City gives River Terrace development green light

A proposed expansion to the River Terrace subdivision will go ahead despite a colourful rally outside of city hall Monday night.

Already zoned as a residential future zone, RTD vice-president Art Lannon on April 19 asked council to rezone the land to allow development of 71 lots just south of the existing River Terrace development. When complete it would be the fifth phase of a planned 1,000-lot project.

Residents of River Terrace opposed the notion, saying the land acts as a noise and visual buffer between their homes and the hospital.

Red River Coun. Brian McKinnon, one of two councillors who opposed the decision, on Monday recommended an amendment to the bylaw that would see 71 lots be developed in stages as they are sold.

But city development services manager Mark Smith said the amendment wouldn’t be realistic because of drainage issues.

"The subdivision needs to be developed in a co-ordinated way," Smith said. "The notion that we develop lots and have trees pop up in between them isn’t practical."

The amendment was voted down.

Hours before the city adopted the bylaw to allow the 13.5 hectares of land north of Thunder Bay Regional Hospital to be developed, members of the group Circles for Change were on the steps of city hall painting T-shirts and signs depicting what they think Thunder Bay should represent.

Kelsey Agnew said the River Terrace opposition group, which numbers about 15, wants to remind councillors to keep city green spaces in mind when making decisions on future development.

"The reason is to bring awareness to why we love Thunder Bay and why we’re so concerned about the River Terrace development," Agnew said. "We just want them to know that we care."

Prior to the meeting Agnew said the group would have to decide how to proceed if council approved the development.

Nearby residents already had a chance to speak out against the development three weeks earlier.

Murray Hinter was one of 15 who chose to do so. The Summer Hill Drive resident said the area is already plagued with too much noise from the hospital’s ventilation system. Cutting down trees to make room for more luxury homes would only make it worse, he said.

"I think you would be doing a great disservice to the community by allowing this development," said Hinter.

Lannon said trees removed would be replaced by trees two metres tall spaced four metres apart. Putting more houses in the area might help with noise issues raised by residents.

"If you want to put something in there to stop this noise… I think two rows of houses would do that," said Lannon.

Just south of the proposed development is a hazard land protected similar to a conservation area. With part of the land holding a tributary of the McIntyre River, staff and students from Lakehead University were also part of the initial opposition.