Ontario Land Tribunal
Tribunal ontarien de l’aménagement du territoire
ISSUE DATE: October 15, 2025
CASE NO(S).: OLT-25-000279
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 51(39) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P. 13, as amended.
Appellant: River Mill Development Corporation
Subject: Conditions of approval of the draft plan of subdivision
Description: To facilitate the development of a mixed-use residential community.
Reference Number: 30T-21101
Property Address: 1285 Speedsville Road
Municipality/UT: Cambridge/
OLT Case No: OLT-25-000279
OLT Case Name: River Mill Development Corporation v. Cambridge (City)
Heard: August 8, 2025 by Video Hearing
APPEARANCES:
Parties
Counsel
River Mill Development Corporation
Matthew Rutledge Joel Farber (in absentia) Shane Gould (in absentia)
City of Cambridge
Pascal Laperrière Nicole Auty (in absentia)
MEMORANDUM OF ORAL DECISION DELIVERED BY C. I. MOLINARI ON AUGUST 8, 2025 AND ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL
INTRODUCTION
1The Tribunal convened a Case Management Conference (“CMC”) in respect of appeals filed pursuant to s. 51(39) of the Planning Act by River Mill Development Corporation (“Appellant”) against two of the draft plan conditions (“Conditions”) imposed by the City of Cambridge of a conditionally approved Draft Plan of Subdivision (“DPS”) application. The purpose of the DPS is to facilitate the development of up to 2,045 residential units, including natural open space systems, a public park and a school block on the properties known municipally as 1285 and 1455 Speedsville Road.
NOTICE
2There were no concerns raised regarding the service of notice as served by the Tribunal, and the Tribunal was satisfied that proper notice of this CMC was provided. In this regard, no further notice is required.
PARTIES / PARTICIPANTS
3There were no requests for Party or Participant status either before or during the CMC.
DRAFT PROCEDURAL ORDER / NEXT STEPS
4The Tribunal was in receipt of a draft Procedural Order (“DPO”) with an Issues List (“IL”) consisting of one issue related to Condition 11 of the Conditions.
5The Tribunal requested clarification of whether Condition 108, which pertains to the three-year lapsing provision, should be added to the IL since the appeal letter also cited it as being subject to the appeal. Mr. Rutledge advised that he would review the matter with his co-counsel and modify the DPO if necessary.
6Mr. Rutledge further advised that the Parties were in settlement discussions and requested that this Decision be held in abeyance pending the conclusion of the settlement discussions, with the final DPO to be submitted and appended to this Decision as approved, if the settlement discussions are not fruitful. He agreed to advise the Case Coordinator as soon as possible after September 8, 2025 in this regard.
NEXT STEPS
7The Tribunal engaged the Parties in a discussion about the next steps in the process, and Mr. Rutledge advised that the Parties wished to schedule a merit hearing in the event that the settlement discussions are not fruitful.
8The Parties did not anticipate a second CMC would be required and considered a two-day merit hearing sufficient based on the limited scope of the IL.
HEARING EVENT
9At the request of the Parties, the Tribunal scheduled a two-day merit hearing commencing on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10 a.m. to Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. by video hearing.
10Parties and interested persons are asked to log into the video hearing at least 15 minutes before the start of the event to test video and audio connections.
GoTo Meeting: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/638422541
Access Code: 638-422-541
11Parties and interested persons are asked to access and set up the application well in advance of the event to avoid unnecessary delay. The desktop application can be downloaded at GoTo Meeting or a web application is available at: https://app.gotomeeting.com/home.html
12Persons who experience technical difficulties accessing the GoToMeeting application or who only wish to listen to the event can connect to the event by calling into the audio-only telephone line: +1 (647) 497-9373 or (Toll-Free) +1-888-299-1889. The Access Code is as indicated above.
13Individuals are directed to connect to the event on the assigned dates at the correct time. It is the responsibility of the persons participating in the hearing to ensure that they are properly connected at the correct time. Questions prior to the hearing event may be directed to the Tribunal’s Case Coordinator having carriage of this case.
MEDIATION / SETTLEMENT
14The Tribunal advised the Parties of the options of Tribunal-led mediation and a written hearing in the case of a settlement, and to contact the Case Coordinator to determine next steps if the need arises.
UPDATE
15On September 11, 2025, the Appellant advised the Tribunal that a settlement had been reached between the Parties. Therefore, the final DPO will not be submitted and the issue related to Condition 108 is moot.
16Given the settlement, the Parties are advised to contact the Case Coordinator as soon as possible to request the merit hearing be converted to a settlement hearing, with one of the days of the hearing to be released, or rescheduled either as a video or written hearing.
ORDER
17THE TRIBUNAL ORDERS that the merit hearing as scheduled above is to be converted to a settlement hearing with the dates and hearing format to be confirmed by the Parties with the Case Coordinator at the earliest opportunity.
18No further notice is required.
19The Member is not seized of this matter.
“C. I. Molinari”
C. I. MOLINARI
MEMBER
Ontario Land Tribunal
Website: www.olt.gov.on.ca Telephone: 416-212-6349 Toll Free: 1-866-448-2248
The Conservation Review Board, the Environmental Review Tribunal, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal and the Mining and Lands Tribunal are amalgamated and continued as the Ontario Land Tribunal (“Tribunal”). Any reference to the preceding tribunals or the former Ontario Municipal Board is deemed to be a reference to the Tribunal.