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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-06-26, Page 22Despite some opposition, theproposed Canadian Tire forWingham got a little bit closer toreality at the North Huron council meeting Monday night. A planning advisory meeting was held prior to the regular meeting. In attendance were representatives from Canadian Tire, ratepayers and the mayor and clerk-administrator of Morris-Turnberry. County senior planner Sandra Weber explained the project and the procedure. The purpose of the meeting was to change the zoning to allow for a department store. The property is already zoned to allow for the other features of the development, which include an automotive bay repair centre, warehouse and store area, offices and a garden centre. In addition to a Canadian Tire retail store, the proposal is for a Mark’s Work Warehouse store. Agent for Canadian Tire, Craig Hunter of Armstrong Hunter and Associates, explained that planning has been done in earnest for the past three or four months. Canadian Tire has purchased 4.3 acres adjacent to Kerr Drive. The store will have a floor area of 35,000 square feet, and there will be parking for 154 vehicles, said Hunter. Access will hopefully be from Kerr Drive. Reports have been concluded andsubmitted for retail marketassessment, traffic opinion,geotechnical, stormwatermanagement, site servicing andgrading plans, site plan, elevation plan and landscape plan. An application for site plan control was also submitted. “It has all been presented as a package and we are very anxious to proceed,” said Hunter. The anticipated start time is August, with the building completed in December and the full opening for spring of 2009. Clerk-administrator Kriss Snell said that this property had been zoned since 1993 for a number of uses, including a garden centre. “The only reason for the application is the department store.” Bob Middegaal questioned the grassed space to the north of the store and whether or not it could be used for further development. Hunter said that while there was nothing in the zoning at this point to stop that, Canadian Tire had no plans to expand there at this point. Bill McGrath, whose wife operates a downtown business, spoke in favour of the development. “As a businessperson I say it’s time to take a look and say let’s develop. We have seen so many turned down for stupid reasons.” Talking about the people who travel to Listowel to shop at Canadian Tire, McGrath added, “Noway is this going to hurt downtown.We spent money on a sewage plantto see this happen and I applaudcouncil for doing this.”M-T mayor Dorothy Kelly,however, was less enthusiastic. Her council had submitted a letter stating their objections. The first was that the proposal would have an adverse effect on businesses in Morris- Turnberry. They asked to review the retail market assessment and wanted written confirmation the M-T businesses were included in the study. Also council wanted written confirmation that the development would not affect the guaranteed water and sewage capacity available for development of lands in the Turnberry ward. M-T also had a concern about the project having an adverse impact on the Blackhall municipal drain. Another question was whether the pipe under Amberley Road is sufficient to accommodate the drainage from this kind of development. At the meeting, Kelly expressed frustration that her council had not received the reports long ago. “It dismays us that we have to object to get some attention.” Snell said that the reports were available since the notice of themeeting. Reeve Neil Vincent said, “Far be itfrom me to say where businessshould be, but I believe if someonewants to start a business and createjobs they should be allowed to do it so long as it meets the zoning. This does and I applaud Canadian Tire for the work they’ve done.” Another resident Bob Purdy didn’t want to see “pettiness” between the neighbouring municipalities stopping this development. “We had a Canadian Tire years ago and when it left it was the biggest loss to this town. The pettiness between North Huron and Morris-Turnberry cost us Zehrs. Don’t take away something that we had before.” Kelly explained that their biggest concern was the drain. “This is not to take something away from Wingham.” Weber noted that stormwater management and drainage will be part of the agreement. When one resident remarked that North Huron may be less enthusiastic too if the project was going to be in Morris-Turnberry, reeve Neil Vincent disagreed. “If the owners chose another site, chances are it would still save me gas. I can’t see my council holding up anybody whether it’s our municipality or our neighbour.”Asked about the market riskassessment, a Canadian Tirerepresentative said, “This is locationtheory at its best. You are in themiddle.”He said that other businesses had been taken into account and research indicated that the Canadian Tire would not be detrimental to them. Councillor Greg McClinchey said council has been a strong advocate of buying local. “I think this fits the strategy. Issues have been raised that can be addressed, but personally I think this is good for the community and the surrounding area.” Council approved the development subject to consideration of the issues raised at the meeting. Later in the meeting councillor Archie MacGowan expressed some concern over the objections. Snell said that while there is a 20-day appeal period, launching an appeal takes time and investment. “There are lots of things required to take a position to the Ontario Municipal Board. You can’t just go and say you don’t like something.” MacGowan said he sees another benefit down the road. “We are running out of development space. Eventually commerce is going to spill out into the community.” PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008.Canadian Tire for Wingham moves closer North Huron council deferred a decision on its comprehensive bylaw at Monday night’s meeting. A number of people were present at the planning advisory committee meeting held prior to the regular council meeting to learn more about the bylaw. County senior planner Sandra Weber gave a presentation explaining that the purpose is to consolidate the bylaws of the three wards. “The reason is for a North Huron zoning bylaw, not to take anything away.” A resident, who lives near the landfill site, said he felt that their rights were being violated as some of the things were “vague”. He mentioned a rebuilding clause that could conceivably limit people from rebuilding after a fire. “There are a lot of things not being brought forward.” He also said that there were trees missing from the maps. “That shouldn’t be.” Another resident wondered if this would affect the existing laws that govern the landfill. “Does this ease the regulations put in place in 2004. I’m worried that North Huron may be getting something that well populated areas are not.” Weber assured him that there were no changes. Clerk-administrator Kriss Snell added, “The zoning is exactly the same. If the dump were to expand the zoning would need to be expanded.” “It’s not the intention to zone anything new. We can check the old bylaw to make sure there haven’t been any changes made,” said Weber. Snell said they had tried to address issues that they found. “A property owner would have to approach us because we didn’t want to take away any rights they have gained.” He encouraged people to speak to him or to Weber if they had any concerns or issues that they felt the bylaw should address. 404 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 The CitizenEnjoy these and other books at: Preserve something great this summer A GUIDE TO CANNING, FREEZING, CURING & SMOKING MEAT, FISH & GAME Instructions and tips on how to do everything from curing and smoking meat to making sausage to making jerky. $22.95 A BUSY PERSON'S GUIDE TO PRESERVING FOOD Not just recipes but easy step-by-step instructions for freezing, drying and canning. 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