Municipal Heritage Committee endorses staff report and adds their own recommendations
The Town's Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC) unanimously endorsed the staff report sending Benny Marotta back to the drawing board.
Updates
-
-
NOTL Residents Association submission on Marotta Rand proposal to Municipal Heritage Committee
SORE has been provided with a copy of a submission from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Residents Association (NOTLRA) at the end of last week to the Town’s...
-
Staff Heritage report sends Marotta back to the drawing board (again)
In a 24-page report released late Friday, Town heritage staff have recommended Benny Marotta be sent back to the drawing board on his latest proposal. The new staff report will be considered at the Municipal Heritage Committee meeting Wednesday July 8 at the Council Chambers.
-
Municipal Heritage Committee to consider Marotta Rand proposal next week
SORE has learned that the Town's advisory Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC) is to consider the latest outrageous Marotta proposal for the Rand Estate next Wednesday evening, July 8 in the Town Council Chambers.
-
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.
-
Reminder on Rand Public Meeting tonight
SORE reminds our many followers and supporters about the Public Meeting tonight in front of Council to listen to comments and concerns about the latest...
-
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.
-
Details for next week’s Randwood Open House and Sept. 9 public meeting – New Solmar OPA application
Further to yesterday’s post on the latest attempt by Benny Marotta to carve streets into the Rand Estate, here are the details to sit in...
-
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.
-
Residents Association press release
We are providing this press release as a courtesy to a new fellow residents' association. The newly formed and Incorporated Niagara on the Lake Residents Association will hold its first Open House meeting on Wednesday, May 14, at the Community Centre, 14 Anderson Lane, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
-
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...
-
The Niagara Foundation moves forward on The Wilderness
SORE has been laser-focused on advocating for responsible development of the Rand Estate in Niagara on the Lake, especially in terms of recognizing and protecting its heritage characteristics. However, we want to give a shoutout about what’s underway for another large historic parcel in town – The Niagara Foundation completed acquisition of The Wilderness property in December and has an extensive process to shape what happens with the property.
-
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.
-
Parties file written submissions in Marotta Rand subdivision OLT hearing
The parties to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) case brought by Benny Marotta's company Solmar filed written submissions to the Tribunal at the conclusion of the evidentiary phase of the hearing. The full text of the four written submissions are on the sorenotl.ca site.