Municipal and Land Development
Goodmans Municipal and Land Development practice group is deeply rooted in the commercial real estate and land use planning sectors, with a diverse administrative law practice that has played an integral role in the firm since its inception.
Our lawyers are strong client advocates with rock-solid credibility among property owners and governing bodies alike. We practice with fairness and integrity, and our approach is grounded in responsive, transparent and clear communication, fostered through decades-long relationships with clients, government officials and industry stakeholders. Clients trust our smart, strategic, practical, solution-driven style, and officials respect our flawless track-record, industry knowledge and straightforward professionalism.
Our clients range from individuals to large corporations, institutions and municipalities. We provide legal advice and representation which encompasses every stage of the development approval process, and often extends to complex planning issues related to the environment, natural and cultural heritage, servicing, civil engineering, infrastructure financing, transportation, market impact, community services and growth management, among many others.
We regularly appear before municipal committees and councils, administrative tribunals and courts in respect of development appeals, property tax assessment disputes, expropriation proceedings and a wide range of other municipal and regulatory matters.
Our lawyers have an impressive record of hearing successes – particularly before the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the Ontario Municipal Board / Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) in respect of land use policy disputes and development applications. However, we also have the judgment to understand when our clients’ desired outcomes are better achieved through negotiated resolution than through a contested hearing, and the skill to deliver favourable results in those circumstances.
As an example of our ability to combine creative techniques with successful traditions, Goodmans was the first law firm to hire a full-time land-use planner in the 1970s. Our collective experience and collaborative mindset sets us apart from our peers, and we approach every client matter with an open mind and a steadfast commitment to providing the highest quality advice and representation.
Expertise
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Development Changes and Infrastructure Financing
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Environmental
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Expropriation
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Property Assessment and Taxation
Explore People in Municipal and Land Development
Meet our teamFeatured Work
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Real Estate
Waterfront Toronto partners with Quayside Impact Limited Partnership
Goodmans LLP advised Quayside Impact Limited Partnership (“QILP”), a partnership between Dream Unlimited and Great Gulf, in connection with Waterfront Toronto’s international search for a development… -
Real Estate
Knightstone Group of Companies’ Student Residence Development Matters
Goodmans acts for the Knightstone Group of Companies as developer and tenant in the long-term ground leasing of real property from colleges and universities and the subsequent rezoning and development… -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Group led by Michael Andlauer buys Ottawa Senators
Goodmans LLP acted for an entity controlled by Michael Andlauer in its purchase of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club from the Melnyk Estate… -
Municipal and Land Development
Madison Properties Inc. Redevelopments at Yonge and Eglinton
Goodmans LLP is acting for Madison Properties Inc. in connection with various high-profile redevelopments near the intersection of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue in the City of Toronto… -
Municipal and Land Development
Oxford Properties Group Redevelopment at Scarborough City Centre
Goodmans LLP is acting for Oxford Properties Group in connection with the official plan and zoning by-law amendment applications for a mixed-use redevelopment west of Scarborough City Centre… -
Municipal and Land Development
Oxford Properties Group Expansion of Square One Shopping Centre
Goodmans LLP is acting for Oxford Properties Group in connection with implementing previously obtained land use approvals for the expansion and revitalization of the Square One Shopping Centre in…
Insights
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Dispute Resolution
Director Duties and Climate Change
Decisions earlier this year from the English courts in ClientEarth v Shell Plc et al., and the recent appeal decision from the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, shed light on climate change issues… -
Environmental
OLT Clarifies When Municipalities May Prescribe Affordable Housing Requirements in Official Plans, Ontario Bar Association
Matthew Lakatos-Hayward is a contributor to the OBA Newsletter. This article appeared in the November 2023 issue.Excerpt from "OLT Clarifies When Municipalities May Prescribe Affordable Housing… -
Environmental
Supreme Court of Canada Holds Designated Projects Scheme Under the Impact Assessment Act is Unconstitutional
On October 13, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released its advisory decision regarding the constitutionality of the federal government’s environmental assessment (EA) regime in Reference re… -
Dispute Resolution
Downstream GHG Emissions and Sierra Club Canada Foundation v Canada (Environment and Climate Change)
The Federal Court’s recent decision in Sierra Club Canada Foundation v. Canada (Environment and Climate Change) highlights the continuing focus in Canada on climate change litigation. The case… -
Environmental
Ontario Amends the Mining Act to Streamline Closure Planning and Mineral Recovery Requirements
On May 18, 2023, the Province of Ontario granted Royal Assent to various amendments to the Mining Act through Bill 71, the Building More Mines Act, 2023 (“Bill 71”). The government’s stated purpose of… -
Dispute Resolution
Limits of Climate Change Suits Against the Government: Mathur v. Ontario Decision
The Superior Court of Justice has now released its decision in Mathur v. Ontario, a case we wrote about earlier this year and which is now a further example of an unsuccessful claim against a…
Awards & Recognition
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Chambers Canada Band 1, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use Ontario 2024
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Most Frequently Recommended, Property Development 2024
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Most Frequently Recommended, Property Development 2023
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Chambers Canada Band 1, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use Ontario 2023
News & Events
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Banking and Financial Services
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024 Continues to Recognize Goodmans
We are proud to announce Goodmans LLP has once again been recognized in the 2024 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.91 Goodmans lawyers have been recognized as top-tier in their… -
Municipal and Land Development
Matthew Lakatos-Hayward at OBA’s 2024 Ontario Legal Conference: Municipal, Planning & Environmental Law
Join Matthew Lakatos-Hayward on February 9th at 9:00 am for the Plenary: Significant Environmental Issues in Land Use Planning, session at OBA's Ontario Legal Conference… -
Environmental
Matthew Lakatos-Hayward at the OBA's Mastering Environmental Management: Crafting Environmental Management Systems and Policies
In this foundational session, a panel of environmental law experts will unpack what you need to know about the development and implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Through this…