Minutes - Public Planning - 20240123
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
7 p.m.
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Council Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas (Chair)
Councillor Ron Weese
Councillor Wendy Gaertner
Councillor Michael Thompson
Councillor John Gallo
Councillor Harold Kim (arrived 7:05 p.m.)
Members Absent: Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Other Attendees: Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer*
Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Antonio Greco, Planner
Jaclyn Grossi, Deputy Town Clerk
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Council consented to recess the meeting at 9:02 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 9:12 p.m.
Council consented to extend the hour past 10:30 p.m.
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,
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Tuesday, January 23, 2024 2
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
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Yeas (5): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor
Thompson, and Councillor Gallo
Absent (2): Councillor Gilliland, and Councillor Kim
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 Deputy Town Clerk confirmed that the appropriate notice
was given in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Planning Act.
5.1 PDS24-012 - Application for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law
Amendment, Macaulay Shiomi Howson Ltd., 65 St. John's Sideroad
East, Con 1, Pt Lot 85, RS65R1582 Part 1, File Number: OPA-2023-04, ZBA-
2023-04; Related File Number: SP-2023-13
Planning Staff
Antonio Greco, Planner, presented an overview of the staff report
regarding the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment
applications to facilitate the development of 45 townhouse units on a
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Tuesday, January 23, 2024 3
common-elements condominium road, noting the applicant proposes to
increase the maximum height from 9.0 metres to 11.0 metres for all new
development within the Stable Neighbourhoods designation and rezone
the subject property from "Detached Third Density Residential (R3)
Exception Zone (50)" and "Environmental Protection (EP) Zone" to
"Townhouse Dwelling Residential R8 (XX) Exception Zone" and
"Environmental Protection (EP) Zone".
Applicant
Nick Pileggi, Principal, Macaulay Shiomi Howson Ltd., presented an
overview of the proposed development including location and site plan,
existing Official Plan and zoning, conceptual rendering, elevations and
landscape plan, comments raised at the community information meeting,
servicing and stormwater management, snow storage and salt mitigation,
transportation, site access, tree removal, retaining walls, parking,
floodplain, density and unit types, potential options, and next steps. Traffic
consultant Darshan Soni was also present to answer questions.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including Rick Armstrong, Anthony Basili, Sigmar
Bodach, Oriana Brodbeck, Dan Cariou, Saverio Cirone, Steve D'Angeli, Leta
Dayfoot, Melanie Duckett-Wilson, Kathy Duncan, Carol Gravelle, Timothy
Gravelle, Brian Horton, Michele Horton, Jessica Kazemi, Wendy Kenyon,
Erin Kilbride, Roman Komarov, Menka Kostoff, Conan Lear, Tricia Lear,
Ashley Lear, Michael Lear, Monica Ly, Paul Martinelli, Angela Martinelli,
Colin Nisbet, Olga Partanen, Regina Pochepovich, Duncan Rowe, Heidi
Schellhorn, George Skoulikas, Barbara Stanek, Mary Swan, Hieu Ta,
Benjamin Tomkinson, Nancee Webb, and Wing Zou, expressed the
following comments:
Strong opposition to the proposed development
Support for the proposed development
Concerns regarding:
o Impact of proposal on adjacent wetlands and environment
o Proposal counter to ongoing protection of McKenzie Marsh
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Tuesday, January 23, 2024 4
o Impact on drinking water safety, proximity to wellhead, increased
pollution, and potential contamination
o Impact on diverse wildlife, species at risk, movement corridors and
natural connections, including turtle nesting and migratory birds
o Impact of excessive lighting and noise on wildlife
o Traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian safety and traffic/parking overflow
to other local streets
o Single, right-in/right-out access off St. John’s Sideroad East and
continued integrity of emergency-only access off Pittypat Court
o Building on floodplain, addition of fill, and removal of mature trees
o Buffer and proposed uses not appropriate, density too high, and
proposal not aligned with Town plan
o No benefit to affordable housing needs
o Lack of conservation authority regulation on salt mitigation for
non-commercial lands
Questions regarding:
o Review from heritage standpoint
o Validity of traffic study timing and independence
o Availability of pending additional information and analysis
o Tree inventory and tree replacement
o Prevention of development on wetlands/green spaces in future
o Enforcement of right-in/right-out access policy
Suggestions regarding:
o Consider purchase of subject lands or redesignate as green space
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
1. That Report No. PDS24-012 be received; and
2. That the applications for an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-
law Amendment regarding 65 St. John’s Sideroad East be denied as
the proposed development does not conform to the Town’s Official
Plan for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:
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Tuesday, January 23, 2024 5
a. the proposal does not align with the principles of good planning
that are essential for the sustained growth and well-being of our
community; and
b. identified environmental concerns, specifically related to the
McKenzie Marsh.
Yeas (5): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gaertner, Councillor
Thompson, and Councillor Kim
Nays (1): Councillor Gallo
Absent (1): Councillor Gilliland
Carried (5 to 1)
6. Confirming By-law
6.1 By-law Number 6577-24 Being a By-law to confirm actions by Council
resulting from a Council Public Planning meeting on January 23, 2024
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
Carried
7. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the meeting be adjourned at 10:57 p.m.
Carried
Tom Mrakas, Mayor Jaclyn Grossi, Deputy Town Clerk