The developer behind a proposed Aurora townhouse development is taking Magna to the Ontario Land Tribunal over its Edward Street manufacturing facility.
20 Allaura Blvd Corporation is appealing to the tribunal for “leave to appeal under the Environmental Bill of Rights,” against Magna Powertrain Inc., operating as Unimotion-Gear. Allaura is appealing against a recent licensing decision that would allow Magna to increase production at its facility on Edward Street in Aurora, which sits next to the site where Allaura is proposing to build townhouses.
“There is good reason to believe that no reasonable person, having regard to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind, could have made the decision, and the decision in respect of which an appeal is sought could result in significant harm to the environment,” reads the appeal.
Magna runs a manufacturing facility for drive plates/flexplates and reluctor wheels at 245 Edward St., near the intersection of Yonge Street and Henderson Drive.
The company applied for an amendment of its environmental compliance approval for the Edward Street facility, so it could increase production. The amendment allows Magna to increase its production levels to 26,900 MIG welded parts per day and up to 14,670 laser welded parts per day at the facility located at 245 Edward, notes the tribunal appeal documents.
The application was approved, and the amendment was issued on December 11, 2024, according to Lindsay Davidson, a spokesperson for the provincial environment ministry.
Now, 20 Allaura Blvd Corporation., which has submitted site-specific planning applications to permit a 225-townhouse development on the neighbouring property, has appealed that decision.
No hearing date has currently been set, according to Anna Chiaramonte, a spokesperson for the land tribunal.
"This case relates to an application for leave to appeal under the Environmental Bill of Rights," she wrote in an email. "As such, there is no hearing scheduled yet. Once the tribunal reviews the written submissions from the parties it will decide whether leave to appeal will be granted or denied. If leave is granted, the applicant has a number of days to file an appeal."
Separate tribunal appeal
In a separate OLT hearing, Magna filed an appeal to try and prevent the townhouse application from being green-lit by the Town of Aurora.
Magna's appealed against the town’s newly approved official plan, adopted in January, 2024, which designates the lands for residential use. But the town’s planning director Marco Ramunno previously told AuroraToday the entire Allaura Boulevard property had been designated for residential use since 2010.
“The new OP has not changed the land use designation for either property,” he said in an email statement. “Both properties are still zoned for general employment uses, however the Allaura property has submitted a rezoning application and site plan to implement resident uses in conformity with the town’s official plan.”
In an October hearing, town counsel Kacie Layton said they would be seeking direction from council, as the two parties pondered mediation. Layton said the plan was to bring the matter to council at one of its meetings in November.
There have been no public outcomes from the mediation yet.