In what's expected to be one of the more heated public hearings in Greater Sudbury's history, the first of two public meetings on rezoning the Kingsway entertainment district is set for Jan. 22.
The public can have their say at the city's planning committee meeting, which starts 4:30 p.m., an hour earlier than normal. The $100-million arena requires a rezoning to permit a recreation and community centre, while the $60-million casino requires an Official Plan amendment and rezoning to allow a place of amusement.
Both applications are for lands located on the north side of the Kingsway, northwest of Levesque Street in Sudbury. The property owner – developer Dario Zulich and his partners — and the city have submitted an application for rezoning to the planning committee to allow a new public arena on about 11.96 hectares of land.
Zulich and Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Ltd. have submitted applications to rezone the 6.96 hectares of land where they plan to build the facility.
“The Jan. 22, 2018, meeting is the first of two public hearings regarding land use planning applications for the arena and casino,” the city said in a news release Monday. “A second public hearing will be scheduled later in 2018.”
While approved by city council last year, plans to move the arena out of the downtown, and to permit a full casino to operate in Sudbury, have generated significant opposition in the city. Should councillors approve the rezoning plans, it's likely opponents will appeal the decision.
Residents can also submit comments in writing by email to [email protected] or by mail to the City of Greater Sudbury, City Clerk, Box 5000, Station A, Sudbury, Ont., P3A 5P3. Comments can be submitted anytime up until the public hearing on Jan. 22.
Residents who cannot attend the planning committee meeting may watch via Livestream at www.greatersudbury.ca. For more information visit www.greatersudbury.ca/kingswayrezoning.
