Ontario Land Tribunal
Tribunal ontarien de l’aménagement du territoire
ISSUE DATE: August 25, 2025
CASE NO(S).: OLT-25-000268
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 29(11) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18
Appellant: John Deciantis
Subject: Passing of Application
Description: To designate 13 Church Street South as a property of cultural heritage value or interest
Reference Number: D12-07147
Property Address: 13 Church Street S
Municipality: Richmond Hill
OLT Case No.: OLT-25-000268
OLT Case Name: Deciantis v. Richmond Hill (City)
Heard: August 19, 2025 by video hearing
APPEARANCES:
| Parties | Counsel |
|---|---|
| John Deciantis (“Appellant”) | Meaghan Barrett |
| City of Richmond Hill (“City”) | Carlton Thorne |
MEMORANDUM OF ORAL DECISION DELIVERED BY D. ARNOLD ON AUGUST 19, 2025 AND ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL
INTRODUCTION
1This first Case Management Conference (“CMC”) was held to prepare for a hearing on the merits of the Appellant’s appeal to the Tribunal of By-law No. 2-2025 passed by the City to designate the property municipally known as 13 Church Street South, in the City, as being of cultural heritage value or interest pursuant to s. 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18 (“Appeal”).
2There were no requests for additional party or participant status in these proceedings.
3At the CMC, the Parties indicated that productive settlement discussions were underway and requested that a second CMC be scheduled in mid to late November, 2025 in order to allow time for these discussions to continue, with a view to reaching settlement between the Parties on some or all of the issues of the Appeal. In the event that a full settlement is achieved between the Parties, then the second CMC may be converted to a settlement hearing for the Tribunal to consider the proposed settlement. In such case, the Parties anticipate that one witness would be called to provide evidence with respect to the proposed settlement of the Appeal. In the event that a full settlement is not achieved prior to the second CMC, then the second CMC will be utilized to consider the Parties’ submissions on potential hearing date(s) to adjudicate the merits of the Appeal, as well as a draft Procedural Order in respect of such hearing. The Tribunal concurred with the foregoing proposed next steps in these proceedings.
SECOND CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
4The second CMC is scheduled to proceed by video on Friday, November 28, 2025 at 10 a.m.
5Parties are asked to log in to the event at least 15 minutes before it begins to test their video and audio connections.
Go to Meeting: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/638422541
Access Code: 638-422-541
6Parties 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: https://app.gotomeeting.com/home.html
7Persons who experience technical difficulties accessing the GoTo Meeting application or who only wish to listen to the event can connect to it by calling in to an audio-only telephone line: +1-647-497-9373 or (toll-free) +1-888-299-1889. The access code is: 638-422-541.
8Individuals are directed to connect to the event on the assigned date at the correct time. It is the responsibility of the persons participating in the event to ensure that they are properly connected at the correct time. Questions prior to the event may be directed to the Tribunal’s Case Coordinator.
ORDER
9The Tribunal Orders as follows:
(a) A one-day CMC is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 28, 2025 at 10 a.m. by video with the proposed Agenda anticipated to include the Tribunal’s consideration of either: (a) a proposed settlement of the Appeal; or (b) a draft Procedural Order (including a draft issues list) and the setting of hearing date(s) for a hearing on the merits of the Appeal.
(b) The Parties are directed to advise the Tribunal (through the Case Coordinator) by no later than Friday, November 21, 2025 whether the second CMC may be converted to a settlement hearing.
(c) The Parties are directed to provide to the Tribunal (through the Case Coordinator) either a written witness statement (if the second CMC will be converted to a settlement hearing) or a draft Procedural Order, including Issues List (if the second CMC will be utilized to consider setting hearing date(s) for the adjudication of the merits of the Appeal), by no later than Monday, November 24, 2025.
10The Member is not seized in this matter but will remain available for continued case management to the extent that the Tribunal calendar permits.
11No further notice is required or will be given.
“D. Arnold”
D. ARNOLD
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.