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.
Updates
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Jan. 17, the Town released a statement concerning the Marotta Rand Estate subdivision application and the now-withdrawn concept of using a portion of the Town-owned Heritage Trail for access.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 that the Town grant their client a “permanent easement” over the Town-owned Heritage Trail to enable access to the proposed subdivision. A copy of that letter can be found […]
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 588 Charlotte (the back half of Randwood). The purpose of the resolution was to set out the Town’s position and instructions to its lawyer ahead of the Ontario Land Tribunal […]
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 the John Street East Character Area. The report, a “Character Area Study” is required by the Town’s new Official Plan. It was commissioned in 2022 and recently completed and delivered […]
Reminder of OLT case management conference Friday at 10 am
SORE reminds its supporters and stakeholders that the Ontario Land Tribunal will be holding a case management conference tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 10) morning at 10 am on the proposed Marotta Rand Estate subdivision. The access details are below. https://meet.goto.com/996288525 Access code: 996-288-525 We expect this CMC to be largely procedural however there may be matters […]
Canadian Society of Landscape Architects deems Rand Estate provincially significant
In a letter dated September 14 to Paul Calandra, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) calls the Rand Estate a “unique” and a “provincially significant heritage asset”. The CLSA, which is the voice of landscape architects in Canada, noted the significant involvement of the seminal husband […]
Update on Ontario Land Tribunal hearing for proposed Marotta Rand subdivision
The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) held a scheduled Case Management Conference (CMC) on June 9 to advance the hearing process for the proposed Marotta Rand subdivision. Thank you to those of you who dialed in to listen/watch. A proposed procedural order establishing the key aspects of the pre-hearing and hearing process was discussed with the […]
Reminder of OLT case management conference on Marotta Rand subdivision this Friday
SORE reminds its supporters and interested parties of the OLT case management conference FRIDAY, JUNE 9 AT 10 AM. AT: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/765631861Access code: 765-631-861 The primary purpose of this video call is to discuss the issues lists for the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing for the proposed Marotta Rand subdivision scheduled to begin next March. […]
Important public information virtual session 6 pm Thursday
The Town is hosting an important Public Information Centre (PIC) virtual session tomorrow evening concerning a special Character Area study of the area including the Rand Estate. This study is required under the Town’s new Official Plan.
Marotta denied all Rand demolition permits
An overflow standing room only crowd of well over 300 people packed the Community Centre last night for a special session of Council. The purpose of the meeting was to decide upon numerous permit applications by the Marotta group under the Heritage Act to demolish/remove buildings and designed landscape from 200 John St and 588 Charlotte.
Special Council meeting 5 pm tonight
SORE reminds interested parties that there is a special Council meeting at 5 p.m. tonight at the Community Centre.
Reminders on two important upcoming meetings
SORE reminds its supporters and all those concerned with the fate of the Rand Estate of the upcoming Special Council Meeting on Monday, April 24, at 5 p.m. at the Community Centre.
Update on Marotta subdivision proposal – Heritage Act permits
On April 12, the Town’s Municipal Heritage Committee met to discuss several permit applications by the Marotta group under the Heritage Act to demolish/alter designated heritage attributes at the Rand Estate. Without the permits, the subdivision as proposed cannot proceed.
Reminder of Municipal Heritage Committee virtual meeting on Wednesday
SORE reminds its supporters and all interested parties of the special Municipal Heritage Committee meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, April 12 at 5 p.m.
SORE comments on recent Marotta cash envelope situation
SORE notes, with deep concern, the recent Town statement and media coverage on the unsolicited $10,000 cash envelope given by Benny Marotta to Councillor Gary Burroughs. We leave it for the police to properly and thoroughly investigate this matter specifically, whether Mr. Marotta was engaged in an attempt to bribe a public official contrary to […]
Update on Marotta Heritage Act permit applications
The Town has released the staff report of heritage planner Denise Horne on the applications by the Marotta group to demolish/alter/relocate substantially all of the remaining cultural heritage assets on 200 John and 588 Charlotte Streets. A link to the report, which runs to over 800 pages with numerous appendices, is provided on the […]
Recent letter to The Lake Report
SORE thought it would be of interest to post and circulate a recent letter published in the March 23, 2023, edition of The Lake Report on the proposed Marotta Rand subdivision. The letter is reproduced below. We do not know the author of this letter, but share the views expressed therein.
Important update on Marotta Subdivision proposal
Council has decided upon a process for making a decision about the Heritage Act permit applications. The Town’s advisory Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC) will be holding a virtual hearing starting at 5 pm on Wednesday, April 12. Council will be holding a public meeting, which can also be viewed virtually, starting at 5 pm on Monday, April 24.
SORE comments on Town’s Marotta Rand prosecution decision
SORE is deeply disappointed with the Town’s statement Feb. 14 that it is withdrawing its appeal of a Justice of the Peace decision to stay the Rand Estate Heritage Act charges against the Marotta companies due to delay in bringing them to trial.
Ontario Land Tribunal Case Management Conference (CMC) Postponed
The Case Management Conference scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 15, has been postponed on consent to June 9, 2023. An issues list for the hearing was not possible due to delays in the submission and processing of applications for permits under the Heritage Act for the proposed Marotta Rand subdivision.
Solmar Rand Heritage Act prosecution
Following is the text of a letter sent to NOTL Town Council on Feb. 9, 2023, about the Solmar Rand Heritage Act prosecution.of the Marotta companies for the Rand Estate clear-cut that occurred in November of 2018.
SORE Letter to Council and OLT Update
Following is the text of a letter sent to NOTL Town Council on Jan. 29: Good Afternoon Council. We note an in-camera meeting concerning the Rand Estate is on the Council agenda for January 31st. We write concerning two matters. While we have regretfully yet to see a written copy of the JP’s decision, we […]