An artist's rendering of the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway complex. Graphic: Special to Bullet News
Bullet News
FORT ERIE – A date has been set for the start of a lengthy Ontario Municipal Board Hearing into the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway project in Fort Erie.
Parties to the hearing have agreed to a June 18 start for the hearing, which is expected to last at least two weeks.
At a pre-hearing meeting in January, parties representing the proponents and those opposed to the project failed to set a firm date for the start of full-fledged hearings, which is the next hurdle to overcome along the road to approval.
At $150 million, the Canadian Motor Speedway is one of the largest private-sector projects ever proposed in Fort Erie.
The proposal calls for the track complex to be built on an 821-acre property west of the Queen Elizabeth Way, between Bowen Road and Gilmore Road.
Plans call for grandstand seating for up to 100,000 people, a one-mile oval racetrack and a 2.5-mile road course.
Other facilities include a research and development centre in partnership with McMaster University and a 74-acre commercial complex with restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues.
Opponents worry about potential environmental impacts, including noise and air quality.
The project has the backing of municipal council, which has long seen the project as a one-in-a-life-time opportunity, with the potential to create hundreds of news jobs and boost the fortunes of local businesses that would supply goods and services.
The following is the list of issues that are expected to be addressed at the OMB hearing:
1. Are the Regional Official Plan, Town Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2005) and specifically, policies:
a. 1.1.3.9 — Managing and Directing Land Use
b. 1.7.1 (f) — Economic Prosperity (Tourism)
c. 2.1.3 — Natural Heritage
d. 2.2.1—Water
e. 2.3.1—Agriculture
f. 2.3.3.1 — Agriculture
g. 2.3.5.1 (c) – Removal of Agricultural Land
h. 2.3.5.2 —Agriculture
2. Are the Regional Official Plan, Town Official Plan, and Zoning By-law Amendments in conformity with the Growth Plan specifically policies?
a. 2.2.2.1 (i) — Settlement Areas
b. 2.2.2.1 (k) — Settlement Areas
c. 2.2.6.7 — Gateway Zone
d. 3.2.5.4 — Water and Wastewater
e. 4.2.4 — Culture of Conservation
3. Have sufficient technical studies been completed as part of the application review process, specifically:
a. Noise
b. Agriculture
c. Environmental Impact
d. Traffic
e. Servicing
f. Stormwater Management
4. Have sufficient policies been placed in the Holding Provision of the Zoning By-law Amendment to ensure that any remaining technical issues will be completely addressed prior to development of the project?
5. Does the Canadian Motor Speedway project represent good planning?
