Lord Mayor candidates who did not win

Pat Darte candidate response to SORE

Article posted on September 23, 2018

Pat Darte is a candidate for Lord Mayor in the upcoming NOTL election who provided responses to SORE’s 7 questions.

Daniel Turner candidate response to SORE

Article posted on September 23, 2018

Daniel Turner is a candidate for Lord Mayor in the upcoming NOTL election who provided responses to SORE’s 7 questions.

Victory!!!

January 10, 2020

SORE is thrilled to report that the court application by the Marotta companies to overturn your elected Council’s decision to proceed with designation of the Rand Estate under the Ontario Heritage Act has been completely rejected.

In a decision released today by the Ontario Superior Court, Madame Justice Walters found against the Marotta group on every ground and dismissed their application with costs payable to both the Town and to SORE.

This is a decisive victory for both the Town and SORE. For the last year, the now clearly spurious attempt by the Marotta group lawyer to hold the Town and SORE hostage to this legal challenge has impaired the ability of the Town to proceed with the prosecution of the Marotta companies for alleged violations of the Heritage Act for last November’s outrageous clear-cutting at the Rand Estate. That prosecution can now proceed and SORE will be watching that closely.

The Conservation Review Board can now also complete its hearing on the review requested by the Marotta group of the Town’s notices of intent to designate the Rand Estate under the Heritage Act. We look forward to that hearing and to the CRB’s recommendations to Town Council.

This decision is a watershed moment for NOTL generally and in particular for the many hundreds of residents appalled by the Marotta Randwood proposals and the decimation of landscape features last November by the Marotta group. It is hopefully the beginning of the end of this unfortunate saga.

[Below is a PDF of the court decision.]

Two-Sisters-et-al-v.-Town-of-Niagara-on-the-Lake-et-al-Reasons-for-Decision-Jan-10-20-Walters-J-1

Recap on Marotta court challenge this week

January 8, 2020

The hearing by Madame Justice Walters of the challenge by the Marotta group to your Council's notice of intent to designate the Rand Estate under the Heritage Act concluded late Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 7, in St. Catharines. The hearing took place over two days, with the Marotta group lawyer … [Read More...] about Recap on Marotta court challenge this week

SORE provides update on Conservation Review Board hearing and on prosecution

December 3, 2019

As reported on in our last update, the Conservation Review Board (CRB) held a prehearing conference on Monday, December 2. The CRB heard submissions from the Town and SORE that the uncertainty about the Marotta group's challenges to the Town's designation of the Rand Estate under the Heritage Act … [Read More...] about SORE provides update on Conservation Review Board hearing and on prosecution

Marotta withdraws LPAT appeal

July 24, 2019

In a not entirely surprising move, Benny Marotta's lawyer advised the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal late yesterday that he was withdrawing the Marotta group's zoning appeal to LPAT. LPAT has cancelled the July 29 scheduled hearing, at which the Town and SORE were poised to ask the Tribunal to set … [Read More...] about Marotta withdraws LPAT appeal

Marotta Companies charged under Heritage Act!

May 23, 2019

SORE has learned that the Town has recently laid four charges against two of Benny Marotta's companies under the Ontario Heritage Act. These are quasi-criminal charges under our legal system and can result in substantial fines for corporations and jail time for individuals upon conviction. … [Read More...] about Marotta Companies charged under Heritage Act!

SORE secures LPAT party status

May 10, 2019

SORE was granted party status by the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) on May 9 for Benny Marotta's appeal to that Tribunal. To recap, Mr. Marotta has appealed the "non-decision" by the last NOTL Council on his convention centre and hotel proposal to LPAT‎. It is unfortunate that Mr. Marotta … [Read More...] about SORE secures LPAT party status

Lord Mayor candidates who did not win

Pat Darte candidate response to SORE

Daniel Turner candidate response to SORE

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Lord Mayor candidates who did not win

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