'Elephant in a bathtub': Aurora residents say 6-storey building wrong for neighbourhood, threatens wildlife habits

Developer has until March 17 to appeal council's rejection of proposed building to Ontario Land Tribunal

Yorkregion.com
March 14, 2022
Lisa Queen

A developer proposing a six-storey apartment building at the northeast corner of Wellington Street and John West Way has until March 17 to appeal council’s rejection of the project to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

In addition to council’s opposition, a number of residents are fighting L&B Aurora Inc.’s proposal to build the 150-unit rental building.

The site is on a floodplain, with environmental features that connect to the Arboretum -- most importantly, the East Holland River, George Skoulikas, president of the Henderson Forest Aurora Ratepayer Association, said.

Residents also say the development would create traffic problems and argue that the intersection and surrounding area are already overpopulated with St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School, the town hall, the Aurora Seniors Centre and nearby housing.

Resident Yevheniya Pokhvalina likens the development to “trying to fit an elephant in a bathtub.”

The development as proposed “represents an immediate crisis for existing wildlife faced with sudden and often prolonged habitat loss,” ratepayer association vice-president Wendy Kenyon warned.

The development would put animal habitats, such as the area’s snapping turtle population, at risk, resident Maricella Sauceda said.

However, Joanna Fast of Evans Planning, representing the developer, rhymed off a number of benefits at a council meeting last month.

The apartments would be geared to seniors and empty nesters, the building would be designed with modern glass elements and traditional red brick to match the surrounding area, the sixth floor would be set back to reduce the visual impact of the building, there would be a green roof over half the rooftop and amenities on the other half and the development would feature a high-quality urban square with enhanced landscaping at the corner.

“It should be a very attractive pedestrian space,” she said, adding the building would be an “excellent gateway” to the neighbourhood and would round out development at the four corners of the intersection.

Fast pointed out that in 2013 council approved, in principle, a one-storey retail plaza on the site, adding that the location is on a transit corridor where intensification is encouraged.

The developer would provide almost $500,000 in bonuses that would be used for trail improvements and upgrading the historic Petch House.

But residents and council believe the development would have a negative impact.

Mayor Tom Mrakas said the one-storey retail plaza approved in principle in 2013 was not permitted to be two storeys due to poor soil conditions. He questioned how a six-storey apartment building could be built there now.

Fast acknowledged that ground improvements are needed to make sure the building would be stabilized.

While the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority supports the development, Coun. Wendy Gaertner is worried the development could result in flooding for nearby homes.

“This could just be terrible for the residents because we’re taking out more fill than we’re putting in, so we’re increasing the slope that is adjacent to where these residents are living,” she said.

“There’s too much at stake here.”

While Coun. John Gallo supports high-density development on transit corridors, he said the town can’t ignore serious concerns to make that happen.