Regrettably, it now appears that the hearing on Benny Marotta’s court challenge to the Town’s efforts to have the Rand Estate designated under the Ontario Heritage Act will be further delayed. We are now expecting the hearing to occur during the week of January 6th, 2020. We will be looking for your attendance […]
Updates
Very important court date next week
SORE alerts its supporters and all Town residents of an important court date in St Catharines next week. Readers will recall that Benny Marotta challenged the legality of your elected Council’s decision to designate all four Rand Estate properties under the Ontario Heritage Act in August of 2018. After many delays at the hands […]
Marotta July 29 LPAT appeal hearing cancelled
SORE confirms that the Marotta LPAT hearing scheduled for Monday, July 29, has been cancelled. Mr. Marotta has withdrawn his appeal and LPAT will be closing its file. SORE and the Town may seek costs from the Marotta group for wasting our (and your) money on this appeal. Benny Marotta and his representatives have […]
Marotta withdraws LPAT appeal
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 the appeal down for a […]
Important LPAT hearing on Monday, July 29
SORE supporters and all residents are reminded that the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) will reconvene at 10 am on Monday, July 29, in the NOTL Community Centre. In May, LPAT granted SORE full party status in this appeal and granted a brief adjournment to July 29 to allow for a decision in an unrelated court case that would provide guidance on the conduct of the appeal.
Marotta Companies charged under Heritage Act!
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.
SORE secures LPAT party status
SORE was granted party status by the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) on May 9 for Benny Marotta’s appeal to that Tribunal.
LPAT Hearing this Thursday
The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) is holding an important case management conference this Thursday, May 9 at 10 am in the Town Community Centre Auditorium on Benny Marotta’s request for approval of his convention centre/hotel proposal at the Rand Estate.
Reminder to send support for SORE to LPAT
Benny Marotta has appealed the zoning bylaw application for his proposed convention centre and hotel to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), rather than letting your elected Council make a decision. LPAT has now set a prehearing on May 9 at the Community Centre.
SORE granted party status by Superior Court
SORE has been granted full party status to intervene in the court challenge brought by Benny Marotta’s companies of your elected Council’s decision to designate the Rand Estate under the Heritage Act.
Update on legal proceedings and request for assistance
SORE’s lawyers appeared in court on the morning of April 3 in St Catharines on Benny Marotta’s attempt to overturn Council’s decision last August to designate the Rand Estate under the Heritage Act. Dozens of NOTL residents packed the courtroom to support SORE. In our ongoing game of “whack a mole” with Benny Marotta, we are now focused on the next legal challenge he has initiated – to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).
SORE court hearing 10 am Wednesday
SORE now has confirmation on the timing of its application to intervene in Benny Marotta’s efforts to have a court overturn Council’s decision last August to designate the Rand Estate properties under the Heritage Act. SORE’s motion will be heard tomorrow, Wednesday April 3, at 10 am. The motion will be heard at the court […]
SORE: Building Support to Save the Rand Estate
Save Our Rand Estate – also known as “SORE” – was created to support responsible development, specifically of the Rand Estate. We welcome projects that respect the unique historical and cultural heritage of NOTL. At the same time, we are prepared to stand up against developers who show little regard for our cultural heritage and the Town Official Plan.
Public meeting on Official Plan on Monday evening
The Town will be hosting a statutory public meeting on Monday evening in the Community Centre on the proposed new Official Plan. SORE has identified a number of deficiencies in the proposed new OP concerning Randwood.
Update on Marotta court challenge of heritage designations
There was an initial court appearance on Thursday (Feb. 14) in St Catharines on the court challenge by the Marotta group of the Town’s decision last August to designate the four Rand Estate properties under the Heritage Act. The matter was put over to early April and will be further spoken to at that time. We do not anticipate an actual hearing until late June.
Marotta Group Asks Court To Quash Council’s Heritage Designation of Randwood
In the latest audacious move by Benny Marotta, lawyers hired by his companies filed a court application last week seeking to nullify Council’s vote last August to designate all four Rand Estate properties under the Heritage Act.
Update on Marotta hotel / convention centre
SORE is pleased to report that it has been given party status by the Conservation Review Board for the appeal by the Marotta group of the designation of all four Rand Estate properties under the Heritage Act.
CAO Dowd provides update on Randwood legal proceedings
Further to an article earlier today on SORE’s website, Town of NOTL CAO Holly Dowd advised residents this afternoon that the Town’s legal counsel (presumably new counsel Turksta as well as Daniels) will be providing an update to Council in a closed session this evening (Dec. 17) and that Council will be providing instructions to counsel.
SORE calls for rejection of incomplete Marotta application
SORE counsel Pat Little delivered a letter to Town staff and Council on Friday requesting that the Town reject the Marotta hotel and convention centre application as incomplete. View below a copy of the letter. Marotta’s application filed with the Town in December of last year listed only two properties – 144 and 176 John […]
Background on One Mile Creek and NPCA
In the ongoing developments at Randwood, there are references to both One Mile Creek and to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. As background for those interested, here’s more information about a group dedicated to protecting the creek. There’s also background about the NPCA.
Heritage designation appeals by Marotta Group
The Marotta Group has appealed the Town’s heritage designation of the four Rand Estate properties to the Conservation Review Board. SORE through its legal counsel Pat Little will be seeking party status for this hearing.
Town to seek injunction against Marotta
SORE’s legal counsel has learned that the Town will be in court tomorrow (Thursday) morning to seek an injunction against the ongoing destruction of Randwood. SORE encourages its supporters and interested residents to attend the court proceedings – 10 am at 59 Church St in St Catherines.
Marotta clear cutting of Rand continues
Benny Marotta continues to show the Town and its residents what he meant when he said he wants to make Niagara-on-the-Lake more beautiful. His shocking clear-cutting of Randwood continues unabated. Drone surveillance photos taken yesterday show the extent of the devastation he has wrought on this local and national treasure.
SORE’s lawyers demand Marotta/Two Sisters prosecution
Having confirmed through drone surveillance that the owners of the Rand Estate have illegally eradicated protected features, including portions of the nationally significant Dunington-Grubb designed landscape, SORE through its lawyers requested immediate prosecution of Benny Marotta and his companies on Monday.