Council meeting Monday, June 4
Please attend the Council's Committee of the Whole meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, June 4, to hear the latest on designation of the nationally significant Rand Estate under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Updates
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SORE endorses MPP Gates in June provincial election
Given his consistent support for SORE and his leadership on the Rand Estate issues, SORE is endorsing MPP Wayne Gates in the upcoming provincial election. Gates has spoken in the Ontario Legislature on the importance of this issue to NOTL.
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SORE disappointed with Council delay
At its May 14 meeting, there were hopes that Council would act on some a recommendation from MHC’s May 8 meeting to designate the properties with heritage status. However, three councillors voted against allowing the matter to be discussed.
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SORE’s lawyers continue to seek information from Marotta’s lawyer and offer additional meeting
SORE's lawyers responded May 11 to the April 30 letter from Benny Marotta's lawyer. The SORE letter questions Marotta representative's Maurizio Rogato's sincerity in telling Council that the Marotta group is open and transparent given the ongoing refusal of Marotta's lawyer to provide any information to SORE.
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Let’s encourage Council to adopt MHC recommendations regarding Rand Estate
The next Council meeting is Monday May 14. Email or call the Lord Mayor and/or Town Councillors and encourage them to adopt the MHC recommendations on designation and hiring of a heritage planner at Monday’s Council meeting.
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Municipal Heritage Committee requests immediate action by Council on Rand Estate
Of the many issues facing the Town’s Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC), the Marotta group’s proposed development (and future subdivision) on the Rand Estate has generated some of the liveliest discussion. At this past week’s meeting (Tuesday, May 8th), the MHC showed frustration with the developer, as well as with Town planning staff, over Marotta’s delay in applying for heritage designation.
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Bus trip will view Randwood landscape plans
The Niagara Historical Society & Museum bus trip on June 19 to Guelph will provide an opportunity to view the landscape architecture plans for Randwood designed by the renowned Dunington-Grubb firm.
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Historical Society programs highlight history of Randwood
The Niagara Historical Society & Museum talk on Randwood: A second session for the talk will be Monday, June 11th at 7 pm.
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What the proposed hotel would look like on Rand Estate
These are mockup images prepared by concerned citizens showing the scale, height and location proposed for the hotel/conference centre on the Rand Estate.
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ERA Architects presentation to Council on April 16
ERA Architects made this presentation to NOTL Council on April 16 to request on behalf of SORE that the Town proceed as soon as possible with the "9/06" evaluation and designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act of the Rand Estate at 144-176 John Street.
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Council (finally) moves on MHC recommendations
SORE is very pleased to report that after an inexplicable 30-day delay, Council unanimously approved the recommendations passed by the Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC) at its February 13 meeting. Minor amendments were made to the recommendations as well as four new items, at the request of Councillor Disero, who continues to demonstrate her leadership on this critical file.
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SORE’s Lawyers Seek Information from Marotta Group
The exchange of 3 letters between SORE's lawyer and the attorney for the Marotta Group regarding information being sought.
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Protected boxwood cut down on Rand Estate
Stumps are all that remain of historically significant boxwood on the Rand Estate that are protected by a Town by-law. Long-time NOTL resident and Rand estate neighbour Brenda Parks was prompted to provide a photo and a report on the boxwood following discussion of the boxwood in the March 30 meeting with Solmar.
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Follow up from Marotta Rand proposal livestream meeting
A summary of the live-streamed March 30 SORE meeting with Benny Marotta has been provided to the Town. A letter from SORE's counsel to the Marotta/Solmar counsel requests the promised information/reports. SORE urges Council and staff to have the appropriate resources and processes in place to review the Marotta proposal.
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SORE meets with Benny Marotta in March 2018
SORE requested the opportunity to meet with developer Benny Marotta when he first presented his development proposal. He agreed to the meeting which was recorded. This is the video of the livestream of SORE’s meeting at 10:30 am, Friday, March 30, 2018, with Benny Marotta about the proposed Rand Estate development.
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Marotta agrees to meeting with SORE
In an exchange of letters Tuesday afternoon, a meeting has been arranged for March 30th between Benny Marotta and SORE. Details on the live stream will follow.
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Marotta/Solmar presents new conditions, causing further delay
On Monday, March 26, 2018, Solmar’s legal counsel wrote to SORE's lawyer saying that Solmar now wants to involve Town staff in arranging a meeting between SORE and Solmar.
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SORE insists on live-stream for Solmar meeting
Solmar’s lawyers responded to SORE’s meeting request on March 23 by denying our request to live-stream the meeting. We’ve pushed back and said this process will benefit from complete transparency. Read the Solmar letter and SORE’s response here.
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SORE pushes Solmar for meeting next week
At the March 19th Council meeting Solmar’s Maurizio Rogato requested a meeting with SORE. We’re ready and we’d prefer to meet as soon as possible. Our only condition: that the meeting be live-streamed to maintain SORE’s objective of transparency. Read the letter from SORE to Solmar.
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On March 19, your elected NOTL Town Council dropped the ball on the process for the Marotta/Solmar hotel and subdivision proposal on the nationally significant Rand Estate property.