Precedent-setting proposed condo building in downtown Aurora comes with several concerns

Building would include 25% affordable housing

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 16, 2021
Lisa Queen

Saying a proposed four-storey condo building in downtown Aurora would set a precedent for future intensification projects, councillors said the developers need to address several concerns.

The developers, two numbered Ontario companies, want to construct the building at 25 and 29 George Street, west of Yonge Street on the south side of Wellington Street.

The proposed development, discussed at a public planning meeting Feb. 9, still requires approval by council in the future before it can proceed.

There is now a three-storey building with eight units at 25 George St. and a vacant home at 29 George St.

The new building would wrap around the existing building in an L-shape.

The 26 units would be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedrooms and the development would come with 42 parking spaces.

25 per cent of the units would be affordable housing, although prices are not yet known.

The town received comments about the proposed development from five residents.

Those ranged from saying the building would benefit the community by adding a housing type not widely available in the area to criticisms the building would be too tall and unattractive.

The developers’ planning consultant, Joanna Fast of Evans Planning, said her clients will take the comments and direction from the town’s design review panel into consideration.

The development would set a precedent for future intensification projects, Coun. Wendy Gaertner said.

“This is a very important application for the town, the first of many,” she said.

Gaertner was worried about the loss of trees on the site and the impact on water sources, pointing out the properties are located within wellhead protection areas and partially within a “highly vulnerable” aquifer.

The development looks to double the number of units council was comfortable allowing on the site in 2015. Coun. Michael Thompson said that project never came to fruition.

Coun. Sandra Humfryes was concerned about the lack of vegetation planned for the site.

She also urged the developers to make the project a better fit with the neighbourhood and criticized the “unattractive” design of the proposed building.

“I’m not in support of this current design. I think it’s just too big for the area,” she said.