$250M Vaughan Mills Mega Mall

In the fall of 1997, Cambridge Shopping Centres Limited and The Mills Corporation filed planning applications with the City of Vaughan to permit a 1.7 million sq. ft. commercial development to be located in the City of Vaughan, just north of Toronto. The proposed development consists of a 1. 4 million sq. ft mall with approximately 300,000 sq. ft. of associated freestanding commercial development. The project combines various concepts in a single enclosed mall creating a hybrid power centre, factory outlet centre, super regional mall, and entertainment focus. This hybrid concept has been described as a “valued-oriented retail, entertainment-complimented mega mall” with a super regional draw.

In order to permit the proposal, applications were required in order to amend the City of Vaughan Official Plan and Zoning By-law. The applications were approved by the City in the fall of 1998 and appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by other commercial interests, surrounding landowners and ratepayer group. Prior to the commencement of the hearing, on April 28, 1999 the main commercial objectors: Omers Realty Corporation, Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, The Glen Group and Ontrea Inc. , and Beutel Goodman Real Estate Group Inc. advised the Ontario Municipal Board that they were withdrawing their objections based on a settlement with the developer. The proposal was approved by the Board on May 31, 1999. The approval paves the way for construction which is anticipated to being next year with a scheduled opening of October 2001.

Legal counsel involved in the proceedings were N. Jane Pepino, Q.C., and Steven Zakem of Aird & Berlis for the City of Vaughan; Kelly Yerxa for the Region of York; David Smith, Peter Van Loan and Alexander Grieve of Fraser Milner; Patrick Devine of Goodman and Carr for Cambridge Shopping Centres Limited and The Mills Corporation; Mark Noskiewicz of Goodman Phillips & Vineberg for Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited; James Harbell and Mark Osbaldeston of Stikeman Elliott for Beutel Goodman; Allan Leibel of Goodman Phillips & Vineberg for Omers Realty Corporation; Roger Elliott of Joseph O’Donohue for Mammone Disposal Systems Limited and Paul Bottos of Piccin Bottos for the Weston Downs Ratepayers Association.

Lawyer(s)

Mark Noskiewicz Paul R. Bottos Peter Van Loan Steven A. Zakem Mark V. Osbaldeston N. Jane Pepino James W. Harbell

Firm(s)

Aird & Berlis LLP Dentons Canada LLP Goodmans LLP Joseph & O'Donoghue Piccin, Bottos