Lori Santink expressed disappointment but not shock at the city council’s approval to rezone two vacant properties for new housing projects in Thunder Bay, Ontario. One of these properties, 791 Arundel St., was among three surplus land properties sold to Terralux General Contractors and Development Limited earlier this year due to Thunder Bay facing a shortage of approximately 1,000 housing units.
Pending final approvals, over 900 new housing units are set to be constructed in the city, including 360 units in two apartment buildings at 791 Arundel St., 150 units in an 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, the Tokio Street property already had the appropriate zoning in place.
Speaking about the Arundel Street proposal, Santink criticized it for conflicting with the city’s Net-Zero Strategy and Climate Adaptation Strategy, pointing out the lack of coherence in the decision. She is part of TBay Greenspace Preservation, a grassroots group that amassed over 2,600 signatures in a petition against the development and organized a rally outside city hall with over 100 participants.
The group’s primary concerns include the loss of green space, aging sewer infrastructure, increased traffic, lack of winter public transportation access, and threats to local species such as the yellow-banded bumblebee, Canadian warbler, and grey fox. The Ontario government’s Bill 60 restricts residents from appealing municipal council decisions through the Ontario Land Tribunal, complicating the process for concerned citizens like Santink.
Devon McCloskey, Thunder Bay’s manager of planning services, mentioned that the city is awaiting the developer’s applications for site plan control and building permits to kick off construction on the Fanshaw and Tokio street properties this year, with Arundel to follow. She highlighted that the developer has made numerous adjustments to address public feedback and ensure the projects align with the city’s Smart Growth Action Plan.
Councillor Andrew Foulds, representing the Current River ward where 791 Arundel St. is situated, opposed the property’s rezoning but acknowledged the unprecedented level of public engagement on the matter. Leia Minaker, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo specializing in housing crisis research, emphasized the challenges of achieving consensus on development projects amidst varying community opinions and concerns.
Minaker highlighted common worries related to housing proposals, such as traffic, parking loss, privacy implications, shadows from tall buildings, and impacts on neighborhood culture. She underscored the need for clarity on the potential outcomes of housing developments to address diverse community needs and future sustainability.
In conclusion, the developments in Thunder Bay reflect the ongoing struggle to balance housing demands with environmental and community considerations. Santink emphasized the importance of transparent communication from the city throughout the development process to keep the public informed.