Lori Santink expressed disappointment but little surprise at the recent decision made by Thunder Bay’s city council to rezone two vacant properties for new housing developments. One of these properties, located at 791 Arundel St., was among three properties sold by the city as surplus land to Terralux General Contractors and Development Limited earlier this year. Thunder Bay is facing a shortage of around 1,000 housing units to meet the current demand.
Pending approvals, the city could see the construction of over 900 new housing units, including 360 units in two apartment buildings at 791 Arundel St. (reduced from an initial proposal of 400 units), 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, stating that it contradicts the city’s Net-Zero Strategy and Climate Adaptation Strategy. She is a member of the grassroots group TBay Greenspace Preservation, which garnered over 500 followers and collected more than 2,600 signatures on a petition opposing the development. The group also organized a rally outside city hall that attracted over 100 participants.
The concerns raised by the TBay Greenspace Preservation group include the potential loss of green space, challenges with aging sewer infrastructure, increased traffic without adequate public transportation access during winter, and risks to local species such as the yellow-banded bumblebee, Canadian warbler, and grey fox.
Santink highlighted the implications of Ontario’s Bill 60 (Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025), which restricts residents from appealing municipal council decisions through the Ontario Land Tribunal concerning matters like rezoning and official plan amendments.
Devon McCloskey, the manager of planning services in Thunder Bay, mentioned that the city is awaiting the developer’s applications for site plan control and building permits before construction can commence. The applications for the Fanshaw and Tokio street properties are anticipated this year, with Arundel to follow.
Councillor Andrew Foulds, representing the Current River ward where 791 Arundel St. is situated, opposed the property’s rezoning. However, he acknowledged the exceptional level of public engagement the issue has generated.
Leia Minaker, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo, emphasized the challenges of achieving consensus on housing developments amid competing opinions. She highlighted common concerns including traffic, parking, privacy, shadows from tall buildings, and changes to neighborhood culture.
Minaker noted that in northern Ontario, where housing has historically been more affordable, communities are preparing for population growth due to proposed economic activities in the region. She stressed the importance of transparent communication from the city throughout the development process.
Santink pledged to closely monitor the developments and emphasized the need for increased public awareness and engagement in city-led initiatives.