FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Citizens groups authorize legal action against King Township’s decision to allow a LTC facility at Mary Lake in the Greenbelt and on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

King City, ON, September 8, 2023 —Concerned Citizens of King Township (CCKT) and Save The Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) have authorized legal action to file a motion with the Courts. The purpose is to determine whether the site plan and building permit for the new 160-bed Long Term Care (LTC) facility at Marylake, have been issued in contravention of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORM Plan). Located outside the King City Settlement Area boundary, CCKT and STORM have concerns that the proposed LTC facility is in a sensitive area of the Oak Ridges Moraine with a unique kettle lake, and portions of a provincially significant wetland complex.

Approval of the site plan application for this facility was made by the Director of Growth Management Services, Township of King. The Township issued a building permit on August 17th, followed soon after by the granting of a demolition permit.  These developments have intensified existing concerns, which have been echoed by residents and both organizations since as early as December 14, 2020.

Stemming from a Council meeting on February 8, 2021, Mayor Pellegrini originally acknowledged the deputations and written comments. At the time, Mayor Pellegrini clarified that the Council was merely "receiving" the planning report and would not vote to approve it at that time. Despite this, municipal staff waited until 2023 and then proceeded with approvals. This shift in approval authority to municipal staff, made possible by Bill 109 (More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022), has only escalated public concerns. 

The legal motion initiated by CCKT and STORM aims to scrutinize these approvals considering the ORM Plan's stipulations. Specifically, the Plan requires any LTC facility to have been operating continuously since before November 6, 2001, and continued since then. With witness statements and expert testimony challenging the notion that Marylake ever functioned as a LTC facility, there is considerable question as to the validity of these approvals.

“In our opinion the applicant has not sufficiently demonstrated that Marylake Monastery has ever operated as a Long Term Care facility”, said Debbe Crandall, Director of STORM. “As such, it is our opinion that this application is out of conformity with the existing use policies of the Oak Ridges Moraine Plan.

Bruce Craig, Chair of CCKT, adds, “Complicating the matter further is the 2022 King Township Rural Zoning Bylaw, which explicitly prohibits LTC facilities outside designated Settlement Areas.”

CCKT and STORM encourage dialogue and express a willingness to meet with Council and Staff to discuss the evident contraventions of the ORMCP and the new Rural Zoning Bylaws.

Both organizations will host a public meeting to provide updates and discuss the ongoing situation. Members of King Township Council are formally invited to attend.

Save the Oak Ridges Moraine

Kingscross Ratepayers Association

Concerned Citizens of King Township