In The News

A proposed highrise development at John and Leslie streets has won approval from the Ontario Land Tribunal despite the City of Markham arguing the site should remain predominantly mid-rise.

The tribunal allowed Primont Homes’ appeals involving 2300 John St. in part on an interim basis, approving proposed official plan and zoning bylaw amendments in principle.

The plan considered by the tribunal includes two residential towers of 22 and 18 storeys and a 12-storey mixed-use building with commercial space at street level, for about 642 residential units.

It is a revised version of the development that came before Markham council in November 2024, which called for four buildings of nine, 10, 12 and 24 storeys with 723 apartment units.

The applications had originally been submitted to the city in January 2022. Primont later appealed to the OLT after the city did not make a decision on the applications within the time permitted under the Planning Act.

During the OLT hearing, the city argued the property should retain a predominantly mid-rise character, with development generally limited to six storeys along John Street and up to 14 storeys along Leslie Street.