Douglas Colbourne

The Tribunal held a Case Management Conference for an appeal against the Township's refusal of a zoning by-law amendment to permit a single detached dwelling.

The Township indicated its intent to bring a motion to dismiss the appeal for having no reasonable prospect of success.

The Tribunal scheduled a one-day motion hearing to be held by video.

The moving parties brought a motion to dismiss appeals of the Township of Muskoka Lakes' new Official Plan filed by the responding parties.

The moving parties argued the notices of appeal failed to provide the required explanations of how the Official Plan was inconsistent with provincial policy or failed to conform to the District Official Plan, and failed to disclose apparent land use planning grounds.

The Tribunal agreed, finding that the alleged lack of conformity and inconsistency were not clearly identified or explained in the original notices of appeal as required by the Planning Act.

The Tribunal granted the motion and dismissed the appeals without a hearing.

The Tribunal convened a fourth Case Management Conference regarding appeals of the District Municipality of Muskoka's approval of the new Township of Muskoka Lakes' Official Plan.

The parties were unable to agree on an Issues List, with the Township alleging that certain issues raised by the appellants did not comply with the Planning Act regarding consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement and conformity with the District Official Plan.

The appellants argued that a motion on the validity of the Issues List would be an abuse of process.

The Tribunal scheduled a motion hearing to address these disputes and directed the provision of updated policy changes.

The applicant appealed the City of Toronto's failure to make a decision on official plan and zoning by-law amendment applications to permit a 24-storey mixed-use building.

At the fourth case management conference, the parties requested that the matter proceed directly to a 10-day merit hearing.

The Tribunal scheduled the hearing for March 2025 and set deadlines for the filing of a procedural order, issues list, and hearing plan.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a third Case Management Conference regarding appeals against the City of Toronto's approval of Official Plan Amendment No. 573.

The Tribunal removed the party status of four unrepresented non-appellant entities due to their unresponsiveness.

Updates were provided on ongoing mediation and settlement discussions with various appellants.

The Tribunal scheduled a ten-day merit hearing to commence on December 2, 2024, and issued directions for the finalization of the Procedural Order and Issues List.

The applicant appealed the City of Toronto's failure to make a decision on a Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision application for a multi-tower residential development.

The parties reached a settlement for a revised proposal comprising 870 units, including rental replacement units, a new public road, and a public park, while incorporating existing heritage facades.

The Tribunal accepted uncontested expert planning evidence that the revised proposal is consistent with provincial policies and conforms to the City's Official Plan.

The Tribunal allowed the appeal in part, approving the Zoning By-law Amendment in principle, with the final order withheld pending the satisfaction of several preconditions.