Smart Growth Action Plan details revealed at city council meeting

Thunder Bay’s new Smart Growth Action Plan was presented to City Council on Tuesday.

The city government developed the plan in acknowledgement that Thunder Bay’s economic growth rate is too low, and crucially, far below the rate of inflation.

City councillors were presented with a plan outlining methods for achieving a higher growth rate, with an emphasis on key objectives the city should aim to meet.

The plan suggests that the city should be growing its population by one per cent annually and its property tax base by three per cent annually, and should aim to reach these targets within ten years.

At the meeting, City Manager John Collin explained to councillors that approximately 85% of the city’s property tax comes from residential use, leaving just 15% from industrial and commercial properties.

Collin stressed that increasing the city’s property tax base by three per cent yearly will require increasing the ratio of industrial and commercial property zoned in the city. He argued that developing more housing will help the city grow, but not nearly enough to meet its growth targets.

“Basically, the number of housing units we would have to build per year is categorically unachievable. We have to shift the balance,” Collin said. “We don’t need to shift it by much. One or two percentage points makes a huge difference.”

As long as the city continues to grow its tax base at a rate below inflation, it will have to either raise taxes or cut services to keep up with costs.

The “how” of the growth plan focuses on methods for enticing industrial and commercial property development in the city.

The plan’s objective is divided into three pillars:

• Readiness, representing how quickly new developments can be organized, with an emphasis on “shovel-ready” lands.
• Attraction, representing the city’s appeal for residents and tourists, and focusing on safer and cleaner public spaces.
• Talent, which covers the city’s ability to bring and retain talented workers.

The plan includes recommendations for lands that could be used for developing industrial and commercial complexes, and an endorsement of the city’s current plans for redeveloping the waterfront and Pool 6 lands.

Councillor Dominic Pasqualino of Northwood Ward made clear that the city should be mindful of its reputation in its effort to attract new businesses and new people.

“I know if I was to move to Canada, I don’t think I would choose a city that has a high crime rate, or where people aren’t very friendly, or where there isn’t much opportunity,” the councillor said after the meeting.

A city-wide beautification and cleanup effort will also form a piece of the city’s attempt to attract more money and talent.

A draft of the Smart Growth Action Plan is now publicly available.

A town hall discussing the growth plan will be held at the Italian Cultural Centre on November 3 at 6 p.m.

City Council will vote on whether to implement the plan at a meeting on December 2.