Zoning approved for dollar store in Northgate Plaza

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A zone change was approved by Tillsonburg council to allow a dollar store to locate in the Northgate Plaza on Broadway.

Tillsonburg council dealt with an application from Kermar Holdings Inc. to allow a dollar store in the plaza at the July 12 meeting. Dollarama plans to locate a 9,300-square-foot store there.

The application was for a zone change to modify the provisions of the Special Service Commercial Zone on the property to allow a dollar store. The council resolution also included informing county staff that Tillsonburg council supported an application for an official plan amendment to allow a dollar store as an additional permitted use in the service commercial zoning.

Speaking to the application, planner Mark Davidson said he concluded that the application would be beneficial to the community with little risk to downtown.

Robert Koppert, representing the developer, said the planning process has taken a long time, and he noted contradictions in the zoning bylaws of the town and county. He said a pet food store, grocery store, and drug store are all permitted uses, but a dollar store isn’t.

“I just want to encourage the levels of government to correct this patchwork of zoning,” he said.

Besides the money spent on the planning process, he said the developer has lost $140,000 in potential rent over the last several months. In the meantime, across the street, a dollar store is an allowed use.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy questioned why a dollar store would be allowed on a property that is only 100 feet away.

Davidson said the same process was followed for the Sobey’s Plaza several years ago.

“The process is consistent from a planning perspective,” he said.

Gilvesy requested a more detailed explanation of what is permitted under the zoning regulations.

Davidson explained that the downtown is a central commercial area, and any retail outside of that area would be service commercial.

“It’s set up to protect the downtown area and to ensure the majority of commercial uses are in the downtown,” he said, adding the downtown is doing well at present.

Coun. Bob Parsons noted that the approved application will be sent to the county, and it does take time.

Development Commissioner Cephas Panschow said with limited commercial land and the town growing, adjustments to the policies may be necessary.

Gilvesy concluded by telling Koppert the plaza has been great for the community.

“It was a much-needed addition to the town,” she said.