THUNDER BAY, Ont. (Aug. 18, 2004) — The city of Thunder Bay, Ont. has put on hold a plan for a new Flying J truckstop until more public consultation can take place.

The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal reports that city council put a temporary freeze on a zoning amendment that would have allowed a large-scale truck plaza to be built at the corner of Oliver Road and the Thunder Bay Expressway after a group of residents expressed concern.

The residents fear that trucks passing through or idling at the truckstop — which would include a fuel station, restaurants, shower and laundry facilities — would increase area noise pollution, and threaten air quality.

The city’s planning department will host a public meeting in the next couple of weeks, and come back to council with a report. Council will then vote to rezone the property with new conditions attached. Originally, the conditions were a traffic study and sewer connection to allow proper drainage.

Flying J Canada did not welcome the decision, stressing the project needs to be expedited to meet the plaza’s scheduled opening of fall 2005.

A report to council from the city’s development department states the truckstop will create up to 55 full-time jobs.

— from the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal