HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times-Advocate, 2002-11-20, Page 1Wednesday, November 20, 2002 $1.00 (includes GST)Exeter, Ontario, Canada
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Fire
destroys
home
By Scott Nixon
TIMES-ADVOCATE STAFF
STEPHEN — A fire on the afternoon of Nov.
13 on Ausable Line completely destroyed a
family’s home.
South Huron fire chief John Morgan said
while people were home when the fire broke
out, no one was injured. Two family pets died
in the blaze.
Morgan said the cause of the fire to the home,
owned by Andy Steele on the Ausable Line
between Huron Street and Kirkton Road, was
unknown.
He said it looks as though the fire started
upstairs since flames were coming out of the
upstairs windows when firefighters arrived and
there were no flames downstairs.
Morgan estimated the value of the loss was
about $200,000. He said there was no insur-
Stephen Twp.and Exeter firefighters battle a fire on Ausable Line Nov.13.No one was injured in the blaze,
which completely destroyed the home.Two family pets were killed.(photos/Scott Nixon)
South Huron
council delays
Shoppers Drug
Mart decision
By Scott Nixon
TIMES-ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON — The future of traffic at the corner of
highways 4 and 83 is a major concern surrounding the
proposed new Shoppers Drug Mart at that corner.
South Huron council held a public meeting Monday on
the proposed new 17,000 sq. ft. Shoppers Drug Mart and
deferred a decision until the applicant, property owner
Pieter Westerhout and Shoppers Drug Mart, can meet
the many concerns expressed by councillors, the public
and Huron County’s planning department.
The new store would include space for a doctors’ office
and would also sell food. London consultant Jack Davis,
representing Westerhout and Shoppers Drug Mart, said
the proposal is a $3 million project which will double the
current 6,000 sq. ft. Shoppers’ employment to 30 and
increase tax revenues for the municipality.
Huron County planner Dwayne Evans, though, had
several concerns about the project and recommended
the application either be denied or deferred.
Some of Evans’ concerns included:
• that the land at the corner of highways 4 and 83,
which includes several lots, be put under one ownership.
In fact, while the lands are owned by two separate com-
panies, Westerhout owns both of them and will retain
ownership if the new building goes ahead.
• that the municipality and the county are satisfied with
where the proposed Shoppers’ entrance is. Evans said
the county will not allow Shoppers to go ahead with a
proposed entrance on Hwy. 83.
• that a draft agreement be developed to address
pedestrian and possible road widening issues.
Evans also cited Exeter’s official plan, which empha-
sizes the downtown core for commercial growth. Evans
said for Shoppers to be allowed out of the core, council
had to be satisfied there was no other suitable location in
the downtown core for it. His report stated taking a busi-
ness out of the core area to the north end of town weak-
ens the core area. Plus, the Shoppers Drug Mart does not
fit the characteristics of a typical highway/commercial
property.
Council agreed there was no such place downtown for
a newer, bigger Shoppers.
Davis said Shoppers Drug Mart started looking for a
new site in Exeter about a year ago. The company’s
requirements for new stores include:
• the location should be highly visible with easy access
for cars and pedestrians;
See SHOPPERS page 2
See FIRE page 2