A quick update, neighbour, on the progress of our Friends of Olde Berlin Town campaign in pursuit of a compatible, inclusive development of 22 Weber St W that permits existing neighbours to thrive and the Heritage District to endure.
Our February 2025 Community Update reported on the owner of 22 Weber St West’s December 2024 proposed revisions to their Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment applications. It is now clear that this revised version will be considered by the Tribunal. We also reported on how the Participants were not duly notified of the revisions. As a result of FOBT’s interventions, the Tribunal extended the deadline for Participant Statements, permitting Participants time to consider the revisions and submit their Statements.
Participants delivered 24 impactful Participant Statements in opposition to the developer’s proposal. Participants called for heritage conservation; quality of life in both public and private realms; affordable and family-sized housing; ground-level outdoor amenity and green space; compatibility and transitions in built-form; and adherence to the community’s local planning decisions. You can see the Participant Statements here.
On February 26, 2025, the Expert Witness Statements from all the Parties to the case were submitted. The Witness Statements can be seen here.
The opinions of the City’s Witnesses are strongly aligned with our own, and oppose the application on all counts.
We have always recognized the strength of our case. With the City now clearly advancing similar arguments, our chances of success are greatly improved.
We could never have succeeded in impressing on the City and the Tribunal the level of community concern without your signatures on the petition, your delegations before Heritage Kitchener and City Council and your Participant Statements. Thank you.
The case may now come down to the good planning arguments of the City and FOBT versus the well-funded legal maneuvering of the owner. We expect the City to bring a strong case, focusing on land use planning and heritage preservation. We can add our own arguments and indisputable proof of community concern. Our presence may bolster the Tribunal’s resolve to uphold the law despite tremendous pressure from the Ford government to approve any and all applications.
Please
- Attend the Hearing: The hearing is scheduled for 9 days, beginning April 22, 2025 at 10am via video link https://meet.goto.com/348282861 or audio-only line: +1 (647) 497-9373 or (Toll-Free) 1-888-299-1889. When prompted, enter the code 348-282-861. This link addresses the Tribunal’s requirements regarding hearing attendees.
- Contribute Financially: We need your support to fund our expert witness and legal efforts. Every donation, regardless of size, makes a difference. Kindly visit our website for details.
- Get Involved: We need help with research, administration and more. Contact us at obtfriends@gmail.com
Further information is available at our campaign website, www.obtfriends.ca. We welcome your questions and comments at obtfriends@gmail.com.
Please share this message widely. We are succeeding together,
Hal Jaeger
on behalf of Friends of Olde Berlin Town