Plant OK'd under old law
History of approvals for site predates megacity: Miller
By LOUIS TAM, SUN MEDIA
Old city bylaws allowed a propane plant to be built in the Keele St.-Wilson Ave. area, Mayor David Miller says.
Speaking via teleconference from Vancouver, Miller told reporters that a propane depot that exploded early yesterday was built according to zoning bylaws that were established before the city was amalgamated in 1998.
According to the city's website, each of the former six municipalities -- which were merged into the megacity -- operated under their own zoning bylaws.
The blaze, which broke out at the plant owned by Sunrise Propane, forced thousands to evacuate their homes.
"This facility was allowed under zoning (bylaws) that have been there for well over a decade -- I suspect, for a very long time," Miller said.
Acting Deputy Mayor Shelley Carroll said the facility first got approval to store propane in 2006, but the revelation of any further details on the depot's history would have to wait until the blaze was extinguished.
"There are details (yet) to wait to come in, like how the site was approved ... we don't know if they were over the capacity they were zoned for." Carroll said.
"It will, of course, have to be investigated, but that will have to come after we're sure everyone is safe and there's no more danger in the area."
Some of the evacuees were less than thrilled with the plant's proximity to their homes.
"I've been expecting something to happen there for years and years," Merv Mostoway, 73, said. "That's the stupidest stuff to put that in a residential area."
Miller said regulations governing Sunrise Propane were set and "monitored very closely by the province."
While further investigations will be done in the coming days, he said the immediate priority was public safety.
"My concern today is the safety of Torontonians who live in the vicinity and the safety of our emergency service workers and the workers at the propane facility," he said.
