An appeal of rezoning for a temporary work camp in Wawa will not be heard.
The Ontario Land Tribunal's rejected an appeal of Wawa Municipal Council's June 2nd decision to temporarily rezone a Pinewood Drive property to allow for a temporary work camp accommodation with trailers to house up to 170 people for three years - to house contractors for Alamos Gold outside Dubreuilville - with the Tribunal finding that appeal proponent Ray Valliant - the owner of Wawa's Outdoorsman Motel - did not meet the requirements under standing to appeal - a stance that Council had taken in response to the appeal filing late last month.
Ahead of and after the Tribunal's response, Valliant sent the Municipality letters formally requesting Council repeal the temporary rezoning by-law - and allow him to speak on the issue - though a response from Mayor Melanie Pilon declined both requests, saying Council already considered the zoning "through the statutory process prescribed by the Planning Act" and the Tribunal was the venue to raise issues with that decision, though Valliant pushed for the Municipality to further explain reasoning for the initial decision - claiming it will have a negative impact on local businesses (particularly hotels/motels and restaurants) of an estimated $22.5-million over those three years - with Pilon replying that "Council appreciates that some members of the business community disagree with its decision" but "Council's responsibility was to consider the application in accordance with the Planning Act, the Provincial Planning Statement, the Municipality's Official Plan, the professional planning advice presented by staff, and all submissions received through the statutory public consultation process" and "evaluate the broader planning merits of the application and determine whether it presented good planning and served the overall public interest", though Valliant continued to question whether the decision does conform with a section of the Municipality's Official Plan, specific analysis conducted on potential economic impact, and any agreements regarding the removal of structures after the approved period.
Valliant has also formally written his objection to the proposed Community Improvement Plan for the 39 Algoma Street housing development, citing its "site-specific nature and appearance of preferential treatment", "conflict of broader community and economic interests", "use of public funds and financial prudence", and "consultation and process concerns", pushing Council to defer approval of the CIP, obtain independent legal and planning advice, expand the incentive program with a "non-site-specific framework open to all qualifying properties", provide full disclosure of the developer's proposal - along with financial projections and agreements related to the sale of the land by the Municipality and the incentives - and "consider alternatives that support housing growth without appearing to favor [sp] a single private interest".
