Leo F. Longo

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a first Case Management Conference regarding appeals by the applicant for the municipality's failure to make a decision on Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications.

The applications seek to recognize two existing housekeeping units and attached sundecks with reduced setbacks.

The Tribunal granted participant status to a local lake association and scheduled a second Case Management Conference to finalize the procedural order and issues list.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a Case Management Conference regarding appeals against the Township of Tiny's Zoning By-law No. 25-039 and Official Plan Amendment No. 5, which introduce a 'Shoreline Development Area'.

The Tribunal ordered that the appeals be heard together, granted party status to several entities, confirmed the withdrawal of certain appeals, and approved the Procedural Order to govern the proceedings.

A 19-day merit hearing was scheduled for April 2027, and a further Case Management Conference was scheduled for July 2026.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a first Case Management Conference regarding appeals by 8111 Kennedy Markham Inc. for the City of Markham's failure to make decisions on applications for an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and draft Plan of Subdivision.

The Tribunal granted participant status to four community associations on consent.

A Telephone Conference Call and a 10-day merit hearing were scheduled.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a second Case Management Conference regarding an appeal of a non-decision by the Township of Muskoka Lakes on a zoning by-law amendment application.

The applicant seeks to permit 55 residential units on the subject property.

The Tribunal directed the parties to submit a final draft Procedural Order and scheduled a three-day video hearing on the merits for September 2026.

The applicant appealed the City of Pickering's failure to make a decision on applications for an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment to permit a mixed-use development.

The parties reached a settlement for a nine-storey apartment building with 252 units.

The Tribunal accepted uncontroverted expert planning and transportation evidence that the settlement proposal is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, conforms to the applicable Official Plans, and represents good planning.

The appeals were allowed in part to implement the settlement.

The applicant Town sought judicial review of an Ontario Land Tribunal decision finding that a proposed cemetery was in the public interest under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002.

The Tribunal had bifurcated the hearing, leaving the related site plan appeal under the Planning Act to be determined separately.

The Divisional Court dismissed the application for judicial review as premature, holding that the Tribunal's process was not complete and that courts should not interfere in ongoing administrative proceedings absent exceptional circumstances.

The Ontario Land Tribunal convened a fourth Case Management Conference regarding multiple appeals against the City of Brampton's Official Plan Amendment introducing interim policies for Major Transit Station Areas, and the new City Official Plan.

The City provided a status update on ongoing settlement negotiations and proposed future motions.

The Tribunal deferred consideration of consolidating the appeals and scheduled a further Case Management Conference for July 8, 2026.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a first Case Management Conference regarding appeals of the Township of Tiny's Zoning By-law No. 25-039 and Official Plan Amendment No. 5, which introduced a Shoreline Development Area.

The Tribunal granted party status to two entities and participant status to nine individuals and associations.

The Tribunal noted that the appeals had been administratively consolidated and scheduled a second Case Management Conference.

The appellants appealed the Township of Georgian Bay's Housekeeping Zoning By-law No. 2025-053, arguing that it went beyond minor corrections and substantively changed zoning provisions affecting their lands.

The Tribunal held a case management conference and issued a procedural order, scheduling a one-day video hearing for March 4, 2026, to hear the merits of the appeal.

The appellant appealed the City of Waterloo's failure to make a decision on official plan and zoning by-law amendment applications to permit a mixed-use, master-planned community with approximately 1,800 residential units.

The Tribunal found that the proposed 'Mixed-Use High Density Residential' designation was appropriate and ordered a minimum requirement of 3,000 square metres of non-residential gross floor area.

The Tribunal also approved requested relief for building heights and tower floorplates, finding that detailed urban design, transportation, and parkland dedication matters would be appropriately addressed through the subsequent site plan approval process.

The appeals were allowed in part to approve the revised instruments with modifications.

The Township of Georgian Bay requested directions regarding an appeal of conditions for a draft plan of subdivision.

At a Case Management Conference, the parties advised that they are engaged in mediation regarding a remaining condition concerning a drainage easement.

The Tribunal scheduled a two-day merit hearing to commence on March 23, 2026, to address the drainage issue if mediation is unsuccessful.

At a Case Management Conference for an appeal regarding a proposed in-water boathouse, a neighbouring party brought a motion seeking an order for discovery to compel the delivery of documents and permit a site inspection of the subject property by their consultants.

The Tribunal reviewed the draft Issues List and provided directions to scope and remove irrelevant issues, noting that matters relating to slope, vegetation, and erosion fall under the jurisdiction of the conservation authority.

The Tribunal dismissed the motion for discovery, finding that the requested site access was not relevant or necessary to the disposition of the planning merits of the boathouse structure and would be highly intrusive.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a first Case Management Conference regarding appeals by 1334281 Ontario Limited against the City of Pickering's failure to make decisions on Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications for a mixed-use development.

The Tribunal granted participant status to several local residents on consent.

A 10-day merit hearing was scheduled for April 2026, and a Procedural Order was issued to govern the proceedings.

The parties convened a status hearing to resolve a dispute over the wording of an issue for the Procedural Order in a site plan appeal for a proposed cemetery.

The Town sought to include an issue regarding whether the scale and phasing of the development was consistent with demonstrated need under the Provincial Planning Statement.

The applicant argued that 'need' is not a requirement for site plan approval under section 41 of the Planning Act.

The Tribunal directed the inclusion of a precursor issue asking whether need is a requirement for site plan approval, finding that the Tribunal must be guided by statutory requirements rather than importing what it deems valid considerations.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a third Case Management Conference regarding multiple appeals of the Town of Collingwood's new Official Plan.

The Tribunal directed the parties to submit a finalized Procedural Order and Issues List, and scheduled a written settlement hearing and a telephone conference call to address a revised phased hearing plan and proposed settlements.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a first Case Management Conference regarding an appeal of the Town of Innisfil's refusal to amend its Community Planning Permit System By-law to permit an in-water boathouse.

The Tribunal granted party status to an abutting neighbour and participant status to several others.

A motion for direction regarding document delivery and property inspection was adjourned to a second CMC to allow for the exchange of more specific information.

The Tribunal held a Case Management Conference to address preliminary issues in an appeal concerning a site plan application for a proposed cemetery.

The primary issue was the admissibility of two new witness statements filed by the Town, which the applicant argued were improper and raised new issues.

The Tribunal ruled that the witness statements were relevant to the site plan appeal and permissible.

The Tribunal also declined to stay the proceedings pending a related judicial review application, finding no exceptional circumstances, and scheduled a four-day merit hearing.

The Ontario Land Tribunal issued a procedural order to govern the procedures leading up to and including a one-day hearing scheduled for September 12, 2025.

The underlying appeal, brought under subsection 51(43) of the Planning Act, concerns conditions of approval for a draft plan of subdivision, specifically requesting an extension and a revised layout to incorporate a stormwater management plan.

The Ontario Land Tribunal issued an amending decision to correct a typographical error in its previous decision dated June 23, 2025.

The amendment revised paragraph 6 to update the deadlines for certain appellants to submit revisions to their issues lists on consent.

In all other respects, the original decision remains unchanged.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a second Case Management Conference regarding appeals of the Town of Collingwood's new Official Plan.

The Tribunal granted non-appellant Party Status to three entities on consent, noting they must shelter under the appellants' issues.

The Tribunal also scheduled a third Case Management Conference and a 25-day merit hearing, and directed the parties to continue scoping issues and exploring settlement.