Council is all aboard for Station Road development

A trucking company with headquarters located in Rouyn-Noranda, Que., has gained the unanimous approval of North Bay City Council to move ahead with its proposed transportation terminal on Station Road — under site plan control.

Site plan control is a development tool used by the municipality under the Planning Act that ensures standards from the various appropriate agencies and jurisdictions are met. Site plan approval must be granted before a development under site plan control may proceed.

On the subject of the proponent, Rick Miller of Miller & Urso Surveying Inc., said during an earlier special committee meeting about Martin Roy Transport (MRT), "Our clients are a new industrial company to the city. They want to be here, they'll be moving staff here and helping industrial growth within the city." 

The subject property is located between Station Road and Patton Street, south of the Ontario Northland station and southeast of the City's recycling centre (see map above). Both access points for the new terminal are slated to be built on the Station Road side.

City of North Bay Senior Planner Peter Carello and Miller both acknowledged during the public meeting the sole reason for the rezoning application — granted during Tuesday's regular meeting — to switch to an industrial zone from commercial is it makes the property eligible for the City of North Bay's Growth Community Incentive Program (GCIP), and potential tax increment rebates, municipal fee rebates, development charge rebates, and professional study grants.

See related story: City seeks financial boost for growth incentive program after it 'exceeds expectations'

According to the City, the proposed development could potentially qualify for just over $25,000 from the GCIP, dependant on the ultimate size and scope of the project.

The decision is also notable as Ontario Northland raised several objections relating to the construction and operation of the proposed MRT transportation terminal during the same special committee meeting, March 25. Many of the ONTC's concerns centred on the safety of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in and around the area where the terminal will be situated on Station Road — as well as at the intersection of Seymour Street and Station Road. 

See also: Industrial intrigue: ONTC makes rare foray into municipal affairs

Furthermore, ONTC President and CEO Corina asked committee members to consider the impact of the trucking terminal on visitors to the Ontario Northland Station, located farther down Station Road, as "many, many have never been to North Bay before. This is their first impression of North Bay."

ONTC Director of Passenger Operations Tracy MacPhee, who co-presented the company's safety concerns about the subject property's planned use, echoed Moore's stance, maintaining the development "will create a substantial negative impact on Ontario Northland and our customers."

Moore also suggested sound-dampening fencing planned to protect residential properties on the Patton Street side of the development should be extended to Station Road, as well.

Miller noted the trucking company is eager to move forward with the construction of the terminal. Martin Roy Transport and its officials "have done things in a proper manner and did all their due diligence prior to purchasing the property."