Lori Santink expressed her disappointment but lack of surprise regarding the city council’s recent decision to rezone two vacant properties for new housing developments in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The properties at 791 Arundel St. and other locations were sold by the city to Terralux General Contractors and Development Limited to address the city’s housing shortage, which currently stands at approximately 1,000 units.
Pending approvals, the new developments could bring over 900 housing units to the city, 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 Arundel and Fanshaw street proposals required rezoning, 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 the grassroots group TBay Greenspace Preservation, which collected over 2,600 signatures in a petition against the developments and organized a rally with more than 100 participants outside city hall.
The Ontario government’s Bill 60 limits residents’ ability to appeal council decisions, leading Santink to consider legal options for a judicial review. In response, the city manager of planning services, Devon McCloskey, mentioned that the developer is working on applications for site plan control and building permits before commencing construction.
Despite opposition from some council members, including Coun. Andrew Foulds, the projects are moving forward. Leia Minaker, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo, emphasized the importance of understanding the impacts of such developments and the need for clear communication with the public throughout the process.
Santink remains vigilant and hopes for increased transparency from the city regarding the ongoing developments.
