As we communicated last week and as you’ll now have seen in local newspapers and social media, a new Benny Marotta proposal for the entire Rand Estate is on an apparent fast track through the Town’s planning process.
The proposal is outrageous on its face on too many levels to count. It does not comply with current Official Plan or zoning policies for the site. It does not comply with the Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act. It does not comply with the Denise Horne heritage report recommendations that were adopted by Council at a public meeting in April of 2023 attended by hundreds of residents. It does not comply with the resolution passed by the current Council on December 15, 2023. And perhaps most important, it does not comply with the extensive October 2024 ruling of the Ontario Land Tribunal, standing in the shoes of Council, after an eight week hearing in which the Town invested hundreds of thousands of dollars.
There are two very important public events concerning this proposal coming up next week and the week after.
First there is a PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE on MONDAY MAY 25 AT 5 PM.
The Open House will be virtual and you must register in advance with the Town to receive the link. Please email Victoria Nikoltcheva at [email protected] or call her at 905-468-6451 to be put on that list.
Second there is a PUBLIC MEETING IN FRONT OF COUNCIL ON TUESDAY JUNE 2 AT 6 PM. You can attend that meeting electronically or in person but again, you must register if you wish to participate electronically. You must also register if you wish to speak in person at the Council Public Meeting.
Please contact Clerks Department at [email protected] or call 905-468-3266 to register and to state your intention to speak to Council that night if you so wish.
We encourage all of our supporters to register to watch the Open House electronically next Monday and to ask questions during that event.
We further strongly encourage our supporters to register for the Council Public Meeting on the evening of June 2 and to attend either in person at the Council chambers or virtually. SORE will have several speakers who will be delegating to Council that evening but this is your chance to let Town planning staff and Council know what you think of this ridiculous application that will entirely overwhelm the Rand Estate.
If you are thinking of delegating to Council on June 2 or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
After 9 years its time to finally put this to bed. Benny Marotta continues to demonstrate his contempt for Old Town, good planning and the Rand Estate. It’s time Council sent him a definitive message. Please help us make sure Council sends him packing.