Ontario Land Tribunal
Tribunal ontarien de l’aménagement du territoire
ISSUE DATE: April 15, 2026
CASE NO(S).: OLT-26-000003
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 22(7) of the [Planning Act](https://www.canlii.org/en/on/laws/stat/rso-1990-c-p13/latest/rso-1990-c-p13.html), R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended
Applicant/Appellant: 31 Sand GP Ltd.
Subject: Request to amend the Official Plan – Refusal to adopt the requested amendment
Description: To permit the development of one-hundred and sixty-one (161) townhouse dwelling units
Reference Number: OPA.25.03
Property Address: 31 Sand Road
Municipality/UT: East Gwillimbury/York
OLT Case No.: OLT-26-000003
OLT Lead Case No.: OLT-26-000003
OLT Case Name: 31 Sand GP Ltd v. East Gwillimbury (Town)
PROCEEDING COMMENCED UNDER subsection 34(11) of the [Planning Act](https://www.canlii.org/en/on/laws/stat/rso-1990-c-p13/latest/rso-1990-c-p13.html), R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended
Applicant/Appellant: 31 Sand GP Ltd.
Subject: Application to amend the Zoning By-law – Refusal or neglect to make a decision
Description: To permit the development of one-hundred and sixty-one (161) townhouse dwelling units
Reference Number: ZBA.25.12
Property Address: 31 Sand Road
Municipality/UT: East Gwillimbury/York
OLT Case No.: OLT-26-000007
OLT Lead Case No.: OLT-26-000003
OLT Case Name: 31 Sand GP Ltd v. East Gwillimbury (Town)
Heard: April 8, 2026 by Video Hearing
APPEARANCES:
Parties
Counsel/Representative*
31 Sand GP Ltd.
Paul DeMelo
Town of East Gwillimbury
Andrew Biggart
MEMORANDUM OF ORAL DECISION DELIVERED BY P. TOMILIN ON APRIL 8, 2026 AND ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL
1This was the first Case Management Conference (“CMC”) in the matter of the appeal by 31 Sand GP Ltd. (“Appellant”), arising from the refusal of the Town of East Gwillimbury concerning an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment, pursuant to ss. 22(7) and 34(11) of the Planning Act, for the property located at 31 Sand Road East (“subject property”).
2The Appellant is seeking to permit the development of one-hundred and sixty-one (161) townhouse dwelling units.
3The Tribunal marked the Affidavit of Service as Exhibit 1.
PARTY STATUS REQUEST
4Prior to the CMC, the Tribunal received two Party Status requests from Geoff Brown and Andrew Lenkov.
5Mr. Brown has concerns related to archeological, historical and heritage issues of the subject property.
6Mr. Lenkov is concerned with the environmental impacts of the proposed development.
7After discussions, Messrs. Brown and Lenkov decided to become Participants in the proceedings.
8Statutory Parties requested 30 days to be granted to Messrs. Brown and Lenkov to update their submissions.
9Updated Participant statements are due on or before Friday, May 8, 2026.
PARTICIPANT STATUS REQUEST
10In advance of the CMC, the Tribunal received 24 Participant Status requests. The concerns of the requestors pertain to compatibility, density, shadowing, overlook, infrastructure, parking, traffic, protection of farmland, water, wildlife, ecosystem, archeology and cultural heritage.
11The Tribunal granted Participant Status to those listed in Attachment 1.
MEDIATION
12The Tribunal reminded the Parties that if they are interested in Tribunal-led mediation, they should reach out to the assigned Case Coordinator.
HEARING, PROCEDURAL ORDER AND ISSUES LIST
13The Parties requested a nine-day Hearing to be scheduled in Q1 of 2027.
14Draft Procedural Order and Issues List are due on or before, Friday, May 22, 2026.
15A nine-day Hearing is scheduled to proceed by video on Tuesday, January 26, 2027 at 10 a.m. continuing to Friday, February 5, 2027.
16Parties 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/914098901;
Access code: 914-098-901
17Parties 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
18Persons 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: 914-098-901.
19Individuals 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.
20As of March 30, 2026, all hearing events are governed by the Tribunal’s Artificial Intelligence Practice Direction. This Practice Direction requires a party, participant, or witness to include a declaration within each submitted document if generative AI was used to create or generate content.
ORDER
21The Tribunal directives above are so Ordered.
22This Member is not seized.
23There will be no further notice.
“P. Tomilin”
p. tomilin
MEMBER
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