ELORA – Residents will soon have a new in-town option for their grocery shopping needs.
Centre Wellington council approved a proposed official plan amendment and zoning bylaw amendment at a council meeting Monday evening to facilitate a commercial development on 0.7 acres at 22 Park Road, which forms part of an overall redevelopment parcel including 94 Wellington Road 7 and a portion of 82 Wellington Road 7.
The amendment will allow for an unspecified "retail food store" behind the Gorge Country Kitchen.
A McDonald's at the front of the redevelopment site accessed from Wellington Road 7 has already been approved and is currently under construction.
Currently designated industrial, staff said these applications have been on hold pending resolution of OPA 119 and now that it is in force, staff believe the planning applications can be resolved and a decision can be made.
Staff also said it is a "suitable" location as the site is within a designated Urban Centre on an arterial road surrounded by similar highway commercial uses and the impact on employment land would be "negligible."
In response to concerns raised at a public meeting in June 2023, manager of planning services Mariana Iglesias said the County of Wellington has required some road improvements be made including a southbound left turn lane to improve the overall redevelopment of the land.
Iglesias also noted market competition is beyond the scope of what township staff consider for planning matters as they regulate land uses rather than businesses.
Staff doesn't recommend lifting a holding zone provision that remains on the rear portion of the property until conditions like a vegetation and management plan, noise study and site plan approvals are completed.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program
