Appeals against Overlea Blvd Costco withdrawn at OMB

Appeals by two Thorncliffe Park businesses and a resident of Overlea Blvd. against the construction of a Costco store at 42/46 Overlea have been withdrawn, sources indicate. The process apparently occurred Thursday at a scheduled pre-hearing of the Ontario  Municipal Board. It’s believed that the appeals of two firms, Iqbal Halal Foods and Heritage Funeral Centre, had been settled in advance. An appeal from resident William Catalano that he had not been properly given notice of the City’s decision was apparently withdrawn at the pre-hearing  The hearing to deal with all of the appeals was then cancelled, according to an e-status notice from the OMB. It states that a decision and order were issued which would leave the City Council decision of November, 2015, standing.  At that time Council approved a zoning by-law amendment from Councillor Jon Burnside to permit the warehouse store by a vote of 21 to 7. In March, John McGovern, vice president of development for the Rice Commercial Group, acting for Costco, said he was in discussions with both Iqbal and Heritage to find an agreed resolution.