Council increases height allowance for Aurora United Church proposal

YorkRegion.com
July 21, 2017
Teresa Latchford

Aurora United Church’s vision of constructing a retirement residence is one step closer to reality.

The town of Aurora recently approved the organization’s application to amend the official plan, promenade plan, and zoning bylaw to allow for the construction of a seven-storey, 152-unit retirement residence alongside the rebuilding of the church that used to be a landmark on Yonge Street.

However, the town will be holding out on presenting the written amendment for final approval until town staff has received and reviewed a detailed site plan.

“It’s a good plan and a good design,” planning director Marco Ramunno said.

Many councillors supported the amendment, eager to see the church rebuilt after being lost to fire and the residence bringing more people to the downtown core to support businesses and transit. It would also provide more living options for senior citizens in Aurora rather than seeing them have to move out of the municipality.

Others felt it was important to stick to the five-storey maximum height restriction because of the sensitive nature of the area and questioned why the town would bother enacting planning documents if they would just amend them when they felt the need.

Some residents weren’t pleased and voiced that a seven-storey building is a good fit for the historically notable area.

“We support the land usage but not the proposed design,” Aurora Village Ratepayers’ Troy Hourie said. “This just doesn’t fit with the official plan or the promenade plan and there has been given no consideration to massing.”

He felt the reports presented to council lacked enough detail for a decision to be made. Howie suggested town staff be directed to report back with residents' concerns about massing and setbacks, as well as hold a meeting with the applicant and residents to find a suitable compromise.

Ramunno made it clear that the approval given only applies to the amendment and that there will still be opportunities to work with the landowner and developer throughout the site plan process.

Construction mitigation measures to ensure surrounding residents are disturbed as little as possible when shovels hit the ground were also mentioned.