Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Navigating the OMB's information sites

The attached links below are provided for those of you looking for background on the OMB procedures. A hearing date has not been scheduled for the Rockport development at 1327 -1339 Queen East yet but if you want to check for yourselves on a regular basis you can go to:

https://www.omb.gov.on.ca/english/eStatus/eStatus.html

Paste in the file no. (PL150059) into to box at the bottom of the linked page.

It will look like this:

E-Status Case Details

Property Address	Case Description	Status	Case Number
1327 To 1339 Queen St. E.	Rockport (Queen & Leslie) inc. Rezoning	Open	PL150059

No Hearings have been scheduled for this case.
OMB Contact: Raymond Borja, Case Coordinator, Planner, (416) 326-5358

OMB information guides:

Specific to Prehearings:

http://www.omb.gov.on.ca/stellent/groups/public/@abcs/@www/@omb/documents/webasset/ec081203.pdf

Scheduling:

http://www.omb.gov.on.ca/stellent/groups/public/@abcs/@www/@omb/documents/webasset/ec164627.pdf

OMB Guides

http://www.omb.gov.on.ca/stellent/groups/public/@abcs/@www/@omb/documents/webasset/ec081184.pdf

http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=5925

http://store.lexisnexis.ca/store/ca/catalog/booktemplate/productdetail.jsp?pageName=relatedProducts&catId=cacat_14_en&prodId=prd-cad-00199

Friday, January 23, 2015

Beach Mirror on Rockport's application to Ontario Municipal Board

Mirror reporter Joanna Lavoie on recent events around 1327-1339 Queen Street East development proposal.

The Beach Mirror - Jan 22, 2015
Queen-Laing condo developer files OMB appeal
Community group ‘shocked’ by move, vows to keep pushing for development that fits in with neighbourhood

"..

Members of the recently revived East Toronto Community Coalition (ETCC), the same group that successfully stopped SmartCentres from building a big box development on Eastern Avenue, views Rockport’s decision to appeal to the OMB as a slap in the face.

“It was as shock, I have to say,” said Victoria Dinnick, who serves as the group’s co-chair.

“We didn’t see it coming.”

Dinnick, like many in the community, has spent countless hours meeting with the developer in an effort to come up with a design that works better for the neighbourhood. She’s attended several meetings and took part in a working group.

“The actual working group was rather frustrating. People felt it was just presenting information. It wasn’t until the end that we felt meaningful ideas were discussed,” Dinnick said.

..."

Read the whole article...

The Beach Mirror - Jan 22, 2015 | Queen-Laing condo developer files OMB appeal | http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5271354-queen-laing-condo-developer-files-omb-appeal/

vd/mh

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Leslie to Coxwell Urban Design Guideline Meeting Date Set for February 24.

The first public meeting to be held regarding the Queen St. East Leslie to Coxwell Urban Design Guidelines has been confirmed by Toronto City Planning for Feb 24 - 7PM at S.H. Armstrong. Please share this information with your friends and neighbours. This is the start of the process which will create guidelines for development of this area (Leslie to Coxwell). These are the guidelines that Rockport is hoping to avoid having to deal with by stating that their application pre-dates anything that might be decided as a result of this process.

With regard to the OMB there will be a pre-hearing at which time interested parties can attend and present.

As per an email received from City Planning " Planning will be writing a report called 'Request for Direction'. It is basically like a final report and contains a Planning Recommendation. Depending on the decision of Council, a lawyer will be assigned if Council is opposing the application.

Notice is not typically given for Request for Directions reports, except for 'interested parties' which includes everybody who signed in at the community meeting." Stay tuned for more information.

1327-1339 Queen St E Developer Appeals to OMB

Here’s the notice of appeal that Rockport filed through their lawyers regarding their proposed development at 1327 –1339 Queen St. east. They say that there was no emerging consensus coming from the working group. That may mean that the consensus that it was too high, too dense and not compatible with the Official Plan wasn’t exactly what they wanted to hear. In any case, they are trying to push a decision forward via the OMB. To date we don’t know if the city will be appointing a lawyer to make a case against the development as it stands. As information becomes available we will post it here.

Victoria Dinnick for the ETCC Steering Committee