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 Tribunal and largely settled. The appeals by the Marotta group of the heritage demolition permits that were refused by Town Council at the special meeting on April 24 will be heard together with the Planning Act appeals that the Marotta group filed with the Tribunal some time ago without giving the Town the opportunity to review and comment. SORE was given party status for the Heritage Act appeals in addition to the party status it already has for the Planning Act appeals. The parties and participants to the hearing were also further updated.
A key issue that was not resolved was whether the hearing will be in person or virtual. The Tribunal’s standard practice coming out of covid remains virtual hearings. SORE requested that the Tribunal set this hearing as in person, given the huge and demonstrated public interest in the application and the Rand Estate over the last five years of various proceedings initiated by the Marotta group. This request was strongly supported by the Town. Lawyers for the Marotta group opposed the request, partly on the basis that Mr. Marotta lives in Vaughan and it would inconvenience him. The Tribunal reserved its decision on this matter.
A further CMC is scheduled for Friday November 10 at 10 am. The hearing remains scheduled to start in March of 2024.
We will keep you posted on further developments in the interim.