Racetrack public meeting on agenda tonight

The Community Services Committee will discuss the Nipissing Entertainment's rezoning application at its meeting tonight, despite a recent provincial decision not to expand the slots at racetracks program.

Nipissing has an application into the city for a racetrack with slots to be built in the Lakeshore Drive-Birch's Road area.

Don Fudge, Nipissing Entertainment's vice president, said the company would proceed with plans for the racetrack "to keep the door open to future government decisions."

Coun. Dave Mendicino, who chairs the Community Services Committee, said the Ontario Planning Act states all rezoning requests have to be dealt with within 180 days.

If that doesn't happen, Mendicino added, the applicant can appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Mendicino said city staff has also consulted with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the Ontario Racing Commission "and they've both advised that there's no reason this application shouldn't go ahead."

"I want to clean it up and not have it sit on the committee file," Mendicino said.

The Nipissing application is the only item on the agenda at the committee meeting of council tonight.

A public meeting in relation to the application is also being held.