Fence dividing two Bolton plazas comes down

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

For more than a decade, a fence in Bolton has stood between two plazas, blocking access to either side and limiting exposure to stores.

Now, after ten years, portions of the fence have come down.

The issue began in 2015, when the fence first went up between the two plazas located at 301 Queen Street S and 15 Allen Dr in Bolton.

After years of inspections and resident and business owner complaints, the Town of Caledon has found a way to bring a partial piece of the fence down.

Councillor Tony Rosa says he has been working on this file for the pasts seven years, and it has remained one of his top priorities.

Rosa explains that when he brought the issue to CAO Nathan Hyde and his team, they reviewed the file and found “the fence was not on the site plan.”

“Therefore, an order was issued to remove the fence,” says Rosa. “A fresh set of eyes was needed.”

Rosa says that when there is a will, there is a way.

“We never stopped advocating for this. Finally, a win for my community,” he says. “For my community it's about beautification, it's about ensuring businesses can be successful, and making the area accessible. The fence never put the people first!”

Councillor Mario Russo says that it has been years in the making in one way, and came very suddenly in another. 

He explains that both Mayor Annette Groves and Councillor Rosa pushed the matter last term of Council, and that Councillor Cosimo Napoli and he came on board at the beginning of this term to push for it as well, but it was the site visit by Hyde and Rosa that reignited the conversation.

Senior municipal staff, both in the Planning department and Legal reviewed the original site plan obligations and determined the fence did not comply with the original requirements, and thus issued an order to remove the fencing, explains Russo.

Russo noted that they are currently still in discussion with the plaza owners of both 301 Queen St. S. and 15 Allan Dr. 

“What makes this process challenging is that for the most part, this matter is a civil matter, between two abutting property owners,” says Russo.

He shares that they are currently trying to “resolve some old outstanding issues with fresh eyes and with both open dialogue and with open minds,” adding that he feels their unwavering tenacity to try and get the fence removed and find a solution has “paid dividends” and led to the fence coming down.

“I'm very happy that the owners of 301 Queen St. S. showed extreme good will by removing three quarters of the fencing,” says Russo.

“We still have conversations pending and I am very optimistic we can resolve all matters, but it's a big win for the community and business owners that the portion of fence that was the primary concern has been removed,” he says.

Russo says that the fence limited interaction between plazas and, in his opinion, was also a safety hazard.

“I feel that the fence was indirectly responsible for many businesses having to close down over the years and many barely hanging on,” he adds.

Baskar Kandi, owner of Mytech Electronics, located in the plaza directly across from where the portion of the fence once stood, has owned the store since 2015 and remembers when the fence first went up.

He shares it hurt his business “big time,” both by blocking him in and limiting his parking options, causing customers to have to park at the front of the plaza and walk down.

This, he noted, was impossible for both seniors and persons with a disability.

Within six months, Kandi lost employees and said that the fence “hurt everyone.”

He shares that over the years, he's seen over four businesses close down.

Kandi says he'll have to wait and see what changes occur.

Randy Lynch works in the adjacent plaza at Music 21, and shares he “almost crashed his car,” coming in to work at the plaza that day in response to not seeing the fence.

He shares that the fence has been hard for many of the businesses he knows.

“It really boxed them in over there. They can't advertise over on Allen Drive, and you can't see their signs from [Highway] 50, and you can't get to them from this side. I think it's been a really bad situation for them,” says Lynch.

Councillor Cosimo Napoli shared that the fence had been a long-standing concern for both residents and businesses.

“It created unnecessary barriers and frustrations in the community. Removing it not only resolves those practical issues but also symbolizes progress and responsiveness from the Town. It demonstrates that we are listening to our community and are willing to take action when something impacts the quality of life and local economy,” he says.

Napoli notes that this represents the kind of outcome that's possible when listening to residents, working together, and staying focused on the community's best interests. 

“This issue affected many residents and business owners for quite some time, so seeing it resolved is incredibly meaningful. It sends a strong message that when we collaborate and stay committed, we can make positive changes that improve everyday life in Caledon,” he says.

Even with a quarter of the fence still standing and conversations yet to be had, business owners and residents are happy to pass back and forth between the two plazas once again.