SUDBURY —
The lawyer representing Sudbury businessman Tom Fortin said Thursday he will appeal a recent Superior Court decision rejecting arguments city council was biased when it approved the Kingsway Entertainment District.

Gordon Petch made the announcement on the first day of hearings at the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal (LPAT), which is hearing arguments that planning laws were broken when the city approved the project.

The argument that the city was biased was originally part of the appeal to the LPAT, but the tribunal ruled the matter was beyond its jurisdiction and should be heard by another court. Petch said the appeal should be heard within six months.

While the LPAT hearings are scheduled to last two days, chair David Lanthier said at the start of Thursday’s hearing he wanted to finish the proceeding Thursday, even if they have to work late.

Each party gets 75 minutes to make its presentation to the tribunal.

At the hearing, Petch is representing Fortin, the downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Area and a group of local faith leaders lead by Christopher Duncanson-Hales.

Sudbury resident Steve May is also appealing the decision.

On the other side is a lawyer for Greater Sudbury, Gateway Casinos and developer Dario Zulich.

Lanthier said the tribunal will issue its decision as quickly as possible.

“We know these proceedings are of great interest to the community,” Lanthier said.

CTV News will provide coverage of more developments at the hearing as they happen throughout the day. Check back for updates.