In a new TBNewswatch article, the City now says there are future plans to realign Lyon Boulevard away from Boulevard Lake. That’s their explanation for the “future entrance” shown in the updated Notice for the development on Arundel. Is that really what’s planned? The article states “a city planning official” explained that “the city’s official plan includes the potential for straightening and realigning Lyon Boulevard West, away from the lake.”
We couldn’t find a reference to that realignment in the City’s “Official Plan”. However, the City’s “Transportation Master Plan” (TMP) dated September 2019 shows a “New Collector” running from Algoma to Arundel. This new collector would run through the former LPH property and the parkland east of Toledo St. The west section of Lyon Boulevard is still there, along with a “Potential Roundabout” at the end of Algoma/Lyon Boulevard/Gibson St. See the photo below from the TMP entitled Map A: Ultimate Road Network.
If the City is revising the Master Transportation Plan and moving Lyon Boulevard, then it is incumbent upon them to provide full details of that plan and seek public input. We remind our readers that Lyon Boulevard was created when James Lyon sold land to the City of Port Arthur in 1914. The sale of that land, documented in a legally binding agreement, was conditional on a public roadway being constructed around the reservoir, not inland, and that it be called “Lyon Boulevard”. There was also a condition that the City was free to sell not more than one third of the land surrounding Lyon Boulevard. Wouldn’t the realignment of Lyon Boulevard contravene that agreement? Perhaps there’s a law firm in the city who would be willing to do some pro bono work to explain exactly what that agreement means!
This latest revelation only serves to raise more questions about this development. For example, we need to know the City’s plans for the additional lands depicted in the “Subject Lands” photo included in Stantec’s “Traffic Review Letter” dated June 24, 2026. See photo below. In that letter, Stantec refers to those lands as the “proposed residential development at 791 Arundel Street”. However, the “Subject Lands” photo depicts far more parkland than the photo of the 791 Arundel St lands identified by the City in their Call for Proposals – Opportunity Sites process. We highly doubt Stantec made a mistake, so we’re left wondering if even more parkland will be sold off for development. If the City proceeds with a new collector as identified in the TMP, or manages to realign Lyon Boulevard, then the parkland around that new/realigned road will undoubtedly be exploited for even more development.
We have to question how the City justifies new road construction when it can’t even keep up with our existing road infrastructure. Some people will say new development increases the tax base. True, but when we’re building NEW roads in greenfield sites to support new developments, then that new tax base merely pays for the new infrastructure, little if any of it pays for existing infrastructure. The City should be increasing the tax base in existing areas. We need to first be building on brownfield sites where road and sidewalk infrastructure currently exists. We can then use that additional tax revenue to improve existing infrastructure.
The development on Arundel seems to be creating a lot more questions than answers. The rezoning and Official Plan amendment hearing needs to be postponed until City Council explains exactly what’s going on. They need to be transparent about their real plans for the development at 791 Arundel. They need to explain the “Subject Lands” photo and whether additional parkland is being targeted for development now or in the future. They need to address the new collector road identified in the TMP, and their latest idea to realign a signature roadway in Thunder Bay.
Enough is enough! We need to demand transparency from our City Council. It’s time they start working for their constituents and not the developers.