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Businesses fighting city council’s decision to allow an emergency shelter and health complex on Vanier’s main drag want to avoid a new appeal tribunal, which will soon replace the Ontario Municipal Board.

It illustrates the legal strategy in light of a major swing happening in Ontario’s land-use appeal system. The bar will be set higher to overturn a council decision once the new rules go into effect.

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In a 16-7 vote last November, the Salvation Army won council’s support to relocate its emergency shelter and health services centre to 333 Montreal Rd.

Meanwhile, the Ontario government is in the middle of replacing the Ontario Municipal Board with a new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. The province is sorting out the transition details, including which appeals will be heard by the OMB and which ones will be heard by the new tribunal.

When it comes to the Salvation Army’s development plan for Vanier, lawyer Michael Polowin has filed the appeal on behalf of several corporate clients, including business and property owners. He said the appeal is also being financially supported by the community group SOS Vanier.