Ontario Land Tribunal
Tribunal ontarien de l’aménagement du territoire
ISSUE DATE: September 05, 2025
CASE NO(S).: OLT-23-000743
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 22(7) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended
Applicant and Appellant: Lauren De Koster and Jonathan De Koster Subject: Request to amend the Official Plan – Failure to adopt the requested amendment Description: To permit a Wedding/Event Venue in a rural area as an Agri-tourism use Reference Number: Y2-05-21 Property Address: 5277 Quaker Road Municipality/UT: Central Elgin/County of Elgin OLT Case No.: OLT-23-000743 OLT Lead Case No.: OLT-23-000743 OLT Case Name: De Koster v. Central Elgin (Town)
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 34(11) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended
Applicant and Appellant: Lauren De Koster and Jonathan De Koster Subject: Application to amend the Zoning By-law – Refusal or neglect to make a decision Description: To permit a Wedding/Event Venue in a rural area as an Agri-tourism use Reference Number: Y2-05-21 Property Address: 5277 Quaker Road Municipality/UT: Central Elgin/County of Elgin OLT Case No.: OLT-23-000744 OLT Lead Case No.: OLT-23-000743
Heard: September 4, 2025 by video hearing
APPEARANCES:
| Parties | Counsel |
|---|---|
| Lauren and Jonathan De Koster | Jesse White |
| Municipality of Central Elgin | Analee Baroudi |
| Participant | Counsel |
|---|---|
| County of Elgin | Nicholas Loeb |
MEMORANDUM OF ORAL DECISION DELIVERED BY SHARON L. DIONNE ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 AND ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL
BACKGROUND
1Lauren and Jonathan De Koster (“Applicant/Appellant”) have appealed the refusal of the Council of the Municipality of Central Elgin (“Municipality”) to approve planning applications for an Official Plan Amendment and a Zoning By-law Amendment to permit a non-agricultural use of a wedding/event venue on lands known municipally as 5277 Quaker Road in Central Elgin.
2The Tribunal adjourned a one-day hearing on the merits of the appeals on June 27, 2025, and by way of an Order re-scheduled the hearing to be held on September 4, 2025.
3The Applicant/Appellant has retained new legal Counsel and a new Planner since the time of the adjournment of the hearing on June 27, 2025.
4The Tribunal held a Case Management Conference (“CMC”) on September 4, 2025, at the request, and on consent, of the Parties in lieu of the re-scheduled one-day hearing on the merits of the appeals.
5The Tribunal heard submissions from Counsel and confirmed the following:
i. The Municipality’s formal position with respect to the appeals is unchanged, in that they are prepared to proceed with an uncontested hearing, to not call any witnesses, nor to participate in cross-examination of any of the Applicant/Appellant’s witnesses, and to rely on the Municipal Record to support its position.
ii. The County of Elgin (“County”) maintains its Participant status and the issues of concern are as set out in its Participant Statement.
iii. The Applicant/Appellant is seeking some time for their new Planner to meet and have discussions with Municipal and County Staff and is seeking the scheduling of another CMC for late November 2025.
iv. The Municipality is receptive to further discussions amongst the Planners and is supportive of scheduling another CMC in early December 2025.
6After some discussion, the Tribunal agreed to the scheduling of a further CMC, to allow for further discussions between the Parties, and in the event of a resolution of the issues, to also provide sufficient time for Counsel for the Municipality to obtain instructions from Council of the Municipality on the appeals.
7The Tribunal reminded the Applicant/Appellant that the issues of concern as set out in the County’s Participant Statement remain on file on these appeals with the Tribunal, and that at the time of a hearing, whether contested, uncontested, or a settlement, the presiding Tribunal Member/Panel, at that time, will be looking for evidence to be provided in response to those concerns.
NEXT STEPS
8The Tribunal scheduled a further CMC to commence on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 10 a.m. by video conference. This next CMC will provide a touchpoint with the Tribunal as to the progress of discussions between the Parties, and in the event that issues remain, to identify same, schedule a hearing date, and finalize a Procedural Order for a hearing.
9The Tribunal directs the Parties, in the event the Parties reach a settlement in advance, to notify the Tribunal in writing of same, along with a request as to whether the December 1, 2025 hearing date be maintained to present such a settlement.
10Parties and Participants are asked to log in to the event at least 15 minutes before it begins to test their video and audio connections:
GoTo Meeting: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/909787981
Access code: 909-787-981
11Parties and/or Participants 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
12Persons 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: +1-647-497-9391 or (toll-free) +1-888-455-1389. The access code is: 909-787-981.
13Individuals 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
14The Tribunal Orders the above directives.
15This Member is not seized.
“Sharon L. Dionne”
SHARON L. DIONNE 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.