Lori Santink expressed disappointment but not surprise over the city council’s recent decision to rezone two vacant properties for new housing developments in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The properties, including 791 Arundel St., were sold to Terralux General Contractors and Development Limited as surplus land earlier this year to address the city’s housing shortage of about 1,000 units.
Pending necessary approvals, the city could see the construction of over 900 new housing units, including 360 units in two apartment buildings at 791 Arundel St., 150 units in one apartment building at 144 Fanshaw St., and 400 units in two apartment buildings at 300 Tokio St. While the proposals for Arundel and Fanshaw streets required rezoning, which was approved by the city council, the Tokio Street property was already appropriately zoned.
Santink criticized the decision, citing conflicts with the city’s Net-Zero Strategy and Climate Adaptation Strategy. She is a member of TBay Greenspace Preservation, a grassroots group with over 500 followers, which collected over 2,600 signatures in a petition against the development and organized a rally outside city hall with over 100 participants.
The Ontario government’s Bill 60 restricts residents from appealing municipal council decisions through the Ontario Land Tribunal, leaving judicial review as the only recourse. Devon McCloskey, Thunder Bay’s planning services manager, noted that the developer is awaiting approvals for site plan control and building permits before commencing construction. The projects aim to provide a range of housing options and utilize underutilized public lands for sustainable growth.
Coun. Andrew Foulds, representing the Current River ward, opposed the rezoning but acknowledged the unprecedented public engagement on the matter. Leia Minaker, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo, emphasized the importance of transparent communication and understanding the impacts of proposed developments, especially in regions like northern Ontario facing population growth challenges.
Santink emphasized the need for ongoing communication from the city regarding the developments, underscoring the importance of public awareness.
