THUNDER BAY — Ontario's Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) is considering its decision in an appeal by a Thunder Bay real estate developer against city council's approval of a transitional housing facility on Junot Avenue.
Red River Holdings, which owns rental properties in the general vicinity, wants the tribunal to overturn council's passage of a zoning amendment permitting Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) to build a 58-bed complex for people aged 18 to 29 on South Junot near Windsor Street.
The facility would help Indigenous youth struggling with addiction by providing access to employment and training services, referrals to medical and support services, counselling, health promotion and cultural activities.
News media were not present when the LPAT held a hearing into the application earlier this month at city hall.
Red River Holdings' lawyer, Jack Jamieson, says his client's concerns focus on a "very narrow" planning issue related to the character of the neighbourhood.
"As we read it, the city's new official plan says residential care facilities of more than 10 occupants are supposed to go into a Central Business District zone or Major Institutional zone," not a primarily residential zone, Jamieson told Tbnewswatch in an interview.
He said only small care facilities, accommodating up to six people, are supposed to be permitted in a residential area.
According to Jamieson, 99 per cent of the existing housing types in the area bounded by Red River Road, the Expressway, John Street and Clarkson Street are self-contained dwelling units, with some duplexes and small apartment buildings.
"So we said a 58-unit residential care facility was incompatible with the other housing forms in the area, and didn't represent good planning."
Jamieson added "We all know how much political turmoil there was in the community over this, but that wasn't the basis of this appeal. It was strictly on the narrow planning point."
Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services also appeared at the hearing, however Tbnewswatch was unable Tuesday to reach a representative.
A spokesperson for the City of Thunder Bay declined an interview, but said that in its presentation to the LPAT, the city maintained the position that Planning Services took last year in its report to council supporting the zoning amendment on the basis of city policies.
It's not known when the tribunal will release its decision.
However, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services has said its funding from the province requires construction to begin by May 2020.
