Whitchurch-Stouffville
June 26, 2008 11:57 PM
Wal-Mart plaza plan ‘disastrous to downtown’
By: Alyshia Higgins
Although Stouffville may have issues filling downtown buildings with retailers, current business owners certainly didn’t have any problem voicing their opinions at a public meeting last week.
““We do have vacancies in the downtown, and we are having problems filling them,” said Eric Button, chairperson of the Business Improvement Area.
Brent Clarkson of MHBC Planning and Doug Annand of urbanMetrics made a presentation to council backing a proposed amendment to change the restrictions on the zoning by-law governing the Wal-Mart/Canadian Tire plaza being developed by Smart!Centres to allow for smaller stores.
The big box development is at Hwy. 48 and Hoover Park Drive.
Mr. Button said the proposed amendments to the zoning restrictions would have a “devastating effect” on downtown businesses.
Councillor Richard Bartley agreed.
“I think this is a disaster waiting to happen,” he said. “It would be a tragedy (to downtown businesses) to do this.”
Council originally passed the zoning restrictions for the 43-acre retail area in May 2005 allowing only stores above 5,005 square feet to be constructed, as well as prohibiting the construction of medical and dental clinics. Originally, the BIA was in support of the motion as it set a minimum size for stores in the plaza, which limited potential competition from smaller stores.
The proposed amendment calls for a removal of all previous restrictions including allowing stores of any size to be constructed.
Several other business owners attended the meeting and expressed their concerns as well, including Charlotte Cave, who runs Chic Thrills, Hubba Hubba and The Girls near Main and Church streets.
She said if the amendments were approved, “why wouldn’t (she) consider” moving her three businesses to the plaza as she says they have “the whole market covered”.
Following her comment, Councillor Clyde Smith questioned Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Annand about their statements regarding the plaza attracting 900-per-cent more traffic flow since its opening.
“I’m finding this is not making any sense,” he said. “If (more business and interest) is the case, why do you need to loosen the restrictions? If so many retailers are looking to come to Stouffville, why do we need to reduce the store size to smaller than 5,000 square feet?”
If Ms Cave would consider relocating if smaller stores were allowed, the move would further hurt the downtown core.
David Barthau, owner of Barthau Jewellers, didn’t support smaller stores being allowed in the plaza.
“I believe with the way the price of gas is going, it’ll keep people shopping locally, at least I hope they will,” he said.
Mr. Annanda referred to the 60,000-square-foot allotted section for the smaller stores as “only 12.5 per cent” of the total possible retail space available.
That did not sit well with Mr. Smith, who was visibly upset by the comment.
“You’re showing a total lack of respect for our downtown core,” he said. “You say it’s only 60,000 square feet? Our entire downtown core is 80,000 square feet. If we relax on our restrictions, you’ll suck the business from the downtown core.”
His response to Mr. Annand’s “modest change” garnered applause from the business owners sitting in the audience.
Mr. Clarkson said other Smart!Centres are developing at a faster rate as they have “little to no restrictions” and are able to construct stores of any size.
Mayor Wayne Emmerson expressed his concern.
“We (Whitchurch-Stouffville) haven’t got the population everyone thinks we have,” he said, adding he didn’t believe the town could sustain the downtown core and dozens of smaller stores in the Wal-Mart plaza.
“We’ve sunk a lot of taxpayers dollars into that downtown,” he said.
“I do think its an asset to have Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire and Rona, They’re essential to a community that has everything, but we also need a vibrant downtown.”
Councillor Phil Bannon assured business owners council was behind them.
“We want you to feel confident that your dollars are being invested wisely and that we fully support you.”
Mr. Emmerson suggested to the two men to do “more work” for the proposal and try to work with the BIA.
In the end, council voted to only accept the presentation and bring it back to council in August.