Minutes - Public Planning - 20260324
Town of Aurora
Council Public Planning
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
7 p.m.
Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Council Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas (Chair)
Councillor Ron Weese
Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Councillor Wendy Gaertner (arrived at 7:03 p.m.)
Councillor Michael Thompson
Councillor John Gallo
Councillor Harold Kim
Other Attendees: Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Felix Chau, Planner
Anne Kantharajah, Town Clerk
Julia Shipcott, Council/Committee Coordinator
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:02 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.
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March 24, 2026 2
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Councillor Weese
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Yeas (6): Mayor Mrakas, Councillor Weese, Councillor Gilliland, Councillor
Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Absent (1): Councillor Gaertner
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 Town Clerk confirmed that the appropriate notice was given
in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Planning Act.
5.1 PDS26-027 - Application for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law
Amendment, Eric and Theresa Jacquelene Liversidge and Livewell on
Wellington General Partners Ltd., 1414-1426 and 1452 Wellington Street
East, Lots 1 to 4, Registered Plan 525, File Numbers: OPA-2025-10, ZBA-
2025-09, ZBA-2022-06
Planning Staff
Felix Chau, Planner, presented an overview of the staff report regarding
the proposed Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and Zoning By-law
Amendment (ZBA) on 1414 and 1426 Wellington Street East to
redesignate both properties from "Community Commercial" to "Medium-
High Urban Residential", and to rezone both from "Rural (RU) Zone" to
"Townhouse Dwelling Residential (R8) Exception Zone (XX)" for standard
townhouses and "Townhouse Dwelling Residential (R8) Exception Zone
(YY)" for back-to-back townhouses, totaling 36 townhouse units of which
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March 24, 2026 3
16 would be back-to-back units and 20 would be standard townhouse
units.
The staff report also included a proposed Zoning by-law Amendment
(ZBA) on 1452 Wellington Street East to rezone a previously approved ZBA
and Site Plan of the property from "Townhouse Dwelling Residential (R8)
Exception Zone (551) to "Townhouse Dwelling Residential (R8) Exception
Zone (YY)", totaling 38 townhouse units of which 16 would be back-to-
back units and 22 would be standard townhouse units. The full proposal
would facilitate the development of 74 townhouses over six blocks,
consisting of two blocks of 32 back-to-back townhouse units and four
blocks of 42 standard townhouse units, accessed through a private
condominium road with right-in right-out access from Wellington Street
East, and a second proposed entrance off of the Stronach Aurora
Recreation Complex (SARC) private driveway.
Applicant
Jim Kotsopoulos, President, JKO Planning Services Inc. presented a
detailed explanation behind proposed rezoning of the middle block portion
of 1452 Wellington Street East from traditional townhouses to back-to-
back townhouses in response to current market conditions, and to create
a cohesive and unified development plan between 1414-1426 and 1452
Wellington Street East.
Arian Mesbahian, Senior Project Manager, Land Services Group reported
that in response to current markets, pricing for back-to-back townhouses
will start at $699,000, adding that site servicing of 1452 Wellington Street
East has been completed, with site servicing for 1414-1426 Wellington
Street East expected to begin this summer.
Public Comments
Aurora residents Rocco Morsillo, Leta Dayfoot and subject property owner
Eric Liversidge expressed the following comments:
Concerns regarding:
Limited green space provided to serve 74 families, including loss of
green space in front of several units
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March 24, 2026 4
Potential risk for townhouse residents to use the SARC parking lot
as an overflow lot
Necessity for installation of traffic lights at the SARC entrance due
to an increase in traffic volume from townhouse residents
Proposed rezoning of 1452 Wellington Street East will increase
density by 50% while decreasing green space and parking spots
Proposed townhouse designs are not aesthetically pleasing
Suggestion(s) regarding:
Having a two-year sunset clause included in the site plan approval
MPAC having consolidated 1414-1426 Wellington Street East under
one assessment roll number in November 2025 to 1426 Wellington
Street East
Removing both the development’s SARC entrance and proposed
central parking spaces to create a self-contained development with
four keyhole court ends, providing parking and increased green
space
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Kim
1. That Report No. PDS26-027 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
Thompson, Councillor Gallo, and Councillor Kim
Nays (1): Councillor Gaertner
Carried (6 to 1)
6. Confirming By-law
6.1 By-law Number 6768-26 - Being a By-law to confirm actions by Council
resulting from a Council Public Planning meeting on March 24, 2026
Council Public Planning Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2026
Moved by Councillor Thompson
Seconded by Councillor Gilliland
That the confirming by-law be enacted.
7. Adjournment
Moved by Councillor Gilliland
Seconded by Councillor Gallo
Carried
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Tom as Mayor
Carried
Anne Kantharajah, Town Clerk