Carleton Thorne

The appellants objected to a by-law passed by the City of Richmond Hill designating their property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

At a case management conference, the parties discussed the issues to be adjudicated and reviewed a draft Procedural Order and Issues List.

The Tribunal directed the parties to submit a final Issues List and subsequently set hearing dates for the matter.

The appellant appealed the City of Richmond Hill's refusal to amend the zoning by-law and official plan to permit a 19-unit townhouse development on a site zoned for neighbourhood commercial use.

The City argued the commercial zoning should be preserved and that the residential proposal was incompatible with the existing neighbourhood.

The Tribunal found that the broader neighbourhood was adequately serviced by existing commercial developments and that the proposed infill townhouses were compatible with the established residential fabric.

The Tribunal allowed the appeals, directing the amendment of the official plan and withholding the final zoning order pending a finalized by-law, but declined the City's request to require section 118 Land Titles Act restrictions.