Tamara Belley

The appellant appealed a Committee of Adjustment decision denying minor variances to permit the construction of a self-use one-storey accessory recreational building for indoor sports.

The requested variances sought relief for maximum accessory building height and maximum lot coverage.

Based on the uncontested expert planning evidence, the Tribunal found that the variances satisfied the four tests under the Planning Act, were consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, and represented good planning.

The appeal was allowed and the variances were authorized.

This was the first Case Management Conference regarding an appeal of the Town-initiated Franktown Road Neighbourhood Secondary Plan (OPA 11).

The Tribunal granted participant status to a local property owner on consent.

A further Case Management Conference was scheduled to allow the parties to finalize a draft Procedural Order and Issues List.

The Ontario Land Tribunal issued a procedural order to govern the hearing of an appeal by the applicant regarding the respondent municipality's failure to adopt a requested official plan amendment.

The proposed amendment seeks to redesignate the subject lands to expand the urban boundary.

The procedural order establishes the hearing dates, the issues list, the order of evidence, and the deadlines for the exchange of witness lists, expert reports, and visual evidence.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a first Case Management Conference regarding multiple appeals of the City of Ottawa's Development Charges By-law No. 2024-218 and related by-laws.

The parties advised they are seeking Tribunal-assisted mediation.

The Tribunal directed that a second Case Management Conference be scheduled for October 7, 2026, to consider next steps, and noted the likelihood of additional appeals being filed regarding related by-laws expected in March 2026.

The appellants appealed the City of Ottawa's development charge by-laws under section 14 of the Development Charges Act.

At the first Case Management Conference, the Tribunal noted that the parties were seeking Tribunal-assisted mediation.

The Tribunal scheduled a second Case Management Conference and directed the parties to advise of any settlement.

The Ontario Land Tribunal held a Case Management Conference regarding appeals by Exhibition Lands Regional Inc. and Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association against the City of Ottawa's Official Plan Amendment 34.

During the conference, the Tribunal granted party status to VIA Rail Canada Inc. and scheduled a second Case Management Conference for January 15, 2026.

The parties were directed to file a draft Procedural Order prior to the next conference.

The appellant sought a Zoning By-law Amendment to retroactively legalize unauthorized development on a waterfront property, including additions to a seasonal cottage and various decks within the prescribed 30-metre shoreline setback.

The Ontario Land Tribunal dismissed the appeal, finding that the requested exceptions failed to conform with the Township Official Plan's strict shoreline setback policies designed to protect the ecological and heritage features of the Rideau Canal waterway.

The Tribunal rejected the appellant's ecological evidence due to factual misapprehensions and accepted the municipality's evidence that the unauthorized development likely had an unacceptable negative impact on the environment and Species at Risk habitat.