Canadian Tire meeting will run under the Planning Act

March 20, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
The Town is still planning to hold another public meeting regarding the proposed Canadian Tire development in Bolton’s industrial area.
But it’s going to be a formal public information meeting, in accordance with the Planning Act, and it’s going to be held in Caledon East, likely at the Caledon Community Complex.
Councillors Rob Mezzapelli and Patti Foley made an attempt Tuesday to get the planned meeting held in Bolton, and to have it conducted “without the formality of the Planning Act.”
However, the parameters of the planned meeting were set by council resolution in December, and the two Bolton representatives on council needed two-thirds majority to reopen the question. They were the only two voting in favour.
No date for the meeting has been set yet. Mayor Marolyn Morrison said the community was promised a meeting once the reports from all the consultants dealing with the matter are in. She said she was hoping the session could take place late in April, but added late May is likely more realistic.
Canadian Tire is interested in placing a large distribution centre and office facility on about 180 acres at the northwest corner of Coleraine Drive and Healey Road in Bolton.
The preamble of Mezzapelli’s main motion, which neve made it to the floor for discussion, noted the importance of letting the public know the full implications of the proposed development. It also acknowledged this is an issue that’s of interest to the whole town, but of greater concern to those living and working in Bolton.
The motion also called for the meeting to be “conducted with procedural rules in place to maximize the effectiveness of the meeting and the public’s ability to participate in it.”
Those words caught the eye of Bolton resident Joe Grogan, who has been active among the opponents of the proposal.
In a letter emailed to the Town (which was received without comment by council), Grogan stated that for such an important issue, “the majority of the meeting’s time should be provided on the formal agenda for public input.”
“I do not believe the residents of Bolton need a sales presentation by Canadian Tire on the merits of its proposal,” Grogan added. “Rather residents want the answers to the questions posed earlier.”
Bolton resident Terry Groves, who has also actively opposed the proposal, appeared before Caledon council last month, requesting a Bolton location.
Groves argued the Community Complex is awkward for Bolton residents to get to. “It’s predominantly a Bolton issue,” he stated, adding the Caledon East site isn’t appropriate.
“What I’m asking is a very reasonable request,” he said.
Although his efforts failed, Mezzapelli said he would his best to make the meeting as fruitful as possible.
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