A decision by North Bay City Council has paved the way for land currently zoned residential to be zoned for industrial use.

The proposal concerns property around Birchs Road and Legault Street.

The plan by DeLoyde Development Solutions includes developing light industrial lots which would create 100 jobs.

Most councillors voted for the rezoning and the official plan amendment including Dave Mendicino.

“Council decided the file meets all the criteria. Staff did a great job mitigating some of the complaints and now the city can market more industrial lands,” he says.

Some of the concerns from residents were about the amount of blasting during the proposed development and protecting a nearby pond.

The developer says 12 acres of natural heritage features will be protected and the number of hours when blasting will occur has been reduced by four hours a day.

Only one councillor, Mark King, opposed the committee’s recommendation.

He says he was against the proposals for many reasons including changing the official plan and changing the zoning.

King says those two planning issues are there for a reason.

“To provide direction with respect to development and at the same time provide protection for the residents in the areas of Birchs Road and Legault. That didn’t happen,” King says.

There was one presentation from the public opposed to the recommendation.

Concerns were the impact of louder noise, the increase in traffic and the effect on residential properties.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: birchs-road, legault-street, rezoning