Our readers will be aware that Urban Strategies delivered a draft report to the Town in early December. That report fulfilled the requirement in the new but not yet in force Town Official Plan to do a character area study of the area including the Rand Estate before any land use planning decisions are made on the subject lands.
A link to the Town’s project website can be found: Character Study – Randwood Estate and John Street East | Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake (notl.com)
SORE is overall quite pleased with the study report recommendations. We believe they will be useful to the OLT in considering the proposed Marotta Rand subdivision and to the Town and the OLT in relation to any future proposals by Mr. Marotta concerning the Rand Estate.
The Town is now taking the next step to turn the study recommendations into an Official Plan Amendment for this area. See the draft Official Plan Amendment in the above-noted link.
A public Open House to discuss the draft report and proposed OPA has been scheduled for next Monday, January 29 at 5 pm. The Open House will be virtual. If you wish to participate electronically in the Open House, you must register prior to noon on Monday with Aida Nasr (aida.nasr@notl.com or 905-468-3266). Registration is not required if you just wish to view the Open House after the fact. It will be recorded and available for viewing after on the Town’s website (https:www.notl.com/council-government/mayor-council/meetings-agendas-minutes).
A statutory Public Meeting at which Council will be present to consider the proposed Official Plan Amendment will be held on Tuesday, February 6 at 6 pm. That meeting will be both in person at Town Hall Council Chambers and electronically. If you wish to make comments at the public meeting, advance registration is required with the Town Clerk (clerks@notl.com or 905-468-3266). The public meeting will also be recorded and available for viewing on the Town’s website per the above instruction.
Written comments on the study and proposed OPA can be submitted to clerks@notl.com. Reference OPA-01-2024.
SORE encourages our supporters and interested parties to listen in, ask questions and make comments. This is one of the most important areas in Old Town NOTL and the way the Town handles this can also set a precedent for other areas of Old Town that are under threat.