With its decision last week to scale back its Clean AER project and move to a one-furnace smelter, Vale is withdrawing its zoning application to the City of Greater Sudbury to temporarily house workers on its property.

The application was controversial because some speculated the company wanted the zoning change so it could house replacement workers on its property should Steelworkers Local 6500 go on strike in 2015.

The company had said it was making the application to house workers for its Clean AER project and planned maintenance periods.

Because of the scaling back of Clean AER and the move to one furnace at the Copper Cliff Smelter, the risk that there might not be enough housing in the community no longer exists, according to an email statement from company spokesperson Angie Robson.

“While we still see significant labour requirements associated with the project, we feel that with the changes we are making, the risk has been minimized enough to withdraw the application.”