MINUTES - Public Planning - 20210608 1
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
7:00 p.m.
Video Conference
Council Members: Mayor Mrakas (Chair)
Councillor Kim
Councillor Gaertner
Councillor Humfryes
Councillor Thompson
Councillor Gilliland
Councillor Gallo
Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
David Waters, Director, Planning and Development Services
Rosanna Punit, Planner
Carlson Tsang, Planner
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
Samantha Yew, Deputy Town Clerk
Ishita Soneji, 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 7:02 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 9:12 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 9:23 p.m.
Council consented to extend the hour past 10:30 to 11 p.m.
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Council consented to extend the hour to 11:30 p.m.
Council consented to extend the hour to 12 a.m.
Council consented to extend the hour to 12:30 a.m.
2. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, be approved.
Yeas (5): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Kim, Councillor Thompson, Councillor
Gilliland, and Councillor Gallo
Absent (2): Councillor Humfryes, and Councillor Gaertner
Carried (5 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 the appropriate notice was given
in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Planning Act.
4.1 PDS21-073 - Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and
Draft Plan of Subdivision, Shining Hill Collections Inc., 162, 306, 370, 434
and 488 St Johns Sideroad West, File Number: OPA-2021-02, ZBA-2021-02
& SUB 2021-01
Consultants
Don Given, President of Malone Given Parsons Ltd., presented an overview
of the application including the revised submission plans, details of the
conceptual and landscape plan, site attributes including type of proposed
housing, amenities, and proposed design of the buildings.
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Planning Staff
Rosanna Punit, Planner, presented an overview of the application and staff
report respecting the proposal to accommodate a future residential block
consisting of 88 single detached dwelling lots, mid/high rise block with
approximately 233 units, a neighbourhood park block, a school block, and
a natural heritage system block. She noted that the proposal requires an
Official Plan amendment to amend the existing designations of OPA 37
consisting of Suburban Residential (SR-1), “Existing Major Institutional”,
“Supporting Area Open Space” and “Core Area Open Space” to “Suburban
Residential (SR-1)”, “Stable Residential”, “Environmental Protection”,
“Public Parkland”, “Core Area Open Space” and “Supporting Area Open
Space”; and a Zoning By-law amendment to re-zone the subject lands from
“Oak Ridges Moraine - Rural (RU-ORM)”, “Rural (RU)” and “Institutional (I)”
to: “Detached Third Density Exception X” (R3-X), “Detached Fourth Density
Exception X” (R4-X), “Second Density Apartment Residential Exception X”
(RA2-X), “Institutional Exception X” (I-X), “Oak Ridges Moraine
Environmental Protection Zone” (EP-ORM) “Environmental Protection”
(EP) and “Public Open Space” (O1). She further provided an overview of
the next steps and summary of the public comments received thus far.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, Nella Mauceri, Dzintra Schlotter, Marie Loureiro, Gordon
Logan, Maricella Sauceda, Wendy Kenyon, Shawn Xiong, Pierre Geoffroy,
and George Skoulikas expressed the following comments:
Opposition to the proposed development proposal
Concerns regarding:
o Increase in density as a result of the proposed development
o Proposed height of the apartment building and incompatibility with
the neighbourhood profile
o Proposed development plan contrary to existing zoning purpose
o Number of proposed units and storeys for the apartment building
o Lack of safe pedestrian pathways to access south side of St.
John's Sideroad
o Pedestrian safety
o Increase in traffic congestion on St. John's Sideroad as a result of
the proposed development
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o Increase in noise pollution
o Lack of traffic mitigation measures at access points of the
development, and at Cliff Trail and Willow Farm Lane intersections;
challenge of turning onto St. John's Sideroad
o Speeding vehicles and safety on St. John's Sideroad
o Removal of mature trees and increase in carbon levels
o Impact to the existing wildlife species and natural habitats
o Inadequate environmental protection buffers around sensitive
areas
o Noise and light disturbance and encroachment into the natural
heritage system
o Lack of amenities in the area
Questions regarding:
o Location and possibility of extending the proposed sidewalk on St.
