In a long-awaited vote, last night NOTL Council voted to proceed immediately with the process of designating the four Rand Estate properties under the Ontario Heritage Act. The properties are already on the Town’s Register of heritage properties, but this step should ensure that important heritage assets on the site are properly understood and protected before Council considers the Marotta group applications for a hotel/conference/wedding facility (or its impending application for a small lot subdivision).
This outcome is the result of a lot of hard work by SORE and its supporters. Particular thanks to Councillors Betty Disero, Terry Flynn and Jamie King, who spoke passionately about the need to move forward with the designation process immediately, as well as to Lord Mayor Pat Darte and Councillors Martin Mazza and Paolo Miele, who also voted in favour of the designation. Councillor Maria Bau-Coote continued her singular and inexplicable opposition, but was the sole dissenting vote.
SORE and its experts will be carefully monitoring the designation process to ensure it is completely properly and expeditiously.