The Town of Aurora and a Magna subsidiary may go to mediation over a proposed townhouse development next to a manufacturing facility.
Magna Powertrain Inc., operating as Unimotion-Gear, runs a facility for drive plates/flexplates and reluctor wheels at 245 Edward St.
The site sits next to 16, 20 and 232 Allaura Blvd, which was earmarked for residential use in the Town of Aurora’s newly approved official plan. Magna has taken the Town of Aurora to the Ontario Land Tribunal over the matter, with the first case management conference heard on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
During a short hearing on Wednesday, town counsel Kacie Layton said they would need to seek direction from council before proceeding with mediation. Layton said the plan would be to bring the matter to council at one of its meetings in November.
Mediation could decide future of 225-townhouse proposal
The owners of the Allaura site submitted site-specific planning applications to permit a 225-townhouse development, according to Marco Ramunno, director of planning and development with the Town of Aurora.
“The owners (Magna) appealed the official plan as they oppose the introduction of residential uses next to their operation. A portion of the 245 Edward St. property and the entire Allaura property have been designated for residential uses since 2010,” Ramunno said in a previous statement to AuroraToday. “The new (official plan) has not changed the land use designation for either property.”
At a public planning meeting last November regarding the townhouse development, Washington Burbano, general manager of Unimotion Gear, said he was concerned about the proposed setback distances and the potential to compromise Unimotion’s operating obligations under the Ontario Environmental Protection Act.
Town lawyers will seek council's direction in November
Layton said the plan would be to ask for council direction on whether or not to proceed with mediation during one of its November meetings.
She also asked opposing counsel to prepare an issues list to be brought before council, which was agreed to.
Another case management conference was not scheduled.