John's Sideroad to Yonge Street and Bathurst Street
o Measures to manage traffic flow on St. John's Sideroad
o Trail connections (retention of existing trails and new connections)
o Timing and availability of the traffic study
o Possibility of alternate access point from Yonge Street or Bathurst
Street
o Measures to protect wildlife species and the existing natural
heritage system
o Servicing allocation
Suggestions regarding:
o Relocation of entrance into the development area to mitigate traffic
congestion
o Install adequate pedestrian walkways or extend sidewalk on St.
John's Sideroad
o Improve measures at access points to mitigate traffic congestion
o Reduce number of storeys and units in apartment building proposal
o Conserve natural setting of the area, protect trees, and existing
wildlife habitats
o Conduct additional traffic assessment of St. John's Sideroad
specifically during peak hours
Planning Staff and Applicant
Staff addressed concerns and questions regarding the extension and
location of the proposed sidewalk, noise mitigation, removal of mature
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trees, servicing allocation, and pedestrian access across St. John's
Sideroad. Staff further addressed questions regarding traffic mitigation on
St. John's Sideroad and noted that access points to the development will
have traffic mitigation measures installed.
Mr. Given addressed concerns and questions regarding the proposed
height and number of units, area density, natural heritage study and
protection of existing wildlife habitats, trail connections, timing and details
of the traffic study, and alternate access to the development area from
Yonge Street or Bathurst Street.
Moved by Councillor Humfryes
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
1. That Report No. PDS21-073 be received; and
2. That the comments presented at the Public Meeting be addressed by
Planning and Development Services in a report to a future Public
Planning Meeting.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Kim, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor
Humfryes, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Gallo
Carried (7 to 0)
4.2 PDS21-062 - Applications for Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment,
2601622 Ontario Inc., 26, 30, 32 and 34-38 Berczy Street, Lot 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
Part of Lot 10W/S Berczy St PL 68, OPA-2020-01 & ZBA-2020-01
Consultants
Ryan Guetter, Senior Vice President, Weston Consulting, presented an
overview of the application including details of the proposed use, Zoning
By-law and Official Plan amendments, heritage impact assessment,
proposed landscape plan, design of the building, and the next steps.
Planning Staff
Carlson Tsang, Planner, presented an overview of the application and staff
report respecting the proposal to facilitate the development of a 7-storey
mixed use apartment building with a total of 356 units. He noted that the
proposal requires an Official Plan amendment proposing a new site-
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specific policy to increase the maximum building height from 5-storey to
7-storey and reduce the minimum size of the Urban Square to 50 m2; and
re-zone the subject properties from "E1(10) Employment Zone" to "PDS1 -
Promenade Downtown Shoulder Exception Zone". He further provided an
overview of the comprehensive tertiary plan submitted by the applicant,
highlighted the next steps, and provided a summary of the public
comments received thus far.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, Ron Weese, Steve Sinclair, Daniela Frisoni, and Frank
Arnett, expressed the following comments:
Opposition to the proposed development
Concerns regarding:
o Proposed development plan not aligned with the historical
character of the neighbourhood
o Proposed height of the building and number of storeys
o Proposed rear yard setback resulting close proximity to
surrounding residential units
o Impact on privacy and quality of life
o Increase in parking and traffic congestion in the area
o Increase in density due to proposed development
o Proposed grade separation
o Proposed removal of property from the Aurora Register of
Properties of Cultural Heritage Value and Interest
o Potential higher property taxes and property values
Questions regarding
o Proposed setbacks and any associated variances
o Purpose of the proposed urban square
o Realignment of traffic flow on Berczy Street
o Measures to mitigate any noise
Planning Staff and Applicant
Staff addressed questions regarding the purpose of the urban square,
realignment of traffic flow on Berczy Street and alternate options, and the
rear yard setback variance.
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Mr. Guetter addressed concerns regarding the proposed height, number of
storeys, setbacks, rear yard setback variance, and measures to mitigate
noise.
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
1. That Report No. PDS21-062 be received; and
2. That comments presented at the Public Meeting be addressed by
Planning and Development Services in a report to a future Public
Planning meeting.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Kim, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor
Humfryes, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Gallo
Carried (7 to 0)
5. Confirming By-law
5.1 By-law No. 6354-21 Being a By-law to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting
from a Council Public Planning Meeting on June 8, 2021
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Kim, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor
Humfryes, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Gallo
Carried (7 to 0)
6. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the meeting be adjourned at 12:26 a.m.
Carried
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Tom Mrakas, Mayor Michael de Rond, Town Clerk