After sitting vacant after it was determined in 1999 that diesel fuel from the CN rail yard had leached underneath nearby residential properties along Central Avenue, the land there still may see some use in the near future, municipal planner Faye Flatt said yesterday.
“Right now, I’m in the pre-consultation stages of an application [for rezoning],” she remarked. “I expect at the next council meeting [May 25], we’ll set a date for a public meeting.”
Flatt noted the application in this case was submitted by Russell Pollard on behalf of property owner, Ontario #1293632, which wishes to rezone the property from Residential Four (R4) to Local Commercial.
Pollard also is a partner, along with Steve Both and Charlie Morken, in the old Fort Frances High School property currently being redeveloped.
“We’ve got a list of proposed uses, but a specific use hasn’t been determined at this time,” said Flatt, who wouldn’t reveal the list of uses prior to council having the opportunity to see it.
But this information will be revealed at the public meeting regarding the rezoning, which likely will happen next month.
She noted the purpose of the public meeting is not only a chance for local residents to find out what might be done with the vacant land, but to get feedback from the public if they do or don’t agree with the proposed uses.
“For an example, if the property were to be used for equipment sales, and people who live in that area see something wrong with that, the usage can be modified by the applicant,” said Flatt.
Flatt also said she’s waiting on a site remediation report to get specifics of the environmental state of the property, which had contaminated soil removed from it after the homes were levelled.
But she added no problems are expected in this regard, particularly since the property is to be “upzoned” from Residential Four to Local Commercial, and not the other way around.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
