THUNDER BAY — The City of Thunder Bay's Prestige Business Park zoning guidelines are what's preventing the developers of a new indoor turf facility from moving full speed ahead.
On Monday, the development group expressed disappointment with what spokesperson Carmen Felice described as the city's "policy interpretation" requiring that a hotel be constructed before their soccer bubble is built.
To circumvent the regulations, several zoning amendments will be needed.
The project site is at 1125 Golf Links Road.
Leslie McEachern, Manager of Planning Services for the city, says most of the Prestige Business Park zone is bounded by Golf Links Road, the Harbour Expressway and the Thunder Bay Expressway.
"The purpose of the regulation was to advance employment uses in the business park, to have those uses established prior to service/commercial uses that would support the employment base, uses like recreational facilities and restaurants, McEachern told Tbnewswatch.
She said the city's intent was to have offices, tech buildings, research and development facilities, and hotels constructed before the introduction of "supporting uses."
The developers have already begun preparing their site for a covered turf facility.
McEachern said city staff have met with the group and the parties are working collaboratively to advance the project.
"To do that we are looking at processing an amendment to the zoning by-law to allow for that recreational facility to be constructed in advance of another main use."
McEachern said the city is trying to move the project forward as quickly as possible, but the applicant has to revise the site plan.
"There are a number of amendments to the zoning by-law that will be necessary to advance the project as they have it envisioned, so we will be going through the project as efficiently as we can," she said.
If it gets the go-ahead, the facility will accommodate two soccer fields, 90 feet by 150 feet.
The developers have said they plan to construct a companion hotel sometime later.
