Metrolinx's church parking lot deal concerns Aurora residents

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 25, 2016
By Teresa Latchford

Regional transit authority Metrolinx has confirmed a temporary lease agreement to use a local church parking lot for GO commuter parking.

As part of its plan to bring 15 minute, all-day, two-way GO service to Aurora, construction at the station on the corner of Wellington Street and Industrial Parkway could begin as early as next month to install underground pedestrian walkways. Construction will impact the parking lot at the station and Metrolinx has struck a deal for alternate parking at Our Lady of Grace Church, according to spokesperson Alex Burke.

“While the terms of the agreement are confidential, the temporary parking at the church will be available for use by customers during regular GO transit operating hours, while the construction is ongoing at the Aurora GO station,” Burke said.

After residents living near the church caught wind of the lease agreement, several spoke at a town council meeting to ensure the town was aware they had concerns.

“We were unaware of the agreement until we heard from residents,” Aurora’s director of planning and development services Marco Ramunno said. “Residents mainly have concerns about increased traffic in the area, noise generated by increased snow plowing and additional lighting.”

The town doesn’t have jurisdiction when it comes to the agreement since Metrolinx has the right to make these agreements and the parking lot is already established for the use and doesn’t contradict any zoning bylaws, he added.

In March, Metrolinx did approach the town hoping to lease 200 parking spaces at the Aurora Family Leisure Complex on Industrial Parkway. But the town turned them down saying there wouldn’t be enough parking spaces left for users of the facility.

There will be no changes made to the existing parking lot at the church. Located 800 metres from the station, it will most likely only be used when the parking lot at the station is full, Burke said. He noted this is not the first lease like this Metrolinx has negotiated.

“Since hearing from the community we have engaged them in conversations to alleviate some of their concerns,” he added. “This is a temporary lot which will be in service only during construction.”

A plan for signs to ensure customers follow main streets to and from the temporary lot has been developed and in the first couple of days after the lot opens for customers, transit safety and a GO customer care team will be on site to direct customers to the station.

The town will continue to discuss opportunities to work with Metrolinx to help alleviate the parking pressures at the station in the future, Ramunno said.

Town staff is working on a report that will be presented to council in the near future, pointing out land that would be appropriate for these opportunities.