew, Deputy Town Clerk
Linda Bottos, 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.
Council consented to reopen the public portion of the meeting to permit
members of the public to speak for a second time.
2. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
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That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor Gallo, Councillor
Gilliland, Councillor Humfryes, Councillor Kim, and Councillor Thompson
Carried (7 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 notice was given over and above
the requirements of the Planning Act for a non-statutory public meeting.
4.1 PDS21-034 - Town of Aurora Official Plan Review - Release of
Discussion Papers for Public Consultation
Planning Staff
David Waters, Director of Planning and Development Services, provided a
brief status update on the Official Plan (OP) Review process and
Discussion Papers, and introduced the consulting team to present the
highlights of each Discussion Paper and answer questions on Aurora
Vision 2051.
Consultants
David Riley, Principal, SGL Planning & Design Inc., and Sabrina Coletti,
Manager, Planning, WSP, presented an overview of the OP Review project
purpose and timelines, stakeholder engagement, feedback, and an
updated Aurora Vision 2051. A brief summary of the Discussion Papers
was presented on the themes of Growth and Infrastructure, Natural
Heritage, Complete Communities, and Cultural Heritage and Archaeology,
followed by next steps. Paul Lowes, Principal, SGL Planning & Design Inc.,
was also present to answer questions.
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Public Comments
Aurora residents George Skoulikas, President of Henderson Forest Aurora
Ratepayers Association (HFARA), and Wendy Kenyon, Vice President,
HFARA, expressed the following comments:
• Concerns and comments regarding Natural Heritage Discussion Paper
o Need to balance urban growth and development with protection
and enhancement of Town's natural heritage system
o Not all settlement areas need to be developed
o Need for healthy eco systems for clean air and water, resilience
against effects of climate change
o OP needs stricter and clearer policies for natural heritage
protection, e.g., proper buffers to prevent edge effects; respect and
enforcement of Environmental Protection zones against threat of
encroachment
o Need for stricter and clearer, enforceable tree removal policies
o Concern about proposed tree removal to accommodate
developments
o Concern about how Town will reach woodland canopy coverage
target by 2031
o Concern about overdevelopment and increased flood risk and
impact on property values
o Opposition to concept of biodiversity offsetting as a best practice
policy
• Concerns and comments regarding habitat protection
o Need to maintain balance between habitat protection and
development
o Concern about potential inclusion of offsetting, which doesn't
address immediate loss of habitat and connectivity
o Concern about impacts on wildlife, including turtles in the wetlands
o Concern about potential change to outright protection of special
concern species habitat
o Town should be strengthening, not reducing, protections within the
new OP
o OP should set clear policies, that can't be overwritten, for
maintaining a healthy wildlife habitat
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• Request for clarification regarding the Growth Management
Discussion Paper respecting accommodation for the majority of
population growth in the Major Transit Station Area (MTSA), Built-up
Area (BUA), and Designated Greenfield Area (DGA)
• Concern regarding inadequate protection of Oak Ridges Moraine lands;
need for balance and respect for buffers to maintain protection of
natural heritage system and habitat
Planning Staff
Mr. Waters provided clarification regarding the long-term and short-term
growth areas and whether the Town has the authority to endorse a
different growth forecast than what the Region is proposing to assign.
Mr. Edward Terry, Senior Policy Planner, addressed the concerns
regarding the concept of biodiversity offsetting.
Consultants
Mr. Lowes provided further clarification regarding the long-term and short-
term growth areas.
Mr. Riley addressed the concerns regarding the Town's woodland canopy
coverage target.
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
1. That Report No. PDS21-034 be received; and
2. That the Discussion Papers attached hereto as Appendices 1 to 6 be
formally released for public review and comment; and
3. That staff report back to a future General Committee meeting to
present the results of public consultation and the Policy Directions
Report.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor Gallo, Councillor
Gilliland, Councillor Humfryes, Councillor Kim, and Councillor Thompson
Carried (7 to 0)
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5. Confirming By-law
5.1 By-law No. 6346-21 Being a By-law to Confirm Actions by Council
Resulting from a Council Public Planning Meeting on May 11, 2021
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor Gallo, Councillor
Gilliland, Councillor Humfryes, Councillor Kim, and Councillor Thompson
Carried (7 to 0)
6. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
Carried
Tom Mrakas, Mayor Michael de Rond, Town Clerk