New Agawa Canyon Tour Train station chugs ahead

Tony Porco's plan to build a new passenger train station at the former St. Marys Paper site cleared a few more switches Wednesday.

Sault Ste. Marie's committee of adjustment agreed to reduce landscaping requirements on a property on the west side of Huron Street that Porco's 1188004 Ontario Inc. wants to use for station parking.

The city's comprehensive zoning bylaw would normally require 100 per cent of the front yard be landscaped open space.

Porco's company, which does business as Superior Industrial Services Inc. (SIS Group), will be allowed to get by with landscaping on 58 per cent of the front yard, excluding driveways.

The change will facilitate future growth plans, extending the paved parking area to accomodate 24 parking spaces.

Porco, who also heads up an ownership group in charge of The Machine Shop, worked at the old paper mill until he was laid off during a 1992 shutdown.

His project includes a new station for the tour train, an exhibit centre/gallery, a micro-brewery and an outdoor event centre.

The Ontario government is providing $5 million for the tourism development.