MINUTES - Public Planning - 20230509
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
7 p.m.
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Council Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas (Chair)
Councillor Wendy Gaertner (joined 7:05 p.m.)
Councillor Michael Thompson
Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Councillor John Gallo
Councillor Ron Weese
Members Absent: Councillor Harold Kim
Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer*
Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Rosanna Punit, Planner
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
Palak Mehta, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
Mayor Mrakas called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
2. Land Acknowledgement
The Mayor acknowledged that the meeting took place on Anishinaabe lands, the
traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island, recognizing
the many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day, the special
relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this territory, and
that Aurora has shared responsibility for the stewardship of these lands and
waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the Mississaugas
and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams Treaties of
1923.
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Tuesday, May 9, 2023 2
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Yeas (5): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gallo, and Councillor Weese
Absent (2): Councillor Kim, and Councillor Gaertner
Carried (5 to 0)
4. 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.
5. 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.
5.1 PDS23-063 - Application for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law
Amendment, 2457920 Ontario Inc.,15 Glensteeple Trail, Lot 29 on Plan 65M-
4614, File Number: OPS-2022-01 and ZBA-2022-01
Planning Staff
Rosanna Punit, Planner provided an overview of the staff report regarding
the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment, noting the
applicant's proposal at 15 Glensteeple Trail, including removal of the
maximum building coverage and the requirement of a Block Plan, and to
exceed the maximum residential density to permit 3 additional residential
lots (5.5 units/ha). Additionally, the applicant proposes to amend the
zoning category from R2 to R3 to align with the other 28 lots in the
approved Plan of Subdivision.
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Tuesday, May 9, 2023 3
Applicant/Agent
Lucila Sandoval, Senior Planner, Partner Groundswell Urban Planners Inc.
presented an overview of the land use proposal at 15 Glensteeple Trail,
including a site overview context, existing subdivision, and renderings.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including Shaheen Moledina, Richard Berman, Tom
Vagenas, Roy Cohen, and Mazina Muntean-Chiriac, expressed the
following comments:
Concerns regarding:
High density and lot coverage
Lack of playground infrastructure
Environmental impact and protection of greenspaces in the Oak
Ridges Moraine
Increased vehicular traffic and pedestrian safety issues, and lack of
sidewalks on Ridge Road
Proximity of proposed site to water tower
Sewage capacity and connection to Ridge Road
Setting precedent for other areas of intensification in Aurora
Questions regarding:
Reasoning behind a new application rather than including the
proposal on the original application
York Region’s use of lot as a commercial construction site
Provision of new studies, including environmental impact and
traffic study
Location and addition of any greenspaces
Communication outreach and languages used
Suggestions regarding:
Building playground infrastructure, adding additional greenspaces,
sidewalks, and infrastructure in the community
Communication outreach in additional languages
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 4
Planning Staff
Staff addressed concerns and questions regarding the application as well
as the original application, required background studies, reports and
technical issues, environmental impact and protection of the Oak Ridges
Moraine, playground infrastructure and additional greenspaces,
communication outreach, lot coverage, sewage capacity, traffic, and
density.
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
1. That Report No. PDS23-063 be received; and
2. That comments presented at the statutory Public Planning Meeting be
addressed by Planning and Development Services in a report to a
future General Committee Meeting.
Yeas (5): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gilliland,
Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Weese
Nays (1): Councillor Gaertner
Absent (1): Councillor Kim
Carried (5 to 1)
6. Confirming By-law
6.1 By-law Number 6498-23 Being a By-law to confirm actions by Council
resulting from a Council Public Planning meeting on May 9, 2023
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That confirming by-law be enacted.
Carried
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
7, Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Carried
Tom RAIDS, Mayor Mi c ael de Rond, Town Clerk