OMB to hold hearing over minigolf site

A local developer's plan to build four commercial buildings – including a grocery store — on the same large property that now houses Milltown Mini Golf is expected to be the subject of a two-week hearing in January before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).

LPAT is the new tribunal that recently replaced the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

The Milltown property matter was last heard at City Hall at an initial meeting in May, before adjudicator Laurie Bruce.

At that time, another meeting was set for Dec. 10; unless a settlement was reached by then, the matter would go to a full hearing scheduled for the week of Jan. 21, 2019 as well as the following week.

On Friday, planning staff at City Hall said the meeting for Dec. 10 was cancelled and the full hearing is going ahead in January.

At the meeting in May, a concept plan was shown with four commercial buildings: three to the west of Chapters and the LCBO, and a fourth much larger building to the southwest, plus 492 parking spots.

Bruce heard that the local developer needs a rezoning for the proposed grocery store but hasn't been able to get one from the city more than a year after application.

She also heard that city staff has concerns about traffic circulation in and out of a grocery store in that location (a driveway is proposed off The Parkway, along the rear of Wendy's and the McEwan gas station).

The rezoning application to allow the grocery store never came to council, meanwhile, even though the developers made application on May 2, 2017.

Carolyn Kimble, a planner for the city, said in May that it was because there were several "outstanding issues" with the application and that it was “premature” to bring it to council.

The property is partially in a floodplain, she said, and the city has plans to build water storage ponds there.

Yet the developer has a concept plan showing the buildings placed outside the floodplain.

Milltown Mini Golf is closed now – likely for good – due to the construction plans. The miniature golf course had been in business for 34 years.