The proposed expansion of a housing development near green space has residents, students and Lakehead University faculty members seeing red.
River Terrace Developments has an agreement to purchase 13.5 hectares of land north of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre owned by Lakehead University.
Already zoned as a Residential Future Zone, RTD vice-president Art Lannon was asking council Monday night, in a discussion lasting almost five hours, to rezone the land so his company can make way for 71 lots. The lots would be just south of the existing River Terrace development making it the fifth phase of the 1,000 lot project.
But residents of River Terrace say the land acts as a noise and visual buffer between their homes and the hospital. Murray Hinter was one of 15 deputants opposed to the development.
A resident of Summer Hill Drive, Hinter said the noise from the hospital’s ventilation system is too loud already. While walking around the neighbourhood, Hinter, who has hearing problems, said he can already hear the hospital. Removing trees to make way for new houses would only make the noise worse Hinter said.
“I think you would be doing a great disservice to the community by allowing this development,” said Hinter.
Lannon said noise from the hospital follows provincial regulations and that he wouldn’t want to purchase the land if he thought noise would be a problem because no one would live there.
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 opposition.
Used as a recreation area and outdoor classroom for faculties from outdoor recreation to chemistry, student government officials, professors and students said council should not rezone the land saying that most of Lakehead University members only learned of the conditional sale in the past few days.
Mayor Lynn Peterson had to remind deputants several times that Monday was a planning meeting and that their issue were with the university’s board of governors.
Lakehead University Student Union president Dave Grad said students were frustrated with the lack of consultation done by the university before entering an agreement with RTD. Coun. Andrew Foulds asked why Grad hadn’t consulted the university.
“Isn’t your concern with the university and what they’re actually doing?” asked Foulds. “Have you talked to the university?”
Lannon said he has no intention of destroying the hazard land area and plans to use the area as a selling feature. Even before RTD entered into the agreement with Lakehead University, Lannon said he consulted with the Lakehead Regional Conservation Authority and Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Both organizations had no opposition to the plan Lannon said.
Only councillors Brian McKinnon and Larry Hebert opposed the rezoning. Council has to wait 14 days to pass the by-law.
Also Monday, city council passed a resolution requesting a report on the location of turbines at the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park following the release of the Renewable Energy Assessment.
