Discussion:

All exemption requests will be evaluated against the following criteria:

Consistency with the Official Plan and Zoning By-law - The underlying Official Plan designation and zoning district will be considered. Specifically, whether the Transport Terminal is consistent with the Official Plan designation and is permitted as a main use by the zoning district;

Impact on surrounding infrastructure - What the impact may be on surrounding infrastructure, mainly roads, including potential wear and tear, as well as how the impact on the safety and functionality of the surrounding road network; and,

Proximity to sensitive land uses - The distance to the closest sensitive use will be considered;

Likelihood of additional mitigation measures - This criteria considers compatibility with surrounding uses. The Transport Terminal Study may recommend that additional mitigation measures be undertaken in order to permit a Transport Terminal on the property. Approval of the exemption request may prejudice the Study.

Analysis of Evaluation Criteria

The subject parcel is designated Industrial on Schedule D: Land Use in the City of Windsor Official Plan. A Transport Terminal is consistent with the general policy direction, including permitted uses, locational criteria, evaluation criteria, and design guidelines, of the Industrial land use designation.

Relevant excerpts from Zoning By-law 8600 are attached as Appendix C. The parcel is zoned Manufacturing District 1.3 (MD1.3) in Zoning By-law 8600, a zoning category that permits a range of transportation based uses, including a loading compound, transport terminal, and warehouse, all as a main use. A rezoning is not required.

A Transport Terminal development on the parcel is subject to site plan control.

The proposed Transport Terminal is consistent with the Official Plan and Zoning By-law 8600.

Walker Road is a Class II Arterial Road that was recently widened with a five-lane cross section that includes a middle left turn lane. Sydney Avenue and Riberdy Road are Local Roads. The parcel is only accessible via Sydney Avenue. The dwellings at northeast and southeast corners of Sydney and Riberdy utilize Sydney Avenue for vehicular access to garages and driveways.

The Walker Road and Sydney Avenue intersection is signalized with left turn lanes from Walker to Sydney. The City has approved oversized moves to the subject parcel in the past. Any use, industrial or otherwise, on the subject parcel will continue to utilize Sydney Avenue for access purposes.

The proposed Transport Terminal will have minimal impact on surrounding infrastructure.