Minutes - Public Planning - 20241008
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, October 8, 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 (arrived 7:03 p.m.)
Other Attendees: Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Antonio Greco, Senior Planner
Kenny Ng, Planner
Ishita Soneji, Deputy Town Clerk
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7 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,
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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October 8, 2024 2
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
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 procedure 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 PDS24-112 - Application for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law
Amendment, 1000265154 Ontario Inc., 180 Wellington Street East, Part Lot
106, Plan 246, Parts 1, 2 and 3, Plan 65R-39371, File Number: OPA-2024-02;
ZBA-2024-02
Planning Staff
Antonio Greco, Senior Planner, presented an overview of the staff report
regarding the Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and Zoning By-law
Amendment (ZBA) applications to facilitate the development of four
twelve-storey apartment buildings including 948 total residential units, 850
total parking spaces, and two vehicular access points. Staff noted the
proposed OPA seeks to increase the maximum building heights from eight
to twelve storeys and the maximum number of buildings from two to four
apartment buildings, and permit dwelling units on the ground floor fronting
onto an arterial road. Staff further noted the proposed ZBA seeks to include
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
October 8, 2024 3
retail uses as a permitted use, reduce minimum setback standards,
increase maximum building height and total number of units, remove
landscaping requirements, and decrease the required amenity area.
Applicant
Ryan Guetter, Land Use Planner, Weston Consulting, on behalf of the
applicant, presented an overview of the development proposal including
site context, previous Ontario Land Tribunal approvals, policy framework,
concept site plan, renderings, height illustration, mixed uses, amenities,
supporting studies, and community information meeting summary.
Public Comments
Aurora resident Darryl Moore expressed support for the proposed 12-
storey development and higher density, and suggested that Council allow
up to 14 storeys with the additional storeys being allocated to affordable
housing managed by York Region. They further suggested to increase the
number of two- or three-bedroom units to accommodate families.
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Weese
1. That Report No. PDS24-112 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 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to 0)
5.2 PDS24-113 - Application for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law
Amendment, TWTH Development Inc., 252, 260 and 272 Old Bloomington
Road, Lot 6 and Part of Lot 7, Registered Plan 166, File Number: OPA-2023-
02, ZBA-2023-02; Related File Number: SUB-2023-02
Planning Staff
Kenny Ng, Planner, presented an overview of the staff report regarding the
revised Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and Zoning By-law Amendment
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
October 8, 2024 4
(ZBA) applications to facilitate the development of 30 single detached
lots, a new public right-of-way from Old Bloomington Road, two blocks
reserved for future connection to adjacent lands, and an environmental
protection block to be conveyed to public ownership. Staff noted the
original applications were presented at the November 14, 2023 Public
Planning meeting. Staff further noted the proposed OPA seeks to amend
several site-specific policies related to minimum lot area, maximum
density, disturbed lands, impervious area, and building coverage, and the
proposed ZBA seeks to rezone the subject lands from "Estate Residential
(ER) Zone" to two site-specific "Detached Third Density Residential
Exception (R3-XXX) and (R3-YYY) Zones" and "Oak Ridges Moraine
Environmental Protection (EP-ORM) Zone".
Applicant
Adam Layton, Associate Principal, Goldberg Group, on behalf of the
applicant, presented an overview of the revised development proposal
including a comparison of the R3 zone provisions, conceptual block plan,
draft plan of subdivision and relocated road connection, density,
landscape plan, special setback condition, and conceptual streetscape.
Public Comments
Aurora resident Warren McClure, on behalf of the Ratepayers of Yonge
Street South (RAYS), expressed opposition to the proposed density and
requested that the Town work with the owner to develop the subject lands
for two units per acre in accordance with the current Zoning By-law.
Rosemarie Humphries, President, Humphries Planning Group Inc.,
representing the landowners to the immediate west of the subject lands,
referred to their revised letter to the Town and reviewed concerns related
to the proposed design of subdivision and zoning including: realignment
of road connections and proposed offsetting of intersection;
implementation of the block plan as it relates to density and whether two
units per acre can still be accommodated in the overall secondary plan
area; route of existing right-of-way easement through proposed lots 15
and 16; and maintenance of the right-of-way easement during
construction. They further inquired about servicing allocation availability.
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
October 8, 2024
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That Report No. PDS24-113 be received; and
2. That comments presented at the non-statutory Public Planning
meeting be addressed by Planning and Development Services in a
report to a future Committee of the Whole meeting.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 to O)
6. Confirming By-law
6,1 By-law Number 6643-24 - Being a By-law to confirm actions by Council
resulting from a Council Public Planning meeting on October 8, 2024
Moved by Councillor Gaertner
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
Carried
7. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
That the meeting be adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
Carried
rakas, Mayor Ishita Soneji, Deputy Town Clerk