SORE reports on last night’s public meeting on Marotta Rand plan
An overflow crowd packed the Council chambers and an overflow room last night for a statutory public meeting on the latest Marotta Rand proposal. In a meeting that lasted until 11 pm, Council heard from over 20 delegates, not a single one of whom supported the proposal.
SORE reminder about Tuesday public meeting on Marotta Rand proposal
SORE reminds its supporters and all interested parties about the Public Meeting Tuesday at 6 pm in the Council Chambers. It is scheduled last of...
SORE comments on last night’s open house on latest Marotta proposal
Thank you to the many people who registered to watch last night’s Open House presentation on the new Solmar/Two Sisters Rand Estate proposal. To summarize,...
Reminder on Rand proposal open house at 5 pm Monday
SORE reminds its many supporters and all interested parties about the Public Open House on Benny Marotta’s latest outrage tomorrow at 5 pm. The Open...
Important public meeting re new Marotta Rand application
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...
Marotta completely ignores OLT decision with new Rand application
Rand Estate patron Benny Marotta is at it again with a new and even more outrageous application for the entire estate. Mr. Marotta now seeks approval from the Town for an (ostensible) 5-story hotel on the front half of Randwood accompanied by 227 residential units on the back half.
Marotta withdraws court appeal of OLT Rand decision
Solmar had appealed the October 2024 OLT Decision to the Divisional Court. A hearing was finally set for April 2026, only to see Solmar finally withdraw its appeal as the court date approached.
SORE issues clarification on its Rand zoning application
SORE is providing the following clarification on a zoning application it wishes to bring with respect to 144/176 John St E in light of recent social media posts by Councillor Wiens. SORE approached the Town months ago with an intended rezoning application for these properties. The intent of the application is simple.
More Marotta chicanery at OPA Open House last night
At the Sept. 2 Open House, Mr. Marotta's planner confirmed that this was all about asking Council to approve a panhandle subdivision street that Council already turned down in April of 2023 and that was definitively turned down by the Ontario Land Tribunal last October after a 7-week hearing.
Marotta takes another swing at Randwood
SORE has learned that Benny Marotta is back again with another hard to believe application to the Town. In OPA 06-25, Mr. Marotta's company Solmar is seeking to have the Town approve a new subdivision street up the 200 John Street panhandle that the Ontario Land Tribunal explicitly and firmly rejected last October after a 7 week hearing. Solmar is also seeking approval for an access where 588 Charlotte meets John Street at the Heritage Trail.
Marotta continues Rand litigation against Town and promises new lawsuit against Council
Benny Marotta withdrew entirely from the Ontario Land Tribunal proceedings on his proposed Rand subdivision after the OLT ruled against his company and sent him back to the drawing board to work with the Town and SORE on an acceptable approach. Mr. Marotta has though, for the time being, continued his judicial review application seeking to overturn the OLT decision.
Ontario Land Tribunal dismisses Marotta Rand subdivision application
The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) has this week issued a final order dismissing the Marotta/Solmar applications for a high density subdivision on the back half...
Ontario Land Tribunal denies Marotta appeal of Rand subdivision decision
The Ontario Land Tribunal on Jan. 28 2025 DENIED in its entirely the review request filed by the Marotta's Solmar company of the OLT decision that rejected the Rand Estate subdivision application filed on the basis that it did not represent good planning.
Marotta appeals Ontario Land Tribunal Rand decision
Benny Marotta this week has filed appeals of the recent Ontario Land Tribunal Rand subdivision decision to both the courts and the OLT. SORE’s report...
Town and SORE win OLT Rand case on Marotta subdivision
The Ontario Land Tribunal decision on the proposed Marotta Rand Estate subdivision is a complete win for SORE and for the Town. Our supporters will recall that the Marotta company took the matter out of the hands of Council and appealed directly to the OLT.
Update on Marotta Rand OLT hearing
The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) panel hearing the appeal by Benny Marotta on his proposed Rand Estate subdivision has adjourned as planned until late July.
OLT to broadcast Marotta Rands subdivision hearing on its YouTube channel
The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) has agreed to broadcast the hearing starting next Tuesday, April 9, at 10 am on its YouTube channel.
Update on Marotta Rand OLT subdivision hearing
We thought it timely to provide an update on the upcoming OLT hearing on the proposed Marotta subdivision. In our last update, we noted that...
Character area study for Rand Estate and vicinity – Upcoming public meetings
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.
New plan filed for Marotta Rand subdivision proposal and CMC tomorrow
Solmar, one of the Benny Marotta companies, has filed an “updated” application for the highly controversial subdivision proposal for the back half of the Rand Estate.
Town provides statement on Marotta Rand subdivision application
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, the Town released a statement concerning the Marotta Rand Estate subdivision application and the now-withdrawn concept of using a portion of the Town-owned Heritage Trail for access. That statement can be found on the Town of NOTL website.
Marotta company makes formal request for Heritage Trail subdivision easement
In a letter dated January 8, 2024, the lawyers for the Marotta company seeking approval for a subdivison on the Rand Estate have formally requested...
Council takes position on Marotta Rand subdivision
After a lengthy in-camera meeting yesterday, Council emerged to pass a very important resolution concerning the proposed Marotta Rand Estate subdivision on 200 John and...
New Town character area study supports SORE vision for Randwood
SORE is pleased to report that Council recently received an important draft report of Urban Strategies Inc and GBCA Architects concerning the Rand Estate and...