Did we ever find out why this was appealed in the first place and why it's being settled now?
It was appealed to OLT for the standard reason (City's failure to make decisions within the prescribed statutory timelines set out in the Planning Act). With respect to your second question, the
memorandum of the oral decision delivered on October 27, 2023 noted that the Tribunal agreed with the evidence offered by the Appellant's planning expert (David Sajecki), and found that "the proposed OPA and the ZBA are consistent with the PPS, confirm with the Growth Plan, the Regional OP, and the City's OP, and constitute good land use planning."
The Tribunal issued an interim order, allowing the appeals, contingent upon receipt of the OPA and ZBA in final draft form and confirmation that the same is satisfactory to the City's Solicitor and Chief Planner. If the Parties had not provided the required documentation and requested issuance of the Final Order by December 1, 2023, they were required to provide a written status report to the Tribunal by that date regarding the timing for the final steps; otherwise the Tribunal may dismiss the Appeals.
The Site Plan Appeal was adjourned
sine die, with the Appellant to provide a written status update on settlement discussions amongst the Parties by no later than April 26, 2024.
