Debbie Ramsay

The appellants appealed the Niagara Escarpment Commission's conditional approval of a development permit application to construct a dug pond for agricultural purposes.

During a status update teleconference, the Hearing Officer considered whether to combine this appeal with a related appeal concerning a greenhouse expansion on the same property, and whether to delay scheduling the hearing pending the outcome of Freedom of Information requests.

The Hearing Officer determined that the proceedings could not be combined without the consent of all parties, but ordered that they be heard consecutively.

The Hearing Officer also scheduled hearing dates and document disclosure deadlines, subject to review at a subsequent pre-hearing conference if the pending FOI requests caused prejudice.

The appellant appealed the Niagara Escarpment Commission's conditional approval of a development permit application to construct additions to an existing greenhouse complex.

At a pre-hearing conference, the Hearing Officer granted party status to three nearby property owners.

The Hearing Officer also determined that this appeal and a related appeal concerning a dug pond on the same property would be heard consecutively, rather than combined, due to a lack of consent from all parties.

Finally, the Hearing Officer scheduled hearing dates and document disclosure deadlines, while scheduling a further pre-hearing conference to address any potential prejudice arising from pending freedom of information requests.

The applicant requested an adjournment of the appeal hearing to allow for a Niagara Escarpment Plan amendment application to be processed.

All parties consented to the adjournment.

The Hearing Panel granted the adjournment, finding it reasonable as the amendment application was closely related to the current appeal, and vacated the previously scheduled hearing dates.