By Pepper Parr
October 24th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
On October 14, 2025, Council considered Finance Report and approved a direction to the Commissioner of Legal and Legislative Services/City Solicitor to release, and thereby waive privilege over, the aggregate amount paid to external litigation expenses in respect of the Ontario Land Tribunal appeal hearing regarding 2020 Lakeshore Road held between April 29, 2024 and May 17, 2024.
The development would have changed the way people saw their city and how Spencer Smith Park was used. The Ontario Land Tribunal hearing is one of the few the city won. It wasn’t cheap: $405,896.00
On January 8, 2025, the Ontario Land Tribunal released its reasons for a decision in this matter, dismissing appeals of refusals of amendments to the City’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law.
The City retained external legal counsel to represent the City in this matter, along with retained expert witnesses in land use planning, transportation planning and urban design.
This litigation has concluded in full.
In accordance with Council’s direction, the Commissioner of Legal and Legislative Services/City Solicitor confirms that external litigation expenses totaling an aggregate amount of $405,896 were incurred by the City in the litigation of this appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal.
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No question. It’s tragic that it cost so much but it was absolutely necessary. The proposal was shocking and unacceptable in that location. These sort of buildings should be happening nowhere near our lakeshore.
No question. It’s tragic that it cost so much but it absolutely had to be done.
Great result …finally…towers are slready too dominant especially downtown in our city.
Good investment.We need to stop more high rise in our (original village) area.Enough damage has been done by this administration.
We don’t want to trivialize a $400k expense to the City & thereby the taxpayers, but given the downside impact of what was being proposed for the Waterfront Hotel redevelopment to the Burlington waterfront/ downtown for generations to come, we think it was a bargain. Well done, Mayor MMW & Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns, for advocating the use of a “top gun” Bay Street lawyer/ firm.
Thank you Citizen’s PLAN B for not only helping to lobby against the application for this site from the beginning but also offering alternative plans for a more sensible and sensitive build for this key area on our waterfront. No one group has ever fought so long and well against insensitive development. Your work literally forced the City to acknowledge that they needed the best legal help to win the developer’s appeal and spent taxpayers’ money to do it. As a taxpayer and a waterfront advocate I feel it was money well spent and the victory should serve as a precedent which can help guide whatever eventually does get built at this site.