 450 Richmond West wedged between the Woodsworth and the Morgan Around mid-February, when the GDNA and other Parties were preparing witness lists for the April hearing, we were told by the City Planner (quietly ... she asked us to come to City Hall) that the City and the Developer had reached a possible settlement. A meeting between the Developer and affected neighbourhood residents was also being scheduled but the infamous COVID-19 put an end to those plans.
HERE ... details about the Pre-Hearing Conference and the Procedural Order related to PL171261.
The GDNA will attend the hearing for this file with Party status. Issues relate to: Curbside Activity
 Details related to this pre-hearing conference event can be found here. The first activity moving towards an OMB (now re-named LPAT – Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) hearing is the pre-hearing. The pre-hearing is a forum at which the duration and date of the eventual hearing is established. Much of that determination depends on what roles the various "players" will play at the hearing. At the pre-hearing, "players" seek status as either a party or a participant. Party status allows one to present witnesses and to cross-examine witnesses called by the other parties at the hearing proper. It also requires a commitment in terms of time (one is required to appear throughout the hearing which may last weeks) and cost (mostly for printed documentation and display boards). Participants need only appear at an agreed date/time and may incur little or no expense. They say their bit and may need to answer questions on cross-examination. Party status obviously allows one to participate more fully in the hearing’s outcome. Issues not raised by the City can be championed and issues dear to the hearts of participants can be supported. At the very least, party status satisfies this maxim … if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu (quote thanks to Chris Glover).
City Planning presented this 34-page report at the July 4th session of Toronto and East York Community Council
The GDNA also submitted comments to be attached to this file. This application has been appealed to LPAT (Local Planning Appeal Tribunal ... the new identity of the OMB) but will be heard under the "old rules" which administer appeals submitted prior to the April 3, 2018 cut-off date. No pre-hearing date has yet been set. From the GDNA's perspective, we cannot see how the developers can actually build this condo. Side walls will be flush with the Morgan at 438 Richmond and with the Woodsworth (formerly the James) at 452 Richmond, assuming it is completed first. The City SURELY will not permit the removal of a lane of traffic from Richmond, especially given that the section from Spadina to Brant is subject to a safety review per this item at the July 4th session of the TEYCC item (see point #4). And the GDNA will fight tooth and nail to protect Rush Lane (Graffiti Alley) from construction activity. Developers for this proposal have appealed to the OMB ... case # PL171261. To date, no pre-hearing has been scheduled and the City has produced neither a "Preliminary Report" nor a "Request for Direction" report.
However, the GDNA will alert Members and Friends (those on our mailing list) when a report becomes available or a pre-hearing date is scheduled. Plans are also in progress for an "OMB Workshop" at which residents can learn about their options for participating at an OMB hearing. Join the GDNA or subscribe to our mailing list to keep informed regarding this initiative. Supporting Documentation, accessed via the sidebar, is now online. We still have not received an OMB decision about Brad Lamb's "James" development next door at 452. But obviously the developers of this one at 450 seem to favour his design. However all the issues the GDNA had with the former are relevant to this new proposal:
Councillor Cressy's office has given us advance notice of a new rezoning application submitted for this site, currently a parking lot located between the "James" on one side and the "Morgan" on the other, with Rush Lane at the backdoor and a bike lane at the front door. We have no idea what is planned ... the materials are not yet posted (as of July 9th) but the link in the sidebar will work once they are.  |
