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Wal-Mart public hearing set

Those who have strong feelings about Wal-Mart locating in Squamish will want to mark Tuesday, Sept. 14 on the calendar. At 7 p.m.

Those who have strong feelings about Wal-Mart locating in Squamish will want to mark Tuesday, Sept. 14 on the calendar.

At 7 p.m. that night Squamish council is holding a public hearing on a zoning bylaw amendment that will clear the way for Wal-Mart to purchase 3.04 hectares (7.5 acres) of land along Hwy. 99 in the Squamish Business Park if council supports the bylaw amendment.

Council dealt with first and second reading of the zoning bylaw amendment on Monday (July 19). There was no discussion on the issue and the vote in favour of the first two readings was unanimous.

A large crowd is expected to turn out for the public hearing so the meeting will be held at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre.

The amendment will make a text change to the specialized highway commercial zone that will apply only to the property Wal-Mart wants to buy. The text change will prevent Wal-Mart from selling poultry, fresh meat, fish and produce. A second change will restrict the mega-retailer to dedicating a maximum of 596 square metres (6410 square feet) of floor space to the sale of permitted perishable food items and a further 106 square metres (1135 square feet) for the sale of confections.

District of Squamish planning and development manager Cameron Chalmers told council that the amendments are being put in place to prevent the outlet from becoming a full service grocery store.

According to Chalmers, the limitations are being put in place to restrict direct competition with existing grocery stores and downtown Squamish retailers.

If in the future Wal-Mart wants to increase the floor space dedicated to food items, the outlet will have to go through the zoning bylaw amendment procedure again.

"Any future expansion of gross floor area for food sales, or any changes to the regulations outlined in the attached bylaw will require additional zoning text amendments by the applicant," Chalmers wrote. "This would require the standard rezoning procedure including public consultation and council approval."

First-Professional Management (West) Inc. is making the zoning bylaw amendment application on behalf of Wal-Mart and the consulting firm hosted an information open house on June 16. About 60 residents attended the presentation that was made at the information open house.

During the presentation a debate developed between elderly residents who want the store and young outdoor enthusiasts who believe the world's largest retail chain doesn't fit the town's future vision.

Twenty-three people filled out and handed in comment sheets that were distributed at the information meeting. Twelve people indicated they support Wal-Mart, seven indicated they oppose the store and four did not indicate their stance.

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