Despite Seemingly Breaking OCP Re-Zoning For Canadian Tire Takes First Step
The proposed new Canadian Tire development on City-owned land presently leased to the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company ( 250 Thatcher Drive East) took another step forward with moves to re-zone the land but in doing so Council had to break at least the spirit of the Official Community Plan (OCP).
Presently the land is zoned as CS – Community Service/Institutional District and needs be re-zoned to C3 – Vehicle Oriented Commercial District in order to facilitate the Canadian Tire development.
Council recently approved the sale of 11.95 acres of City-owned land presently part of the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds for $3,172,725.
Although no concept drawings have been officially released specualtion is the big box development will house not only a new Canadian Tire store but also retail outlets for Mark’s Work Warehouse and Sportcheck. All three retailers presently have other Moose Jaw locations.
Under the terms of clause 27 (b) (i) of the Offer To Purchase agreement Canadian Tire must commence construction within two years of the infrastructure completion and complete all construction four years after that date. Canadian Tire has yet to announce any concrete date construction of the new retail development is to take place. The City of Moose Jaw must complete the infrastructure work by September 30, 2020 as part of the deal.
The OCP is a comprehensive document which lays out the priorities when it comes to development and growth within the city.
Photo of the land purchased by Canadian Tire - MJ Independent File Photo
According to the OCP the City strives and puts the emphasis on the Downtown when it comes to retail and business development. The measure is designed to help ensure Moose Jaw has a vibrant Downtown core. The OCP requires consideration of the Downtown in the review of all new commercial land use applications.
“5.2.3 The Downtown
a) The City supports and maintains the concept of promoting the Downtown as the primary business, office, retail, cultural and administrative centre of the City and the region. The long-term viability of retail and commercial activity in the Downtown will be a primary factor in the evaluation of major retail and commercial development proposals throughout the City.
b) In order to facilitate appropriate evaluation of retail and commercial development proposals, the City shall continue to monitor commercial land use in the Downtown and throughout the City.”
Despite seemingly going against the OCP the report to Council argued in favour of the re-zoning because of the difficulty of locating the Canadian Tire development in the Downtown core and the Canadian retail giant wants to locate at the Thatcher Drive location.
“The Official Community Plan requires consideration of the Downtown in the review of all new commercial land use applications. The type of commercial development proposed by the proponent is “big-box” retail, with several large-scale commercial units. This type of development is commonly located in vehicle-oriented commercial areas. While it is possible to accommodate large-scale commercial units in Downtown areas (ie. Multilevel department stores), it is unlikely that Moose Jaw’s Downtown would have adequate space available for a development of this size. The proponent has requested to locate in an existing vehicle-oriented commercial area alongside other retail shopping centre development,” the report stated. (Note - bold and italic added for emphasis.)
Director of planning Michelle Sanson told Council part of the agreement with Canadian Tire was to first subdivide the 11.95 acre parcel and then re-zone it as C3 Vehicle Oriented Commercial District.
Under questioning from Councillor Heather Eby about the advertising and bylaw preparation and which comes first Sanson said the advertising would come first.
The advertising of certain City inititiatives has drawn fire recently as the City may have inadverdantly broken the rules when it comes to publicly advertising zoning and other changes by not publishing the required notices in the local newspaper as required by provincial statute and civic bylaw. The local newspaper of record is The Moose Jaw Express.
Sanson also said if there were objections from the community regarding the subdivision and re-zoning then a public hearing would be required on the matter.
Canadian Tire’s Proposed Deveopment Will Go In Section E - source City of Moose Jaw
If the Canadian Tire deal does not proceed Sanson told Council the land will not revert to its original CS – Community Service/Institutional District zoning but remain zoned as C3 – Vehicle Oriented Commercial District and the property would remain up for sale.