City Council refuses to rethink MacDonald Ave. high-rise

Refusing to hear further objections to a planned 12-storey apartment building, City Council last night approved a bylaw rezoning 22 MacDonald Ave. from 'parks and recreation' to 'high-density residential.'

Acting Mayor Lisa Vezeau-Allen declined to hear from Loretta Harrison because the developers, Joe and Dave Ruscio and John Martella, weren't present.

Harrison said she had received input from her neighbours and wanted an opportunity to suggest a compromise development.

One hundred and thirteen residents had signed a petition opposing the 90-unit building, asking that it be reconsidered or delayed.

The former playing fields at the corner of MacDonald Avenue and Gladstone Avenue have been vacant since Sault Collegiate Institute across the street was demolished in 2001 to make room for Chartwell Collegiate Heights Retirement Residence.

The Sault's tallest building is currently a 16-storey structure at 70 East Street, towering approximately 54 metres above ground that's about 179 metres above sea level.

The proposed MacDonald Avenue tower would be about 42 metres tall, but it would dominate the Sault Ste. Marie skyline because it will be built on terrain that's 211 metres above sea level.

EDC Foreign Trade Zone Point

Also last night, councillors gave their blessing to Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp.'s pursuit of a foreign trade zone point for the Sault.

Obtaining the federal designation would allow the city to become a northern Ontario focal point for international trade, with a working group of federal, provincial and local government officials, business leaders and service providers including customs brokers, freight forwarders and trade insurance providers.

This would allow "one window" access to all three levels of government, facilitated by the EDC.

Single-sourced consultants

Global Friends, based at Sault Community Career Centre, will be retained by FutureSSM at a cost of approximately $44,250 to help create a safe, welcoming and inclusive city for newcomer youth including indigenous, LGBTQ+ and other minorities.

Saskatoon-based Dr. Ken Coates will help FutureSSM at an estimated cost of $40,200 to develop new economy strategies for Algoma University and Sault College.

Untapped assessment growth

Ward 2 Coun. Luke Dufour and Ward 3's Donna Hilsinger persuaded City Council to arrange for a Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre report on areas of the city that have potential for assessment growth without adding new buildings on previously unoccupied land.

The information may be useful in the future when councillors consider infrastructure investments and priorities, helping to keep the municipal levy affordable.

Other news from last night's City Council meeting: 

• Justus Veldman's Mill Market Inc. will be required to remove all of the sheds he placed outside its main building by May 18, the day a vendors' group is expected to take over operations at the popular farmers' market. Mill Market owes about $25,500 in provincial fines for building infractions on the municipally owned waterfront site
• Canada Post has advised Ward 2 Couns. Luke Dufour and Lisa Vezeau-Allen that it supports their bid to allow law enforcement to intercept illegal mail deliveries of fentanyl and other drugs. City Council also lent its support
• $2 million in road resurfacing work was approved
• an $8.3-million tender was awarded to Avery Construction to rebuild a large concrete box storm sewer from John Street to the north side of Albert Street West as part of the Fort Creek aqueduct reconstruction
• a $1.6-million contract for reconstruction of Leo Avenue from Queen Street East to Victoria Avenue was awarded to Boyer Construction
• reconstruction of Third Line between Black Road and the Sault Area Hospital entrance was designated as the city's candidate for funding for rural and northern communities under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program