THUNDER BAY -- The proponents of an indoor soccer facility at an industrial site on Thunder Bay's waterfront face a challenge that's potentially more serious than a local businessman's appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.
It's been learned that the province may require that the former sawmill property be subjected to a Phase Two Environmental Site Assessment.
City councillor Aldo Ruberto says that would "close the door" to the building being used.
Michael Veneziale, who speaks for Soccer Northwest, told tbnewswatch.com that the cost of such a study would be at least $200,000.
"Regardless of whether it came back 'clean' or not, it's not type of money we have that we're able to spend, and it definitely doesn't go inside of the timeline we need."
In an interview on Wednesday, Veneziale said a Phase One ESA was done at the site a few years ago by the current owner, "and the question is whether we are going to need a Phase Two or not, and that's what we are waiting to hear back on."
He said he's been hearing "mixed information" about the requirement.
City officials have declined to comment on the issue.
According to a government website, Ontario's Environmental Protection Act requires that assessments be conducted before the use of property changes in certain ways:
A Phase Two ESA is an assessment of a property...to determine the location and concentration of contaminants on the property.A Phase Two ESA is mandatory under the following circumstances—
a) If the property is used, or has ever been used, in whole or in part for an industrial use or any of the following commercial uses: a garage; a bulk liquid dispensing facility, including a gasoline outlet; or for the operation of dry cleaning equipment
b) If a potentially contaminating activity is identified on, in or under the property during the Phase One ESA
Veneziale said the soccer groups learned about this potential roadblock only after a company owned by Robert Zanette filed its OMB appeal.
The stated grounds for that appeal include concerns about site contamination, and failure to comply with provincial land-use planning requirements.
Robert Zanette speaks out on his OMB appeal
Robert Zanette, who is opening a new facility for soccer on the Confederation College grounds, issued a statement to tbnewswatch.com on Wednesday saying that "as a courtesy" he had spoken with the soccer groups in advance of his appeal.
He said he had explained his experiences with municipal and provincial land use planning complexities, "especially when rushing hastily, as well as the human risks and potential liabilities of attempting to introduce and inserting a public use (including children) deep into both an ongoing operational heavy industrial location, together with a somewhat infamous local site that has a history of well-known previous contaminants activity."
Zanette's OMB appeal has left soccer groups representing 1,500 participants scrambling to find alternate locations to play this winter.
In his statement, Zanette said that he and David Robertson, partners in the former Sports Dome, "have worked energetically on behalf of the soccer community for the last 10 years."
He said he met recently with a representative of the soccer groups to discuss "possible sustainable solutions" for their needs, and has also offered—through city officials— field times in the "Bubble" at Confederation College to help the soccer community.
According to Veneziale, three hours a week at the college site were offered, but that's "nothing that any of us could use in any way."
The soccer groups, as well as City of Thunder Bay administration, continue to explore alternatives for indoor soccer locations.
