Minutes - Public Planning - 20160127
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING
MEETING MINUTES
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel, Gaertner
(arrived 7:03 p.m.), Humfryes, Kim, Mrakas, Pirri, and Thom
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillor Thompson
OTHER ATTENDEES Director of Planning and Development Services, Planners,
Deputy Clerk, and Council/Committee Secretary
Mayor Dawe called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
1. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE THEREOF
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act.
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Moved by Councillor Abel
Seconded by Councillor Thom
THAT the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services be approved.
CARRIED
3. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Mayor Dawe outlined the procedures that would be followed in the conduct of the
public meeting. The Deputy Clerk confirmed that the appropriate notice had been
given in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Planning Act.
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Page 2 of 5
1. PDS16-004 – Applications for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law
Amendment, Metropolitan Square Inc., 180, 190 and 220
Wellington Street East, Lot 81, Concession 1, EYS
File Numbers: OPA-2015-05 and ZBA-2015-15
Planning Staff
The Planner, Mr. Lawrence Kuk, presented a brief overview of the application
and staff report, including background information related to the proposed Official
Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to permit a
residential condominium development, which would include two, ten-storey
buildings with a total of 296 units, a ground floor atrium and two levels of
underground parking. Mr. Kuk noted the comments received from the public
regarding increased traffic from the proposed development and its impact on
Industrial Parkway South and Wellington Street East.
Consultant
Ms. Angela Sciberras, of Macaulay Shiomi Howson Ltd., on behalf of the
applicant, presented an overview of the applications and subject lands, including
surrounding uses, designation within the Aurora Promenade Secondary Plan,
key Official Plan policies, site plan, elevations, and landscape plan.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including Gordon Barnes, Jim Higgs, Brian Hodgson, and Dan
Revington, and Oak Ridges resident Jason Hyatt, provided the following
comments:
• Concern regarding the proposed two, ten-storey buildings and future trends
for site specific by-law exceptions related to lot coverage and building height
• Concern regarding the proposed parking lot exit at Centre Street
• Concern regarding the loss of two businesses providing tax revenue
• Concern regarding existing traffic issues and increased traffic at the Regional
intersection of Industrial Parkway North and Wellington Street East
• Concern regarding traffic flow – need for traffic flow study, expansion of the
intersection, and wider lanes to alleviate congestion and improve safety
• Concern with GO train crossing – need to widen access across Wellington
Street East
• Support for development, proposed intensification and fit with the Aurora
Promenade and Greater Golden Horseshoe requirements
• Suggestion to include geriatric and accessibility elements beyond Building
Code requirements
• Suggestion to install tank large enough to hold first 50 millimetres of rainfall to
reduce load on the Town’s stormwater and sewer system
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Page 3 of 5
• Suggestion to install three wires, instead of two, to each unit to encourage
energy conservation
• Suggestion to meet LEED’s Silver standards
• Suggestion to designate at least 5% of the units as affordable housing
Consultant
Ms. Sciberras addressed the concerns and suggestions regarding traffic, loss of
employments lands, location of driveway, by-law requirements, and design.
Main motion
Moved by Councillor Abel
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT Report No. PDS16-004 be received; and
THAT comments presented at the Public Planning meeting be addressed by
Planning & Development Services in a comprehensive report outlining
recommendations and options at a future General Committee meeting.
Amendment
Moved by Councillor Mrakas
Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
THAT the second clause of the main motion be amended by replacing
the words “General Committee” with “Public Planning”.
CARRIED
Main motion as amended
Moved by Councillor Abel
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT Report No. PDS16-004 be received; and
THAT comments presented at the Public Planning meeting be addressed by
Planning & Development Services in a comprehensive report outlining
recommendations and options at a future Public Planning meeting.
CARRIED AS AMENDED
2. PDS16-005 – Application for Zoning By-law Amendment
Frank Luciani, 340 Ridge Road, Part of Lot 73, Concession 1
File Number: ZBA-2015-13
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Page 4 of 5
Planning Staff
The Planner, Mr. Jeff Healey, presented a brief overview of the application and
staff report, including background information related to the proposed Zoning By-
law Amendment to rezone the subject lands from Rural Oak Ridges Moraine
(RU-ORM) to Detached Dwelling First Density Residential (R1-X) Exception
Zone to permit one additional residential lot.
Consultant
Mr. Claudio Brutto, of Brutto Consulting, on behalf of the applicant, spoke in
support of the staff report and application, and addressed the concerns of the
public regarding the number of buildings permitted on the lot.
Public Comments
Mr. Amir Samadi, representing the owner of 302 Ridge Road, the adjacent
property to the subject lands, expressed concerns regarding the future potential
for more than one residential unit permitted as a result of the proposed Zoning
By-law Amendment, in the event that the property is sold.
Planning Staff
Mr. Marco Ramunno, Director of Planning and Development Services,
addressed the concerns respecting the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment.
Moved by Councillor Pirri
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT Report No. PDS16-005 be received; and
THAT comments presented at the Public Planning meeting be addressed by
Planning & Development Services in a comprehensive report outlining
recommendations and options at a future General Committee meeting.
On a recorded vote the motion
CARRIED
YEAS: 5 NAYS: 3
VOTING YEAS: Councillors Abel, Kim, Mrakas, Pirri, and
Thom
VOTING NAYS: Councillors Gaertner, Humfryes, and
Mayor Dawe
ABSENT: Councillor Thompson
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Page 5 of 5
4. READING OF BY-LAW
Moved by Councillor Pirri
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT the following confirming by-law be given first, second, and third readings and
enacted:
5805-16 BEING A BY-LAW to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting from Special
Council – Public Planning Meeting on January 27, 2016.
CARRIED
5. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Thom
Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
CARRIED
_________________________________ _________________________________
GEOFFREY DAWE, MAYOR PATTY THOMA, DEPUTY CLERK
THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING OF
JANUARY 27, 2016, ARE SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL BY COUNCIL ON
FEBRUARY 9, 2016.