Rezoning approved for Wal-Mart expansion
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

A rezoning application to expand the Wal-Mart department store in Bolton by 50,000 square feet was approved by Caledon council recently.

First Bolton Developments Ltd. applied for the zoning bylaw amendment for the lands located at

the northeast corner of Regional Road 50 and McEwan Drive East. The site is currently occupied by Wal-Mart and many other commercial buildings. The Loblaws food store proposed for the north half of the property has its site plan amendment currently under review.

The applicant has agreed to contribute $90,000 for the completion of the McEwan Drive East extension to Commercial Road. Craig Campbell, director of public works and engineering, told council the extension could be constructed by this fall.

Councillor Annette Groves wanted to know if there will be enough parking to accommodate the expansion.

Planning director Mary Hall replied the parking currently there is sufficient.

Mayor Marolyn Morrison expressed concern over the expansion.

"I have a problem with what this will do to our smaller merchants in Bolton," she said.

Hall replied it was the Ontario Municipal Board in 2003 that gave the applicant the extra 50,000 square feet through the approval of an official plan amendment.

A site plan amendment to allow the building expansion

will be required. The site plan must comply with with all the provisions of the zoning bylaw.

Town planners concluded the rezoning application conformed to the Caledon Official Plan and they recommended its approval.