Canada Site Fight: Municipal Board Hearings in Bobcaygeon

Wal-Mart OMB hearing underway [My Kawartha (Ont.)]

The future of the proposed Wal-Mart commercial development currently sits in the hands of the Ontario Municipal Board as proceedings began yesterday in Bobcaygeon.

A meeting room at the Bobcaygeon Service Centre has been tentatively booked for six weeks as those involved in the project’s progress deliberate.

However, a number of issues regarding the development have already been resolved, which could see the matter dealt with in a shorter time period.

Although the meetings are open to the public, comments and input will not be received.

Mason Homes is proposing to develop more than 13 hectares of land at the corner of Colborne Street and Highway 35 N. The developer hoped to construct a 28,300-square-metre retail centre at the site, anchored by a Home Depot and Wal-Mart and a number of specialty stores.

Plans for the project were filed in early 2005 and several studies have already been completed including market, traffic and urban design. The City received planning documents in 2006 and made amendments to the Official Plan.

Last spring, changes were made to the site plan in response to requests made by the Ministry of Transportation and further plan amendments were initiated by the City in August 2007.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Tuesday, May 06, 2008