The sale of land adjacent to Marina Point Retirement Home by the City would allow for expansion of the facility.
In a committee report, City planners are recommending that the land is sold and rezoned from an “open space” designation to a general commercial zone.
The proposal would require an amendment to the City of North Bay’s Official Plan. While the Official Plan states that “senior citizen developments should be encouraged in locations that are in close physical pedestrian distance to transit, retail, health, social, institutional and recreational facilities,” what is being proposed does contradict some of the Official Plan’s policies.
The report deems the development and expansion appropriate, despite the Official Plan’s limits placed upon expansion of the central business district. The sale of open space or parklands is also discouraged by the Official Plan. The report concludes that this clause’s “primary objective is to ensure that parks are not removed from public usage.”
Although the retirement home has an Oak Street West address, the land to be sold is situated to the west, nearer to Lake Nipissing and adjacent to the existing Marina Point structure. The parcel itself is 788 square metres in area and abuts the fence separating the CPR rail lines.
The proposal will be on the community services committee’s agenda at Tuesday’s meeting.
