October 22, 2024
At tonight's Committee of the Whole General meeting, Council received a briefing from Nancy Smith of Turkstra Mazza Associates, the Town's legal counsel for the Rand matter. This briefing was in regard to the recent decision by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) on the Randwood Estate (200 John Street East and 588 Charlotte Street).
The Tribunal has issued a decision on the Official Plan Amendment and an interim decision on the Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision. Within the body of the decision, the Tribunal members fully endorsed the Town's position, recognizing the Rand Estate's contribution to Niagara-on-the-Lake's sense of place and protecting its cultural and natural heritage. The full memo to Council, including key decision findings, can be found here.
The applicant has been provided two months to decide whether to proceed with a subdivision redesign in line with the Tribunal's findings to address a number of fundamental matters, including incorporation of heritage elements, no panhandle access, and no wetland relocation. The Town will await the applicant's decision before taking further action, and Council and the public will be kept informed throughout this process.
The Town recognizes the importance of the OLT's decision to protect heritage elements such as the landscape, setting, and trees and remains committed to preserving these valuable assets for the community's future.
Community members are also invited to watch the presentation from tonight's meeting by accessing the livestream recording, which will be posted once the meeting has ended.
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