Mayor hopes for “amicable” agreement on Minto property

November 27, 2013 · 0 Comments

I am pleased to inform our residents that following a decision by Town Council on November 12, the Town intends to pursue our right of first refusal for the option to purchase the Mavrinac property, known as Block 208, from Minto Communities Inc.
In 2002, as part of the initial subdivision development process, this 2.4-hectare (six acre) property was identified by the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) as a possible location for an elementary school, subject to further determination and analysis by the YCDSB.
In 2007, Minto and the Town executed a subdivision agreement which confirmed that the property could be a potential school location for the YCDSB. Under the terms of the agreement, the Town also received the right to acquire the property for municipal purposes – under the same terms, conditions and asking price as the school board – if the YCDSB did not proceed with plans for a school.
This June, the YCDSB decided that the property was not needed for a school and waived its right to purchase the property.
During our Council session on November 12, legal counsel representing Minto Communities Inc. indicated Minto’s intention is to sell the property at fair market value and not extend right of first refusal to the Town.
This is clearly contrary to the Town’s position and the language in our 2007 subdivision agreement. As such, I would like our residents to know that the Town will be moving vigorously and expeditiously to defend the rights established in this agreement, as we would with any of our developer agreements.
I remain hopeful that Minto Communities Inc. will work with the Town to come to an amicable agreement on the potential purchase of the property; however, in lieu of Minto’s publicly-stated position on this matter, we are prepared for the possibility a lengthy negotiation process.

Mayor Geoffrey Dawe
Aurora