Ronnald Palmer

The applicant appealed the City of Vaughan's failure to adopt an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment to permit a high-rise, mixed-use residential development comprising four towers and 2,339 apartment units.

The City argued that existing transportation and infrastructure constraints required a cap on population and a reduction in the scale of development.

The Tribunal found that the proposed development, located within a Protected Major Transit Station Area, would optimize the use of existing infrastructure and support transit and active transportation.

The Tribunal approved the amendments in principle, subject to Holding provisions to ensure transportation and servicing capacity at the time of construction, and directed a Phase 2 hearing to determine the final form of the amendments.

The applicant appealed the Town's failure to make decisions on applications for an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, draft plan of subdivision, and heritage permits to facilitate a residential subdivision on the former Rand Estate.

The Tribunal approved the OPA to correct the urban boundary but found the proposed subdivision design unacceptable due to inadequate vehicular access safety, insufficient protection of cultural heritage landscapes and attributes, and unacceptable impacts to mature trees and a wetland.

The Tribunal issued an interim order granting some heritage permits in principle while directing the applicant to substantially redesign the subdivision to conserve key heritage features in situ, retain the wetland, and secure safe access, potentially through a shared access with adjacent lands.

The applicant appealed the City's failure to make a decision on applications for a zoning by-law amendment and draft plan of subdivision to permit a 324-unit residential development.

The applicant and the City reached a settlement, which was opposed by an abutting property owner who argued the proposed lot sizes and setbacks would result in unacceptable adverse impacts on his estate residential property.

The Tribunal found the proposed development was compatible with the broader neighbourhood, provided appropriate transition, and conformed with the applicable official plan policies.

The appeals were allowed in part, and the proposed instruments were approved in principle.