THUNDER BAY — At Monday's meeting council voted in favour of rezoning the Intercity Shopping Centre to allow for the addition of a central library location.
The vote was to allow the project to proceed if council decides in July that it wants to build a library in that location. The zoning amendment does not necessarily mean the project will proceed.
Thunder Bay Public Library received 55 letters of support on the project, with only two responses expressing concerns or questions. Neither of the individuals who had concerns spoke at the meeting, but administration spoke with each person prior to the meeting.
Richard Togman, the public library’s chief executive officer, and Ray Lister, a planner at Brook McIlroy, spoke about how beneficial the central branch would be in that location if the project moves ahead.
“For us the potential of having a library at this location fits really well within the city's transportation infrastructure,” Togman said.
“It's along major arterial roads. There’s lots of parking – with over 1,800 parking spots at the mall – and the mall is a designated bus transit hub,” he said, adding that many communities have a large main branch in a central location.
At-large Coun. Rajni Agarwal said she has heard discussions about adjusting the transit hub so buses would no longer visit the mall.
“Is there confirmation that there is a transit hub at Intercity Shopping Centre, and it will remain there?” she asked.
Lister said anyone who is applying for a proposed development would “not have access to the city's inner workings that have not yet been published. Our info comes from 2019 transportation master plan.”
Agarwal asked: “Have you spoken with transit yet?”
City manager Norm Gale said he hasn’t heard of any changes to buses stopping at the Intercity Shopping Centre.
“I think if that was the case, I would know. When it comes to transit in general, there are five transit hubs – two at the university and college, Intercity mall, and then the downtown cores. I'm not aware of any contemplation to changing that,” Gale said.
At-large Coun. Mark Bentz asked: “What impact would the move to a central library at the mall have on tax revenues from that site?”
Mayor Ken Boshcoff said he thought the amount of lost tax revenue should be part of the discussion.
City treasurer Keri Greaves said a reduction in taxes from the Intercity Shopping Centre would amount to $220,000 in lost revenue per year to the City of Thunder Bay if it’s requested and approved.
Bentz asked if the central library plan does not go forward, would the zoning amendment remain in place?
Administration confirmed the zoning amendment would remain, but council could withdraw the approval to reverse Monday night’s decision.
On Tuesday morning, city clerk Krista Power said via email that items approved at a public meeting under the planning act are confirmed and ratified the same night, so council will not need to ratify this decision at a future meeting.
