The city and region's failure to make timely decisions on a proposal to build 829 townhouses and apartments of varying types on a 14.2 hectares of land in the city's south end has earned the municipalities a date with the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Reid's Heritage Homes, Edmund Patrick Taylor, the owner of the property, and Foot Bridge Holdings Inc. have filed three separate appeals with the OLT related to their application to develop 840 and 940 Main Street East and 945 Franklin Boulevard.
Applications to rezone the four parcels known as the "Taylor Lands" and amend the official plan were first received by the City of Cambridge and Region of Waterloo back in December 2021.
After a circulating the application for comments and holding a public meeting in 2022, the application was resubmitted to the city and region in April 2023.
Stipulations in the Planning Act require municipalities to make a decision within 120 days, which both the region and the city failed to do, according to the appeals.
The developer says its draft plan was designed to contribute to a complete, vibrant, and healthy community and says its basis for appeal rests on the idea that it complies with the Planning Act and is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and framework of the province's growth plan.
It also conforms to the region's and city's official plans.
"The proposed development will contribute to the minimum Greenfield Density target for the City of Cambridge of 59 residents and jobs per hectare, will contribute to the City’s growth management objectives, and will meet the intent and purpose of the City of Cambridge Official Plan," it says.
A hearing date has not been set. The appeal was filed with the OLT on July 23.
