Northern Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Thunder Bay is seeking public input on a proposed development plan that would establish a new complete urban neighbourhood on the Central Avenue Development Lands.
A city-initiated proposal includes an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision for lands located between Central Avenue, Golf Links Road and Balmoral Street.
Currently the subject area has single-detached homes served by municipal water and private sewage systems or private wells and sewage systems, two municipal baseball diamonds known as Baseball Central, and vacant land.
The surrounding area includes low-rise residential development to the west, vacant land and Lakehead University to the north, light industrial uses to the east and Confederation College to the south, across the Harbour Expressway.
Lands are currently zoned FD — Future Development Zone and CM — Community Zone and are designated Residential and Community under the City’s Official Plan.
The proposed planning framework would allow for a mix of residential, neighbourhood commercial, community, recreation, park, open space and stormwater management uses. A draft plan of subdivision would establish a new road and pedestrian network and create blocks for municipal parkland, open space, trails, stormwater management facilities, residential development and neighbourhood commercial uses.
If approved, the proposal would establish new public street allowances as well as public parkland, open space and stormwater management blocks.
City-owned residential development blocks would be zoned UL — Urban Low-rise Zone and UM — Urban Mid-rise Zone, while city-owned neighbourhood commercial blocks would be zoned NC — Neighbourhood Commercial Zone.
The proposal would also establish new land-use designations and zoning for existing privately owned properties within the project area. Most privately owned parcels are proposed to be zoned for low-rise residential development, while five privately owned parcels are proposed to be designated and zoned for neighbourhood commercial uses.
Holding provisions would also be established where required to support future development.
A key component of the plan is the extension of full urban municipal services into the area. The proposed infrastructure would include sanitary and storm sewers, watermains, roads, curbs, sidewalks, trails and street lighting, along with boulevard improvements and street trees.
City officials say the planning framework will guide the future development of the area as a complete urban neighbourhood, with a combination of housing, commercial services, parks, recreation and natural areas connected by new streets and pedestrian routes.
The lands are currently not subject to any other application under the Planning Act.
Planning services invited residents and other interested parties to submit written comments on the proposal by Aug. 7, quoting file number PROJ-01-2026. Comments will be considered as part of the City’s evaluation of the proposal and used in preparing a recommendation to City Council
Additional information, including the proposed Official Plan Map, Zoning Map and Draft Plan of Subdivision, is available through the public engagement website and from Planning Services.
A final recommendation report will be presentedto city council later this year.