Minutes - Public Planning - 20250121
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
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* (departed 8:51 p.m.)
Councillor Harold Kim
Other Attendees: Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Felix Chau, Planner
Katherine Gatzos, Planner
Ishita Soneji, Deputy Town Clerk
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
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
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January 21, 2025 2
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 Kim
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Yeas (7): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Carried (7 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 PDS25-009 - Application for Zoning By-law Amendment, Armis Holding Inc.,
511, 521, 531 and 543 Wellington Street West, Part Lot 1 and Part 40 Acres,
Plan 102, King, File Number: ZBA-2024-05, Related File Number: SP-2024-07
Planning Staff
Felix Chau, Planner, presented an overview of the staff report regarding
the Zoning By-law Amendment application to facilitate the proposed
development of 116 back-to-back stacked townhouse units on a private
condominium road, 123 resident parking spaces, 23 visitor parking
spaces, and right-in/right-out access off Wellington Street West with a
connection to the adjacent approved development to the east. Staff noted
the applicant seeks to rezone the subject lands from "Estate Residential
Exception (ER-14)" to "Townhouse Dwelling Residential R8 (XX) Exception
Zone" and "Environmental Protection (EP)".
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January 21, 2025 3
Applicant
Nick Pileggi, Principal, Macaulay Shiomi Howson Ltd., on behalf of the
applicant, presented an overview of the development proposal including
site location and context; conformity to Official Plan; Zoning By-law
amendment; site plan and connections; and traffic volume data. Prish
Jain, Architect, presented an overview of the architectural features
including conceptual renderings; parking; outdoor and green spaces;
setback; elevations; and garbage collection.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including Nick Barbalinardo, Nan Huang, Omid Malek,
and Janice Ryan, expressed the following comments:
Opposition to the proposed development
Concerns regarding:
o Proposed density for subject lands
o Compatibility with neighbourhood and lack of gentle transition to
proposed higher density
o Height of stacked buildings
o Lack of appropriate buffer zone
o Parking, site access, and connections
o Traffic and safety impact on adjacent communities
o Reduced sense of security on Timpson Drive
o Increased traffic congestion at Yonge and Wellington Streets
o Impact on local property values
o Sufficient school infrastructure
o Quality of builder
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
1. That Report No. PDS25-009 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.
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January 21, 2025 4
Yeas (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Nays (1): Councillor Gaertner
Carried (6 to 1)
5.2 PDS25-014 - Application for Zoning By-law Amendment,
1000259515 Ontario Inc., 240 Industrial Parkway South, Lot 57, Plan 65R-
10328, File Number: ZBA-2024-06
Planning Staff
Katherine Gatzos, Planner, presented an overview of the staff report
regarding the Zoning By-law Amendment application to facilitate the
proposed development of a private school (middle and senior students) in
an existing multi-unit industrial building onsite to be retained and refitted.
Staff noted the applicant seeks to rezone the subject property from "(E2)
General Employment Zone" to "(E2-XX) General Employment Exception
Zone".
Applicant
Francesco Fiorani, Senior Urban Planner and Development Project
Manager, Brutto Consulting, presented an overview of the proposed
development including school programming; transportation; parking;
conceptual site plan; landscape plan; and conceptual renderings.
Public Comments
Aurora business owner Steve Davey expressed support for the proposal
and suggested the speed limit be reduced on Industrial Parkway South.
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Weese
1. That Report No. PDS25-014 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.
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
January 21, 2025 5
Yeas (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Thompson, and Councillor Kim
Absent (1): Councillor Gallo
Carried (6 to 0)
6. Confirming By-law
6.1 By-law Number 6663-25 - Being a By-law to confirm actions by Council
resulting from a Council Public Planning meeting on January 21, 2025
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
7. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
That the meeting be adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
Carried
Carried
Ishita Soneji, Deputy Town Clerk