As a public service, SORE notes that a proposed Transportation Master Plan is going to Council in August for possible approval. A copy of the draft Plan can be found on the NOTL Join the Conversation site. Comments are due by August 1. There are some important and, for SORE concerning, recommendations in the draft […]
Updates
Recap on public input session
Last night, the Town hosted a public information session on the current Marotta group Rand subdivision proposal. Several SORE experts – heritage, planning, traffic, servicing and natural environment – outlined serious issues concerning the proposal. A number of community members also asked questions and raised various concerns. SORE thanks the Town for hosting this […]
Public input session this Thursday on proposed Marotta Rand Subdivision
SORE reminds residents and interested parties of the Public Information Session being hosted by the Town this Thursday June 9, starting at 6 pm. The purpose of this event is to solicit input on the Marotta subdivision proposal. A link to that proposal and accompanying reports can be found at notl.com/business-development/public-planning-notices If you wish to say […]
June 9 public input session on Marotta Rand subdivision confirmed
The Town has now confirmed that it will be holding a public input session on the Marotta Rand subdivision proposal on Thursday, June 9, starting at 6 p.m. The link to the notice and further information is notl.com/business-development/public-planning-notices. Disappointingly, this will be a virtual “meeting” and not the in-person meeting that SORE had sought. SORE […]
Public meeting expected re Marotta subdivision proposal
SORE has learned that the Town is planning to hold a public meeting to receive public input on the Marotta Rand subdivision proposal. The tentative date is Thursday, June 9.
Marotta takes subdivision proposal to OLT
The Marotta group has elected to open up yet another litigation front with the Town over the Rand Estate.
Rand subdivision concept announced by SORE
Since the unveiling of Benny Marotta’s utterly atrocious subdivision plan for the back half of the Rand Estate, SORE has had its team of experts hard at work to determine what form of residential development might be feasible on this iconic estate. SORE’s team of experts has been able to come up with a preliminary subdivision concept that we believe to be feasible for the Rand Estate.
Benny Marotta folds his tent on CRB
In the latest (self-inflicted) wound, one of Benny Marotta’s companies informed the Conservation Review Board on Tuesday, Nov. 2, that it was withdrawing the challenge to the Town’s Notices of Intent to Designate 200 John Street and 588 Charlotte Street under the Ontario Heritage Act. Our supporters will recall that after the previous Council issued […]
SORE Wins Cultural Heritage Landscape Protection Award
SORE is very pleased to announce that it has won the prestigious Margaret and Nicholas Hill Award from the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. The ACO’s announcement can be viewed at acoheritageawards.ca/save-our-rand-estate/. SORE is grateful for the recognition both of its almost four years of hard work and of the provincial and national significance of the […]
Marotta appeals Town order to look after Rand Estate
In the latest installment of Benny Marotta’s legal assaults on the Town over the historic Rand Estate, Mr. Marotta has now instructed his lawyers to challenge orders issued by the Town under its Property Standards By-Law.
SORE nominated for cultural heritage landscape award
SORE is very pleased to report that it has been nominated for the prestigious Margaret and Nicholas Hill Cultural Landscape Award by Architectural Conservancy Ontario. The ACO nomination announcement can be viewed at acoheritageawards.ca/save-our-rand-estate.
SORE Files Reply Witness Statements in CRB Hearing
SORE has filed Reply Witness Statements to the evidence of the Solmar/Two Sisters in the Conservation Review Board hearing initiated by the Marotta companies. The Witness Statements can be found on our website.
SORE reports on July 14 public meeting
In a meeting that stretched to 5 hours, Council and the community on July 14 heard numerous delegations from members of the public as well as SORE on the myriad issues raised by the Marotta subdivision proposal.
Reminder of Rand public meeting Wednesday
SORE supporters are reminded of the Public Meeting Wednesday beginning at 5 pm on the proposed Marotta Rand subdivision. The meeting can be viewed at livestream.com/notl.
SORE files peer review reports with Town
SORE has filed three peer review reports with the Town concerning the proposed Marotta subdivision covering Stormwater and Drainage, Grading and Servicing, Natural Environment.
Reminder re public meeting July 14
Residents and interested parties are reminded of the upcoming Public Meeting concerning the Marotta Rand subdivision proposal on Wednesday, July 14 at 5 pm. The Public Meeting will be live-streamed.
Parties file expert reports in Marotta CRB challenge
The Marotta companies, the Town and SORE have all now filed their expert reports for the upcoming Conservation Review Board hearing beginning on July 19. As a reminder, the Marotta companies are asking the CRB to advise on the merits of the Town’s August 2018 Notices of Intent to Designate 200 John and 588 Charlotte (the back half of the Rand Estate) under the Heritage Act.
Marotta subdivision would be two or three times as dense as most adjacent neighbourhoods
The SORE core team has undertaken a comparison of the density of the proposed Marotta Rand Estate subdivision with the closest neighbourhoods to the Estate. Provided are both “Gross” and “Net” density graphs illustrating the comparison.
SORE comments on June 15 Open House
SORE thanks the almost 200 households that signed up for the June 15 Open House and the 30 or so people who asked questions. The evening illustrated the extreme challenges of conducting public consultations by video.
Final reminder to register for tomorrow evening’s open house
SORE reminds all interested parties to register if you wish to electronically attend tomorrow’s open house concerning the Marotta Rand subdivision proposal starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
June 15 Open House details from Town
SORE has received additional information from the Town planner handling the Tuesday Open House starting at 5 p.m. We pass it along verbatim for your information.
You must register to watch the online June 15 Open House about Marotta subdivision
SORE reminds supporters and all concerned stakeholders of the Open House next Tuesday June 15 beginning at 5 p.m. You must register in advance to attend the electronic Open House before noon June 15.
Reminder on upcoming open house re Randwood subdivision application
SORE reminds all residents about the upcoming public open house concerning the Marotta group subdivision application. The open house will unfortunately be electronic only and will start at 5 pm on Tuesday June 15. You must register in advance to watch and if desired participate.
Share your historical photos of Rand Estate
Save Our Rand Estate (SORE) is inviting community members to share their personal historical photographs and other archival information of and for the Rand Estate, also known as Randwood, located at the corner of John and Charlotte streets in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We are particularly interested in photos of Randwood taken either on the estate or from the surrounding streets and trails, and in particular, photographs taken before the 1980s.