Minutes - Public Planning - 20240213
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
7 p.m.
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Council Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas (Chair)
Councillor Ron Weese
Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Councillor Wendy Gaertner
Councillor Michael Thompson
Councillor John Gallo
Councillor Harold Kim
Other Attendees: Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Adam Robb, Associate Manager of Development Planning
Jaclyn Grossi, Deputy Town Clerk
Emily Freitas, Council/Committee Coordinator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 9:00 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 9:14 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 11:03 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 11:13 p.m.
Council consented to extend the hour past 10:30 p.m.
Council consented to extend until 12:00 a.m.
Council consented to extend until 12:30 a.m.
Council consented to extend until 1:00 a.m.
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Tuesday, February 13, 2024 2
2. Land Acknowledgement
Mayor Mrakas 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.
3. Approval of the Agenda
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Yeas (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, and Councillor Gallo
Absent (1): Councillor Kim
Carried (6 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 Deputy Town Clerk confirmed that the appropriate notice
was provided.
5.1 PDS24-017 - Zoning By-law Amendment Application, Regional Municipality
of York, 14452 Yonge Street, File Number: ZBA-2022-04
Applicant
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Tuesday, February 13, 2024 3
Scott Arbuckle, Director, Arcadis IBI Group, noted that they were
accompanied by Erin Mahone, Chief Administrative Officer, York Region,
Katherine Chislett, Commissioner, Community Health and Services, Karen
Antonio-Hadcock, Acting General Manager. Housing Services, Gabriel
Wong, Director, Housing Development and Asset Strategy, Colin Simic,
Housing Development Planner, Affordable Housing Development, Kevin
Powell, General Manager, Social Services, Carmela Siappa, Manager,
Homeless and Community Programs, Amy Sheppard, Planner, Arcadis IBI
Group, and Harry Zhu, Planner. The Applicant presented an overview of the
proposed men's transitional housing, including an introduction to Housing
York Inc., planning process, policy analysis, planning justification,
environmental considerations, and the site plan.
Public Comments
Residents, including José Arias, Daniella Attalla, Amanda Arevalo, Neil
Asleen, Carolyn Bailey, Alison Bartlet, Michael Barton, Michael Braithwaite,
Costabile Carpinelli, Constance, Roy Cohen, Tristan Coolman, Daniel
D'Urzo, Nicola Dalton, Janis Dawson, Joyce Deutsch, Phiona Durrant, Steve
Falk, Steve Fleck, Sally Haberer, John Hartman, Ehsan Hassani, David
Heard, Denis Heng, Benjamin Hognestad, Wasim Jarrah, Jordan, Kathy
Kantel, Kevin Kennedy, Amalee Lavigne, Sigmund Lee, Andres Lelarge, Ki-
Kat Li, Melissa Losco, Linda Ma, Jasbir Mandla, Alan McClain, Kimberley
McLean, Adam Mobbs, Shaheen Moledina, Tracey Park, Gloria Reszler,
Adrienne Rizzo, Heyden Santosh, Shanna, Nisa Shivji, Pat Strongitharm,
Milad Tabataba, John Taylor, Alexei Tchernobrivets, Harbinder Thandi, Joe
Vesia, Jane Wedlock, Klaus Wehrenberg, Eric Wolf, Tania Xerri, and Mike
Zelyony, expressed the following comments:
Opposition to the proposed development
Support for the proposed development regarding:
o The proposed site location
o Alignment with the Town’s Official Plan and Ontario Human Rights
Code
Concerns regarding:
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Tuesday, February 13, 2024 4
o Lack of active transportation and access to surrounding areas by
walking, public transportation, and lack of trail systems
o Environmental impact on the current woodland, including the
removal of trees and species
o Community safety and security, lack of social services, and issues
of social integration of the individuals
o Proximity of the proposed site to the existing railway, sewage
pumping station, and businesses
o Alignment with the Town's Official Plan and Oak Ridge's Moraine
Conservation Plan
Questions regarding:
o Noise impact and vibration assessment regarding the railway
system
o Environmental impact and land rezoning
o Renovating Porter Place in East Gwillimbury rather than building a
new facility and alternative location possibilities
Suggestions regarding:
o Providing background reports and studies including noise impact
and vibration assessment, and risk assessment
o Possibility of renovating Porter Place and examining alternative
sites in the town
Applicant
The Applicants addressed the concerns, questions, and suggestions
regarding community safety/impact, social integration, social services,
site compatibility, and proposed site location criteria and alternative
locations.
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
1. That Report No. PDS24-017 be received; and
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Tuesday, February 13, 2024 5
2. That comments presented at the Public Planning meeting be
addressed by Planning and Development Services in a report to a
future General Committee meeting.
Yeas (3): Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Gaertner
Nays (4): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and
Councillor Kim
Defeated (3 to 4)
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Kim
1. That Report No. PDS24-017 be received; and
2. That the application for Zoning By-law Amendment regarding
14452 Yonge Street be refused as the proposed development does
not conform to the Town’s Official Plan, OPA 34.
Yeas (4): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and
Councillor Kim
Nays (3): Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Gaertner
Carried (4 to 3)
6. Confirming By-law
6.1 By-law Number 6583-24 Being a By-law to confirm actions by Council
resulting from a Council Public Planning meeting on February 13, 2024
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
7. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That the meeting be adjourned at 1:12 a.m.
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Tuesday, February 13, 2024 6
Tom Mrakas, Mayor Jaclyn Grossi, Deputy Town Clerk