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Updates

Update re Marotta Group legal proceedings

Article posted on May 20, 2020

The Conservation Review Board (CRB) has now set hearing dates in December 2020 on the Marotta group request for a review by that tribunal of the Town’s decision in August of 2018 to initiate the designation of the Rand Estate under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Superior Court issues cost award in Marotta heritage designation challenge

Article posted on April 16, 2020

Superior Court has recently issued a cost award to both the Town and SORE for the Marotta group’s recent unsuccessful challenge of the Town’s August 2018 Notices of Intent to Designate the Rand Estate under the Heritage Act.

Reminder re March 19 email

Article posted on April 8, 2020

The Conservation Review Board has determined that SORE’s post of March 19, 2020 concerning the Rand Estate violated the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Conservation Review Board by publishing information and materials that was confidential.

Marotta group produces new hotel picture

Article posted on February 17, 2020

The Marotta group has hired an architect to produce a new picture of their proposed hotel/convention centre. Much was made of this rendering in a recent letter to the editor by Mr. Marotta’s lawyer. At this point, however, all we and the Town have are pictures. No detail.

Victory!!!

Article posted on January 10, 2020

St-Catharines-Robert-S.-K.-Welch-Courthouse

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 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.

Recap on Marotta court challenge this week

Article posted on January 8, 2020

St-Catharines-Robert-S.-K.-Welch-Courthouse

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 taking the full first day and the […]

Clarification about Tuesday court times

Article posted on January 6, 2020

St-Catharines-Robert-S.-K.-Welch-Courthouse

In response to some questions on our earlier update, the court hearing will resume tomorrow morning (Tuesday, Jan. 7) at 10 am. The Town’s lawyers will be making their submissions then.  SORE expects that the Town’s lawyers will take the morning session and that SORE’s lawyers will have their turn immediately after lunch.  So if you’re able […]

Update on Marotta court challenge

Article posted on January 6, 2020

Day 1 of the Marotta companies’ challenge of the Town’s heritage designation bylaws is going well. Thank you to the many dozen residents who attended today.   Tomorrow – Tuesday, Jan. 7 – SORE’s lawyers will be presenting our case starting at 1:30 pm (changed from 11:15 am). SORE’s team will be led by renowned […]

Jan. 6 court date confirmed for Marotta challenge of Town’s heritage designation

Article posted on January 2, 2020

SORE has received confirmation that the court application by Benny Marotta’s companies challenging the Town’s heritage designation of the Rand Estate will be heard starting NEXT MONDAY, JANUARY 6, AT 11 AM in St. Catharines. (Important: Time changed to 11 am.) The court location is 59 Church Street (the same location as this spring when […]

Reminder on January court date

Article posted on December 17, 2019

Randwood Estate outside on John Street June 2019

SORE reminds our supporters and interested residents that the court challenge initiated by Benny Marotta’s companies of your Council’s decision to designate the Rand Estate under the Heritage Act is finally set for a hearing in the week of January 6.  We‎ expect to be able to confirm the exact day on Friday, January 3. […]

SORE provides update on Conservation Review Board hearing and on prosecution

Article posted on December 3, 2019

Tribunals Ontario logo

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 has dragged on long enough and […]

Conservation Review Board says it’s ready to go

Article posted on November 27, 2019

Tribunals Ontario logo

The Conservation Review Board (CRB) has advised the Town, Benny Marotta’s companies and SORE that it is ready to schedule a hearing.  Mr. Marotta’s companies appealed the Town’s decision in August of 2018 to designate the Rand Estate under the Heritage Act to the CRB.  Our supporters will recall that SORE was awarded party status by […]

Marotta court challenge delayed

Article posted on October 24, 2019

St-Catharines-Robert-S.-K.-Welch-Courthouse

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 […]

Very important court date next week

Article posted on October 23, 2019

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

Article posted on July 28, 2019

LPAT

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

Article posted on July 24, 2019

LPAT

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

Article posted on July 18, 2019

LPAT

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!

Article posted on May 23, 2019

NOTL charges against Solmar 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

Article posted on May 10, 2019

LPAT

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

Article posted on May 6, 2019

LPAT

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

Article posted on April 8, 2019

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

Article posted on April 5, 2019

St-Catharines-Robert-S.-K.-Welch-Courthouse

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

Article posted on April 4, 2019

St-Catharines-Robert-S.-K.-Welch-Courthouse

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

Article posted on April 2, 2019

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 […]

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Latest posts by SORE

  • Important update on Marotta Subdivision proposal
  • SORE comments on Town’s Marotta Rand prosecution decision
  • Ontario Land Tribunal Case Management Conference (CMC) Postponed
  •  Solmar Rand Heritage Act prosecution
  • SORE Letter to Council and OLT Update
  • How the Lord Mayor candidates answered SORE
  • NOTL candidates provide responses to SORE survey

On SORE website

  • Updates
  • 2022 municipal election
  • How You Can Help
  • Benny Marotta the Developer- Media Archive
  • History of Randwood Estate
  • 2021 Rand Subdivision proposal documents
  • 2018 Hotel Proposal Documents
  • 2018 Hotel Proposal Media Coverage
  • 2018 Hotel Proposal Process
  • December 2019 SORE Update

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