The Municipal Heritage Committee’s unanimous adoption of several motions on Tuesday May 8 affecting the Marotta group’s proposal for the Rand Estate is a big step in the right direction. The motions included a request to Council to immediately provide a notice of heritage designation for all four properties on the Rand Estate (144,176 and 200 John and 588 Charlotte), rejection of a 6-storey (equivalent of 7 stories) hotel and an urgent need to engage a qualified heritage planner on Town staff.
Given the Marotta proposal has been with the Town for almost 120 days, designation of the Rand Estate and retention of qualified heritage planning staff is clearly time-sensitive. The next Council meeting is this coming Monday May 14 and SORE expects Council to proceed with the Heritage Committee recommendations that evening. There is no excuse for delaying action on these important recommendations, which were passed unanimously by the Committee last week.
You can help. Please do two things:
- Email or call the Lord Mayor and/or Town Councillors and encourage them to adopt the MHC recommendations on designation and hiring of a heritage planner at Monday’s Council meeting. (Council email list here.)
- Attend the Council meeting (Council Chambers, 6pm) and demonstrate your continued interest in this important development matter.
If you attend on Monday, remember that SORE encourages all supporters to be respectful of our elected representatives, Town staff and other attendees as well as the established processes for meetings. We appreciate your periodic frustration and concern and we remain optimistic we can work with Council and staff to ensure a responsible approach to the Rand Estate.
