Tony Porco’s Gateway site plans to be announced Friday

Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and developer Tony Porco will release details Friday for SIS Group's planned development on the long-dormant Gateway site.

Porco is expected to unveil his plan for 3,252 square metres of commercial space on the southeast corner of the intersection of Bay Street and Huron, with frontage on Bay, Huron, Canal Drive and the St. Marys River.

It's the old fish hatchery property, most recently home to the Mill Market.

Porco's 1188004 Ontario Inc. (SIS Group) bought the land from the city in a deal that closed June 27.

On July 25, the property was assigned a new civic address: 90 Huron St.

The development to be announced Friday will include tourist and community attractions "including community activities, building and maker markets, flea markets, restaurants, and associated parking," according to a report prepared this month by Peter Tonazzo, the city's director of planning.

Last week, the city agreed to remove a holding provision that restricted development on the site until the following issues were resolved:

• flooding
• fish habitat
• contaminated soil remediation
• urban design
• archeological

Environmental assessments found heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons on the property.

SIS Group will be required to inspect and maintain gravel parking lots and landscaped areas to make sure impacted soils are not exposed.

"For areas with exposed soil or that become exposed through development or maintenance activities, new capping measures should be implemented," Tonazzo said.

"This may include the addition of hard caps such asphalt, concrete or paving stones or soft caps such a geotextile membrane covered by a minimum of 30 centimetres of clean topsoil. Measures should be taken to ensure that impacted soils on the subject property are covered to prevent surface runoff," Tonazzo said.

The existing well network there must be sampled annually to ensure groundwater quality.

"Access to the site will be from a new access point onto Bay Street and an existing access from Canal Drive," Tonazzo said.

"The preliminary site plan shows a large parking area to be located generally where the existing gravel parking area is located. The proposed 3,252 square metres of commercial space will require approximately 113 parking spaces."

"The applicant’s preliminary site plan proposes to renovate and extend the former fish hatchery and Mill Market building along the lot line towards Bay Street. It could be argued that the proposed configuration will effectively ‘book-end’ the site, which could minimize this site’s interaction with future development east of the property.

"Having said this, the John Rowswell Hub Trail exists along the waterfront and will eventually be extended along Canal Drive, to a current Hub Trail that runs west towards the canal District.

"Subject to establishing appropriate easements, there is also the option of developing a Hub Trail link through the proposed area to be rezoned.

"Currently, there is an old service road upon the subject property, running parallel to Bay Street, which is regularly utilized as an east/west pedestrian route. This link will no longer be available once the developer starts construction.

"Therefore, in the future, there will be a need to develop pedestrian facilities along the south side of Bay Street. Based upon preliminary investigations, there is enough room within the current Bay Street right-of-way to accommodate pedestrian facilities, including a Hub Trail extension, should that be preferred.

"Therefore, there are opportunities to provide additional east of the area to be rezoned. Furthermore, staff will work with the developer through the site plan control process to explore additional opportunities for east/west connectivity, such as breezeways or openings in the building that will facilitate connections.

"The area to be rezoned is subject to site plan control. Prior to development or site alteration, the applicant will be required to enter into a site plan agreement with the city, which will include specific exterior details of the proposed development," Tonazzo stated.