Aurora Highland Gate redevelopment OMB settlement hearing set for Dec. 1

Highland Gate redevelopment OMB settlement hearing set

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 7, 2016
By Teresa Latchford

A settlement hearing for the Highland Gate redevelopment has been set for Dec. 1.

At a recent Ontario Municipal Board prehearing held at Aurora town hall, Highland Gate Developments Inc. legal counsel Mark Flowers requested the scheduled Dec. 1 hearing be scheduled as a settlement hearing, pending minutes of settlement be signed by all parties involved.

Highland Gate Developments Inc. originally submitted applications to the town to build 184 homes and a 10-storey condominium on the former golf course. The developer filed with the OMB due to Aurora’s indecision on the application in the specified time period.

“There have been a number of developments since the last prehearing,” Flowers said. “But we are just not prepared to move forward with a settlement hearing at this time.”

The number of proposed homes has decreased to 179 and the proposed condo is now seven storeys. There have been six productive mediation sessions with the town. An agreement has been reached with the Highland Green establishment and Aurora council. The Highland Gate Ratepayers Association has endorsed settlements although it has yet to formally sign. There are also draft minutes of settlement pending with Sunrise of Aurora.

Flowers set out a timeline of events leading up to Dec. 1, setting an expectation of all parties executing minutes of settlement by Nov. 17 and releasing the details of those settlements on Nov. 18 if they are signed and if not, asking those opposed to submit final objections.

“If we don’t have all parties signed settlements, then we will use the December meeting as the final prehearing before heading into the hearing,” Flowers added.

While it was acknowledged that the documents currently being reviewed by all parties are substantial, no party had an objection to the timeline set out by Flowers.

However, Aurora resident Lorraine Coens took to the podium to express her opposition.

“I’m upset everything seems to have been set in stone already,” she said. “I’m entirely against the development.”

But before she could finish, she was informed those in opposition would have an opportunity to express themselves at the Dec. 1 meeting beginning at 10 a.m. in the council chambers.