GTA in Brief
NRU
April 23, 2014
Regional council approves tax relief programs
Halton Region council approved a tax policy report on the region’s 2014 tax rates at its meeting April 16. The report shows that the budget and business plan for 2014 includes a 0.4 per cent property tax reduction for regional services and no tax increases on the total regional property tax bill. The
report also outlines tax relief programs such as rebates for charitable organizations, low-income seniors and persons with disabilities.
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Increased transit users in York Region
The report on the 2011 Transportation Tomorrow survey was received by York Region council on April 17 showing increased transit usage by residents. The survey found that transit usage is increasing faster than the population is growing, more residents work within the region and there are more
inter-regional trips.
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More construction for York transit
Metrolinx will begin constructing a nine-kilometre stretch of new bus lanes along Yonge Street in the Town of Richmond Hill and the Town of Newmarket later this year. The company has contracted York RapidLINK to complete the $260.5-million project. The expansion also includes 10 Viva
bus stations and is expected to be completed in 2018.
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Aurora-Newmarket proposed for university campus
The Town of Aurora and the Town of Newmarket are teaming together in their proposal to host the new campus in York Region for York University and Seneca College. Both towns’ councils and the Township of King support their proposal for using a 60-acre property located at Yonge Street and St. John’s Sideroad for the new campus site. The location features parkland and streams and is centrally located between the communities.
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Hearing for Vaughan apartment complex
In a decision issued April 11, board member Jason Chee-Hing scheduled a pre-hearing conference September 22 to 24 for appeals by Casertano Development Corporation and Sandra Mammone of the City of Vaughan’s failure to enact official plan and zoning by-law amendments. Casertano seeks permission to develop six apartment buildings ranging from 26 to 40 storeys, containing 2,050 units and two, twostorey commercial buildings with ground-floor retail uses at 9060 Jane Street. Mammone seeks permission to develop six apartment buildings ranging from 25 to 35 storeys, containing 1,600 units with two, two-storey commercial buildings with ground-floor office uses at 8940 Jane Street.
The city brought a motion to adjourn the hearing without a future date and for Casertano and Mammone to consolidate their appeals and test them against the policies in the recently adopted Vaughan Mills Centre Secondary Plan in a status hearing after August 30. York Region supported this motion and has transportation capacity issues. Delisle Properties Ltd. also supported the motion saying its development application is similar to Castertano’s and Mammone’s.
Casertano and Mammone were in opposition to the motion. They expressed concerns of increased costs and delays if an adjournment is permitted.
The board decided that the future development of this area should be reviewed with the policies in the Vaughan Mills Centre Secondary Plan. It granted the motion for adjournment in part and set the pre-hearing conference date for the appeals.
Solicitors involved in the case are Mary Flynn-Guglietti and Annik Forristal (McMillan LLP) representing Casertano Development Corporation and Sandra Mammone, Rick Coburn (Borden Ladner Gervais)representing the City of Vaughan, regional solicitors Gabriel Szobel and Francesco Santaguida representing York Region and Barry Horosko and Caterina Facciolo (Brattys LLP) representing Delisle Properties Ltd. and Rutherford Land Development Corporation. (See OMB Case Nos. PL110419 and PL110455.)
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Variances allowed for Vaughan house
In a decision issued April 10, board member Robert Makuch dismissed an appeal by John and Josie Watson of the City of Vaughan committee of adjustment’s approval of Matthew Moyal’s minor variance application. Moyal received authorization for variances to decrease setbacks and increase building height to facilitate construct of a single-detached dwelling. The property is located at 12 Oakbank Road.
The board was informed that a settlement had been reached between Moyal and the Watsons. The settlement includes an amendment to Moyal’s application to withdraw the variances for setbacks and an agreement that the Watsons will withdraw their objection to the building height.
Planner Michael Manett (Michael S. Manett Planning Services Ltd.) provided evidence on behalf of the Watsons. He told the board that single-detached units are allowed in the neighbourhood and that the revised variances satisfy the official plan and zoning by-law.
The board dismissed the appeal and authorized the building height variances. Solicitors involved in the case were Dawne Jubb (Dawne Jubb) representing the City of Vaughan and John Richardson (John G. Richardson) representing John and Josie Watson. (See OMB Case No. PL131216.)
