A committee of Fort Frances town council is willing to take a cautious approach to the proposed development of a cryptocurrency mining operation at the former mill lagoon property.
The project is being proposed by a company connected the Riversedge Development and needs zoning amendments to proceed.
Noise remains a big issue.
Councillor Andrew Hallikas says he would like to see a site plan control include noise guidelines as suggested by the province, as well as monitoring and enforcement requirements.
“I think it might be reasonable to say in principle, if the conditions that we set out are met, we could take the next step. Part of that step part would be doing a mitigation study,” says Hallikas.
Hallikas says that the study would provide council with the data on its needs to decide if the crypto mining proposal is permitted.
It would also allow the developer to seek out financial investors.
Mayor June Caul says it’s not that they are against the project.
“We are just trying to be very diligent to make sure that we’re covering all our bases for the residents around there because we have had such a heavy load of complaints about it,” says Caul.
Company officials told members of the Planning and Development Executive Committee they are willing to work with the town on any conditions brought forward.
The issue returns to town council’s agenda next week.
