Ocean Choice International, the company behind a huge industrial development proposed for the Long Pond area, has submitted its Land Use Impact Assessment Report to the town of CBS.

The development has generated questions and controversy among area residents who want to know why they only learned about the company’s plans this fall – two years into the process.

The report, submitted this week, assesses significant impacts on the urban environment, and the surrounding lands and neighbourhood.

The company says the extensive document involved input from various independent experts and consultants, including specialized engineers in the field of marine and coastal planning, traffic assessment, environmental and geotechnical reviews.

President Blaine Sullivan says the company has been working with federal, provincial and municipal authorities for over two years to ensure their proposal is subject to appropriate oversight and regulatory approvals.

OCI says the development will create 30 to 40 jobs once the cold storage facility is in operation, and will result in millions of dollars in spin-off business opportunities. A public consultation process will be next to provide answers to questions stemming from the Land Use Impact Assessment Report.