Minutes - Public Planning - 20150921
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING
MEETING MINUTES
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Wednesday, September 21, 2015
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Dawe in the Chair; Councillors Abel (arrived 7:01
p.m.), Kim, Mrakas, Pirri, Thom, and Thompson
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillors Humfryes and Gaertner
OTHER ATTENDEES Director of Planning and Development Services, Planners,
Council & Committee Coordinator/Deputy Clerk, and
Council/Committee Secretaries
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 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, September 21, 2015 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. PL15-069 – Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment
2419059 Ontario Inc.
497 Wellington Street West
File: ZBA-2014-07
Related File: SP-2015-01
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 application to permit the development of 15 single detached
residential units, with a single point of access via Wellington Street West. He
noted that the proposal had been updated following the first public planning
meeting on February 25, 2015.
Consultant
Mr. Jack Dougan, on behalf of the applicant, expressed his support of the staff
report and recommendation. He presented a comparison of the original and
current concept plans, and highlighted the revisions.
Mr. Dougan discussed the new plan and explained that it addresses the density,
drainage, sightline and environmental concerns
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including Ms. Janice Ryan, Mr. Doug Bushey, Mr. Kyle
Ferguson, and Mrs. Marilee Harris raised their concerns, and lack of local
neighbourhood support for development on the following matters:
Overdevelopment for lot size
Lack of compliance of application with Official Plan requirements and
policies
Change in use from rural residential to higher density use
Protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine and wildlife
Lot is zoned as a single family lot
Elevation of lot over surrounding area and loss of sightlines and privacy
Setback from road
Removal of trees
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 21, 2015 Page 3 of 6
Residents expressed concern about the population density targets for the Town
of Aurora, and how the Town is progressing to achieve these targets in relation
to rezoning properties.
Planning Staff
The Director of Planning and Development Services, Mr. Marco Ramunno,
provided clarification regarding the stable residential neighbourhood designation,
definition of compatibility as used in the Official Plan, the permitted uses of the
Oak Ridges Moraine, and population and employment forecasting in the Official
Plan.
Main motion
Moved by Councillor Pirri
Seconded by Councillor Thompson
THAT Report No. PL15-069 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 Pirri
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT the second clause of the main motion be amended by replacing the
words “General Committee” with the words “Public Planning”
On a recorded vote the amendment was
DEFEATED
YEAS: 1 NAYS: 6
VOTING YEAS: Councillor Pirri
VOTING NAYS: Councillors Abel, Kim, Mrakas, Thom,
Thompson, and Mayor Dawe
ABSENT: Councillors Gaertner and Humfryes
On a recorded vote the motion was
DEFEATED
YEAS: 3 NAYS: 4
VOTING YEAS: Councillors Kim, Pirri, and Mayor Dawe
VOTING NAYS: Councillors Abel, Mrakas, Thom, and
Thompson
ABSENT: Councillors Gaertner and Humfryes
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 21, 2015 Page 4 of 6
Main motion no. 2
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Mrakas
THAT Report No. PL15-069 be received; and
THAT the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment regarding 2419059 Ontario
Inc. 497 Wellington Street West, File: ZBA-2014-07, Related File: SP-2015-01
be refused due to lack of compatibility with the surrounding properties,
concerns raised by area residents, and citing Section 3.3 (e) (i) of the Town of
Aurora Official Plan regarding the accommodation of residential
intensification.
On a recorded vote the main motion no. 2
CARRIED
YEAS: 5 NAYS: 2
VOTING YEAS: Councillors Abel, Mrakas, Thom, Thompson,
and Mayor Dawe
VOTING NAYS: Councillors Kim and Pirri
ABSENT: Councillors Gaertner and Humfryes
2. PL15-078 – Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment
Leswell Investments Inc.
1452 Wellington Street East
Part of Lots 3 and 4, Registered Plan No. 525
File: ZBA-2015-04
Planning Staff
The Planner, Mr. Lawrence Kuk, presented an overview of the application and
staff report, including background information and details related to the
proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application. The application is to rezone
the subject lands from a “Rural General (RU) Zone” to “Service Commercial
(C3) Exception Zone” along with site specific exceptions related to parking,
building setbacks, and buffer strips. Mr. Lawrence Kuk explained that the
purpose of the application is to permit the construction of a freestanding
restaurant building and a two storey multi-tenant commercial building including a
day care use. The proposed development has a total of 87 parking spaces.
Consultant
Mr. Gord Mahoney, of Michael Smith Planning Consulting, representing Leswell
Investments Inc., provided a brief history about this property and details
regarding the application.
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 21, 2015 Page 5 of 6
Public Comments
Mr. Eric Liversidge, resident of 1426 Wellington St. East, expressed concern
regarding the lack of driveway access, potential light pollution, noise pollution,
drainage issues, and placement of garbage disposal site on the subject land.
Moved by Councillor Mrakas
Seconded by Councillor Pirri
THAT Report No. PL15-078 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. PL15-070 – Official Plan Amendment
Ancillary Uses Policy
Aurora 2C Secondary Plan Business Park
Planning Staff
The Planner, Mr. Fausto Filippeto, presented an overview of the staff report,
including background information and details related to the proposed Official
Plan amendment. The proposed amendment is to change the percentage of
lands available for Ancillary Uses within the Aurora 2C Business Park from 20
percent of the employment to 15 percent of the employment area to align the
Town’s Official Plan with York Region’s Official Plan.
Public Comments
Mr. Robert Hodgeson, of W. R. Hodgeson and Associates, representing 721312
Ontario Inc., expressed concern regarding the change as it restricts the uses for
his client’s property.
Moved by Councillor Pirri
Seconded by Councillor Kim
THAT Report No. PL15-070 be received; and
THAT staff be directed to schedule the Draft Official Plan Amendment for an
upcoming General Committee meeting.
CARRIED
Special Council – Public Planning Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 21, 2015 Page 6 of 6
4. READING OF BY-LAW
Moved by Councillor Abel
Seconded by Councillor Thom
THAT the following confirming by-law be given first, second, and third readings and
enacted:
5765-15 BEING A BY-LAW to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting from Special
Council – Public Planning Meeting on September 21, 2015.
CARRIED
5. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Abel
Seconded by Councillor Pirri
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
CARRIED
_________________________________ _________________________________
GEOFFREY DAWE, MAYOR PATTY THOMA, DEPUTY CLERK
THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL – PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING OF
SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 RECEIVED FINAL APPROVAL BY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER
29, 2015.