Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital / Alliance pour les espaces verts dans la capitale du Canada

By the time the OMB hearing on country lot estates (CLEs) and villages got underway on October 24, the only appeal left to adjudicate was the matter of Council's imposition of a 5-year moratorium on new country lot subdivisions.  All other issues had been dropped or settled.
 
The Greenspace Alliance was admitted as a Party to this hearing, provided it would not put into question the very concept of country lot estates.  Amy Kempster, assisted by Elina Elnione, made opening and closing statements and cross-examined witnesses.  Amy's Opening Statement came out in support of the moratorium and demonstrated that the Provincial Policy Statement, while not outright prohibiting CLEs, was clearly very averse to it.
 
Cavanagh, the only appellant participating, through the testimony of Murray Chown, argued that a 5-year moratorium is not permitted under the Planning Act.  The Board, in its Decision issued on November 25, 2011, rejected that argument and instead found planning merit in Council's decision.
 
(For background on CLEs, please refer to "Official Plan Policies" elsewhere on this web site.)
 
Erwin Dreessen
5 December 2011