Within days of the announcement that a Walmart was coming to the north end of town, the chairman of the Fergus BIA sent a letter to Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj stating the group is unhappy about the plan.
But some members of the BIA, including its chairman, had changed their minds a few days later.
A letter from Jackie Fraser dated Feb. 8 stated, “Regardless of the current zoning on the proposed site, it is our position that our township is not under serviced from a retail perspective as stated by the developer – and, in fact, this development will have a significant negative impact on our downtown core.”
Fraser said the idea that such a development will keep retail dollars in town is “simply wrong. Many existing retailers find that the current business environment is the most difficult in over 18 years.”
But with more time to consider her position, Fraser said in an interview a few days later she is willing to take a wait-and-see attitude, along with trying to work with the retail giant (see her letter to the editor on page 9 this week).
Fraser said Orangeville and Elmira managed to work with Walmarts in their area, and with Smart Centres, which owns the land for the store.
She said in talks with people from other communities she learned merchants can discuss issues with the company.
“We provide a unique shopping experience,” Fraser said. “It’s different from Walmart. Let’s step back and see if we can turn it into a positive.”
She added she has learned that since the zoning is already in place, “There’s no point in stressing out about something we can’t change.”
Fraser did acknowledge that in Orangeville and Elmira, zoning was not in place, so, “We don’t have that leverage here.”
But, Fraser did acknowledge the new store will have an impact on Fergus and Elora retailers. She said her group is planning a meeting for mid March to discuss a number of issues, and Walmart will be discussed. She added everyone will be welcome to attend that meeting.
Ross-Zuj said in an interview on Monday there has been no formal meeting with the BIA yet, but she is planning to attend a general meeting called for next month.
She said there was some early complaints about the sudden announcement, but when she explained “It wasn’t this council, or myself, responsible for the zoning.” Most of the complaints were muted.
She added that a grocery store in the north end of Fergus would be a good thing for residents living there, and she has ideas for making this latest development part of the plan for a walkable community.
That began with the social housing apartments by the county and its plan for a wetland park.
“I see the north becoming more of a planned development than the south,” she said of Fergus. “It’s a different approach to planning.”
Ross-Zuj said that included her telling Smart Centres, the owner of the Walmart property, that in the site plan, landscaping will be very important, and she hopes that trails will be incorporated in the design so people can walk and bicycle to the store for grocery shopping.
She said such pathways will mean people do not have to drive their car to go shopping.
As for downtown merchants, Ross-Zuj said, “We’ve got quality shops in our downtown core” and those are unlikely to be competing with Walmart.
She added council will have to protect residents in the area by taking a close look at lighting and other issues stemming from the retail centre.
Economic Development Manager Dave Rushton said people need to understand that Smart Centres and Walmart are two separate companies and that Smart Centres owns the land. The proposal surprised many because the company did not have to negotiate zoning.
He said the development was laid out years ago, and Walmart and smaller retail outlets will be located on eight acres. They are applying for a 95,000 square foot structure and the property is zoned for 125,000 square feet.
The site is on the west side of St. David Street North, between Parkside Drive and Woodhill Drive, and is opposite the new St. Joseph Catholic Church currently under construction.
“It was pre-ordained 20 years ago that kind of development would be on that site,” Rushton said.
As for the attitude towards such a large enterprise, Rushton agreed it is “mixed,” but acknowledged Walmart “already has a strong customer base in the community. People who are already going to those stores [in other centres] will be happy to shop in town.”
As for how the store will change shopping in the community, Rushton suggested it might convince people to stay in town for all their shopping needs. In other, more rural areas, towns that had a Walmart became regional shopping centres.
He said if someone visits Walmart and can’t find what they want, they might visit another store. Currently, those shoppers are already out of town, and would check others stores in that community.
Rushton said feelings in Elora are also mixed, and he admitted that some people simply do not like the company. But, he said, “People who come [to Elora] for boutique shopping are not shopping at Walmart.”
He concluded, “It’s going to be interesting. It’s a huge addition to the retail square footage … about 90,000 square feet, plus another 15,000 square foot for smaller retail outlets.”
He said turning of Fergus into a marketing centre, “That will be good for us.”
