Minutes - Public Planning - 20251118
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, November 18, 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 John Gallo
Councillor Harold Kim
Members Absent: Councillor Michael Thompson
Other Attendees: Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Antonio Greco, Senior Planner
Ishita Soneji, Deputy Town Clerk
Julia Shipcott, 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
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2025 2
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Weese
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Yeas (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Absent (1): Councillor Thompson
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 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 PDS25-110 - Application for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law
Amendment, 6768148 Canada Ltd., 16003 Yonge Street and 219 - 257 Old
Yonge Street, Pt Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, Plan 461, File Number: OPA-2025-03;
ZBA-2025-04
Planning Staff
Antonio Greco, Senior Planner, presented an overview of the staff report
regarding the proposed Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and Zoning By-law
Amendment (ZBA) to relocate a heritage structure from 16003 Yonge
Street to 255 Old Yonge Street, and to facilitate the development of the
subject lands including 219 Old Yonge Street into a 5-storey, 2-level
underground parking, stepped-back apartment building consisting of 148
dwelling units with right-in/right-out access off Yonge Street and
emergency access off Old Yonge Street. Staff noted the OPA proposal
seeks to redesignate the subject lands from “Stable Neighbourhoods” and
“Community Commercial Centre” to “Medium-High Urban Residential” and
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2025 3
“Environmental Protection (EP)” with a Site-Specific Policy Area. The
proposed ZBA seeks to rezone the subject lands from “Rural (RU) Zone,”
“Special Mixed Density Residential (R7) Exception Zone (374),”
“Community Commercial (C4) Exception Zone (295),” and “Environmental
Protection (EP) Zone,” to “Second Density Apartment Residential (RA2)
Exception Zone,” “Detached First Density Residential (R1) Exception Zone,”
and “Environmental Protection (EP) Zone”.
Staff noted that as all three parcels are within the Regional Corridor, the
proposal seeks to bring all subject lands into conformity with the Town's
Official Plan to provide residential intensification along central
transportation areas.
Applicant
Oz Kemal, President, MHBC Planning, presented an overview of the
development proposal including site context, planned relocation of the
heritage building, environmental constraint mapping, transit and
surrounding uses context, Official Plan and Zoning By-law designations, a
revised site plan based on feedback received from a Community
Information Meeting, conceptual photos, project timeline and next steps.
Kyrylo Rewa, Transportation Engineer, BA Group spoke to traffic studies
conducted in the neighbourhood.
Public Comments
Aurora residents, including Anna Strungar, Jim Jackson, Corey Jackson,
Kim Currie, Leta Dayfoot, Conan Lear, Jordan Drodge, Victoria Scott and
Sonja Rebus, expressed the following comments:
Opposition to the proposed 5-storey development being located on the
highest elevation of the subject lands
Emphasis on conformity to “Stable Neighbourhood”
Suggestion on revising the development design to incorporate
townhomes along south boundary of subject lands
Concerns regarding:
o Compatibility with surrounding neighbourhood
o Lack of privacy for existing homeowners due to overlooking
balconies
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2025 4
o Impact of increased traffic, street parking and noise on adjacent
communities
o Pedestrian safety, lack of sidewalk access along Yonge Street
driveway, and lack of safe access to neighbourhood parks and
trails
o Increased traffic congestion at Yonge Street and St. Johns Sideroad
o Viability of right-in/right-out access off Yonge Street, and potential
increase of traffic into existing neighbourhood for southbound
travelers
o Impact on local property values
o Potential stress on old growth trees, buffering cedar tree lines and
wetland on subject lands
Moved by Councillor Gallo
Seconded by Councillor Weese
1. That Report No. PDS25-110 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 (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Gaertner, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Absent (1): Councillor Thompson
Carried (6 to 0)
6. Confirming By-law
6.1 By-law Number 6736-25 - Being a By-law to confirm actions by Council
resulting from a Council Public Planning meeting on November 18, 2025
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
Carried
7. Adjournment
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2025
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
Carried
Ishita Soneji, Deputy Town Clerk