Minutes - Public Planning - 20160330
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING
MEETING MINUTES
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel (arrived 7:03
p.m.), Gaertner, Kim, Humfryes (arrived 7:05 p.m.),
Mrakas, Pirri, Thom, and Thompson
MEMBERS ABSENT None
OTHER ATTENDEES Director of Planning and Development Services, Manager
of Development Planning, Planners, Deputy Clerk, and
Council/Committee Secretary
Mayor Dawe called the meeting to order at 7 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 Mrakas
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services be approved.
CARRIED
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Page 2 of 6
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.
1. PDS16-019 – Application for Zoning By-law Amendment, Vello Holdings
Inc., 330 McClellan Way, Block 32, Registered Plan 65M-
2802, File Number: ZBA-2016-01
Planning Staff
The Planner, Mr. Marty Rokos, presented a brief overview of the application
and staff report respecting the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment to permit
additional commercial and institutional uses on the subject lands currently
zoned “Local Commercial (C1-1) Exception Zone”. He noted that the owner
has proposed site specific zoning provisions for building height, side and rear
yard setbacks, floor area, and site specific definitions for each permitted use.
Mr. Rokos further noted that no physical changes to the subject lands are
being proposed.
Consultant
Mr. Michael Manett, Principal of MPlan Inc., on behalf of the applicant,
addressed concerns regarding the proposed additional uses and noted that
the intent of the owner was to provide flexibility in permitted uses and
potential for future expansion.
Public Comments
No members of the public came forward.
Moved by Councillor Pirri
Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
THAT Report No. PDS16-019 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.
CARRIED
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Page 3 of 6
2. PDS16-014 – Applications for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-
law Amendment, Carpino Construction Inc., 15278 Yonge
Street, File Numbers: OPA-2015-04, ZBA-2015-10, Related
File: SP-2015-08
Planning Staff
The Manager of Development Planning, Mr. Glen Letman, presented a brief
overview of the applications and staff report, including background and public
comments, respecting the proposed Official Plan Amendment to allow stand-
alone and first-floor residential in the ‘Upper Downtown’ designation of the
Aurora Promenade Secondary Plan Area, and the proposed Zoning By-law
Amendment to rezone the subject lands from “Central Commercial (C2) Zone”
to “Row Dwelling Residential (R6-XX) Exception Zone”. He noted that the
accompanying Site Plan Application proposes 126 stacked, back-to-back
townhouse condominium dwelling units within six separate, four-storey
buildings, with 131 residential parking spaces and 17 visitor parking spaces.
Consultant
Mr. Don Given, President of Malone Given Parsons Ltd., on behalf of the
applicant, provided comment on the appropriateness of the proposal for the
location, site access, parking, building elevations, heritage, and architecture.
He stated that the incorporation of commercial into the site was not feasible
from an economic perspective. Mr. Given suggested that Council consider
the installation of public art at this location, which would be paid for by the
applicant.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including John Bridgeman, Glen Payne, Martin Slepkov,
Rosemary Verge, and Hugh Walker, provided the following comments:
• Inquiry regarding Town minimum of required parking spaces for this type of
development
• Inquiry regarding possible collaboration between subject lands and
surrounding properties
• Concern regarding lack of snow storage
• Concern regarding potential overnight on-street parking of proposed
development residents on Machell Avenue
• Concern regarding delivery vehicles and construction staff parking in front of
businesses on Machell Avenue and Wellington Street West
• Concern regarding proposed buildings not being equipped with elevators
and lack of accessibility to upper floors for seniors
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Page 4 of 6
• Concern regarding shadowing onto adjacent residential properties
• Concern regarding need for new fence around subject lands
• Concern regarding lack of small retail shops in proposed development
• Concern regarding construction traffic, noise, and dust
• Suggestion to implement a ‘no parking’ zone on Machell Avenue for
approximately 25 meters north of Wellington Street West
• Suggestion to provide designated street parking spaces for those
homeowners without a driveway on Machell Avenue
• Suggestion to implement ‘permit only’ parking on Machell Avenue and Irwin
Avenue
• Suggestion to install signage to restrict heavy construction traffic on Irwin
Avenue
• Concern regarding traffic flow and safety in and around the Yonge Street at
Irwin Avenue and Wellington Street intersections
Planning Staff
The Director of Planning and Development Services, Mr. Marco Ramunno,
addressed the concerns regarding traffic flow and road widening, site parking,
fencing, parking on Machell Avenue, design and massing, construction
management plan, and neighbouring properties.
Consultant
Mr. Don Given addressed the concerns regarding neighbouring properties,
parking, fencing, shadowing, traffic flow, stairs vs. elevators, and commercial
viability. Mr. Douglas Annand, of urbanMetrics inc., provided further
information respecting the Commercial Needs Study findings.
Moved by Councillor Pirri
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
THAT Report No. PDS16-014 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.
CARRIED
3. PDS16-012 – Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment, The Priestly Holding
Corporation, 125 Edward Street, File: ZBA-2015-03
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Page 5 of 6
Planning Staff
The Planner, Mr. Lawrence Kuk, presented a brief overview of the application
and staff report, including background, public comments, and additional
information provided, respecting the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment, to
rezone the subject lands from “General Industrial (M2) Zone” to “General
Industrial (M2-XX) Exception Zone” to permit a freestanding office building
and to allow the existing businesses and professional office uses to remain on
the subject property.
Consultant
Ms. Mary Flynn-Guglietti, of McMillan LLP, on behalf of the applicant, provided
background information. She indicated that the owners of adjacent properties
had agreed to enter into a lease agreement for the purpose of vehicular parking,
which would fulfil the parking requirements. Ms. Flynn-Guglietti noted that no
physical changes to the property are planned and that the application conforms
to both the Town’s and York Region’s Official Plans.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including Dave Pressley and Kellie Whalen, provided the
following comments:
• Concern regarding the nature and number of clientele visiting the property
• Concern regarding ventilation of building
• Concern regarding rezoning and potential uses
• Concern regarding the number of parking spaces
• Concern regarding traffic on Edward Street
Consultant
Ms. Flynn-Guglietti addressed the concerns regarding uses of the building,
current tenancies and activities, and parking. The traffic consultant, Mr.
Langston Lai, of MMM Group Limited, provided further information respecting the
Parking Study findings.
Moved by Councillor Thom
Seconded by Councillor Abel
THAT Report No. PDS16-012 be received; and
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Page 6 of 6
THAT Application to Amend the Zoning By-law File: ZBA-2015-03 (Priestly
Holding Corporation) be approved, to rezone the subject lands from “General
Industrial (M2) Zone” to “General Industrial (M2-XX) Exception Zone” to allow
a freestanding office building; and
THAT the implementing Zoning By-law Amendment be presented at a future
Council meeting for enactment; and
THAT pursuant to section 34.17 of the Planning Act, Council has determined
that no further public notice is required to implement any minor changes to
the implementing Zoning By-law.
CARRIED
4. READING OF BY-LAW
Moved by Councillor Abel
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
THAT the following confirming by-law be given first, second, and third readings and
enacted:
5833-16 BEING A BY-LAW to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting from
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting on March 30, 2016.
CARRIED
5. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Councillor Thom
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 9:52 p.m.
CARRIED
_________________________________ __________________________________
GEOFFREY DAWE, MAYOR PATTY THOMA, DEPUTY CLERK
THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING OF MARCH
30, 2016, ARE SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL BY COUNCIL ON APRIL 12, 2016.