Lori Santink expressed disappointment but not shock over the city council’s move to rezone two vacant lots for new housing projects in Thunder Bay, Ontario. One of the properties, located at 791 Arundel St., was among three surplus lands sold to Terralux General Contractors and Development Limited earlier this year, as the city faces a shortage of approximately 1,000 housing units.
The approved rezoning will pave the way for the construction of over 900 new units across 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 proposals for Arundel and Fanshaw streets required rezoning, the Tokio Street property was already appropriately zoned.
Santink criticized the Arundel Street proposal, citing conflicts with the city’s Net-Zero Strategy and Climate Adaptation Strategy. She, along with the grassroots group TBay Greenspace Preservation, gathered over 2,600 signatures in a petition against the development and held a rally outside city hall with more than 100 participants, highlighting concerns such as green space loss, aging sewer infrastructure, increased traffic, and risks to local species.
Under the Ontario government’s Bill 60 (Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025), residents can no longer appeal municipal council decisions through the Ontario Land Tribunal. Santink expressed the need for legal assistance for a potential judicial review to address the concerns raised.
Devon McCloskey, Thunder Bay’s manager of planning services, mentioned that the city is awaiting developer applications for site plan control and building permits before commencing construction on the Fanshaw and Tokio street properties, with Arundel to follow suit. McCloskey highlighted the developer’s adjustments to address public concerns and reiterated the projects’ alignment with the city’s Smart Growth Action Plan.
Councillor Andrew Foulds, representing the Current River ward, opposed the rezoning of 791 Arundel St. but acknowledged the significant public engagement the issue sparked. Leia Minaker, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo, emphasized the challenges of achieving consensus on housing developments amidst diverse community opinions and concerns. She underscored the importance of transparent communication and planning as cities like Thunder Bay navigate growth and housing demands.