Ontario Land Tribunal
Tribunal ontarien de l’aménagement du territoire
ISSUE DATE: March 31, 2026
CASE NO.: OLT-22-004102
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 22(7) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended
Applicant and Appellant: Leslie Elgin Developments Inc.
Subject: Request to amend the Official Plan – Failure to adopt the requested amendment
Description: To permit a high density residential development comprised of two apartment buildings
Reference Number: D01-21008
Property Address: Block 51, Plan 65M-4668
Municipality/UT: Richmond Hill/York
OLT Case No.: OLT-22-004102
OLT Lead Case No.: OLT-22-004102
OLT Case Name: Leslie Elgin Developments Inc. v. Richmond Hill (City)
BEFORE:
K.R. ANDREWS MEMBER
Tuesday, the 31st day of March, 2026
THIS MATTER having come before the Ontario Land Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) for a hearing on October 17, 2023 and the Tribunal, in its decision issued on October 27, 2023 (the “Decision”) having allowed, in part, contingent upon confirmation, satisfaction, or receipt of those pre-requisite matters identified in subparagraph 2 of the Decision, the Official Plan Amendment approved in principle;
AND THE TRIBUNAL having withheld its Final Order with respect to the Official Plan Amendment until the confirmation by the parties of the pre-requisite matters;
AND THE TRIBUNAL having been advised that the Official Plan has been finalized to the satisfaction of the City’s Commissioner of Planning and Building Services;
THE TRIBUNAL ORDERS that the Official Plan Amendment in Attachment “1” is approved;
THE TRIBUNAL may be spoken to in the event that the Parties have any difficulty in implementing this Decision and Order.
“Matthew D.J. Bryan”
MATTHEW D.J. BRYAN REGISTRAR
Ontario Land Tribunal Website: 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.
ATTACHMENT 1
Official Plan Amendment No. 45 to the City of Richmond Hill Planning Area
Richmond Hill Official Plan
Official Plan Amendment No. 45
The attached schedule and explanatory text constitute Amendment No. 45 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan Planning Area.
This amendment was approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal in accordance with Sections 17 and 22 of the Planning Act on the ___ day of ___, 2026.
PART ONE – THE PREAMBLE is not part of the Amendment
PART TWO – THE OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT, consisting of text and schedules, constitutes Amendment No.45 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan Planning Area.
PART ONE – THE PREAMBLE
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Amendment to the Richmond Hill Official Plan Planning area is to permit a high-density residential development on the lands east of Leslie Street and north of John Birchall Road. This Amendment will amend the policies of the Medium/High Density Residential designation within Chapter 9 North Leslie Secondary Plan of the Richmond Hill Official Plan to increase the maximum building height and maximum density, as well as to add to the permitted uses to facilitate the proposed development. The proposed development is a high-rise residential building with live work units at grade with a 3 to 6-storey podium and two towers of 16-storeys in height. The proposed development has a total of 580 residential units.
1.2 Location
The lands affected by this Amendment are legally known as Block 51, Plan 65M-4668 in the City of Richmond Hill (“Subject Lands”). The Subject Lands measure 0.94 hectares (2.33 acres).
1.3 Basis
The proposed Amendment is considered appropriate for the following reasons:
- The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020);
- The proposed development is in conformity with Places to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019);
- The proposed development is in conformity with the Region of York Official Plan (2022);
- The proposed density of the residential development will contribute to the projected population growth needs of the Region and the City;
- The Subject Lands are in proximity to existing retail, personal services, parks and community services and facilities;
- The proposed development contributes to the creation of a complete community by diversifying the existing housing options in the North Leslie Secondary Plan area to meet the needs of existing and future residents;
- The proposed residential development is located adjacent to existing transit routes and has easy connections to walking trails and cycling routes; and
- The proposed development provides infill development on an underutilized parcel where municipal services exist, minimizing land consumption and servicing costs.
PART TWO – THE OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT
2.1 Introduction
All of this part of the document entitled Part Two – The Amendment, consisting of the following text outlined in Section 2.2 constitute Amendment 45 to the Richmond Hill Official Plan.
2.2 Details of the Amendment
2.2.1 The Richmond Hill Official Plan, is amended as follows:
That Section 9.6.2.3 Medium/High Density Residential of the North Leslie Secondary Plan (Chapter 9 of the Richmond Hill Official Plan) be amended by adding the following as subsection (n):
Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 9.6.2.3 (a), (e), and (f) of this Secondary Plan, within the Medium/High Density Residential Designation on the lands legally described as Block 51, Plan 65M-4668 (Leslie Elgin Developments Inc.), a high-density residential apartment building with a maximum building height of 16 storeys is permitted with live-work units at grade, and the maximum density shall be 3.80 F.A.R based on a site area of 9,396 square metres. Additionally, the floorplate size of any portion of an apartment building from the 7th storey to the 14th storey, inclusive, shall be a maximum of 1,015 square metres.
Schedule “A” to Official Plan Amendment No.45