Local business owner Kim Metke’s appeal of town council’s decision to re-zone property at 1250 King’s Highway—the likely future site of a Wal-Mart—was dismissed last Thursday morning by the Ontario Municipal Board.
And now Metke, owner of Pharmasave and Clinic Pharmasave here, is hoping the situation will turn out the best it can.
“In many ways, I am glad it’s over,” Metke mused as he spoke about his brief battle with an “800-pound gorilla” that turned out to be Wal-Mart Canada Ltd.
“But despite losing my appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, I believe we did accomplish a lot, not only here in Fort Frances but also across the Rainy River District, particularly in Emo,” he remarked.
“One of my primary goals was to raise awareness of area businesses that Wal-Mart is not good news to them. Study after study has shown that downtowns are devastated by ‘big box’ stores that are allowed to set up on the perimeters of small towns.
“Being able to bring this and many other messages to the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and the BIA while the OMB appeal was being scheduled was time well spent,” Metke added.
Metke said he was able to deliver a similar message to Emo council. Citing research studies in Iowa that have shown just how much impact a Wal-Mart store in a nearby town can have, he warned that small towns (like Emo) lose up to 47 percent of their retail trade after 10 years of a Wal-Mart in nearby towns.
“Locally, I was very pleased by the reactions of Pharmasave customers. We definitely received a lot more positive comments and indications of support,” Metke remarked.
“A few people thought I should not have appealed the re-zoning bylaw, but I think they were not considering my democratic rights and obligations. When challenged, we always responded with factual information, not just opinions, which seemed to satisfy objectors about our reasons.”
Metke noted he received encouragement from area businesses, but some talked about the “Wal-Mart fear factor” as their reason for not publicly opposing the re-zoning.
“I can fully understand the pressure they were feeling. They understood the risk I was taking going to the OMB,” Metke said. “When we learned officially on April 16 that the re-zoning was being done for Wal-Mart, our suspicions about the identity of the gorilla were finally confirmed.”
He also said the “How to do business in a Mal-Wart environment” seminar held here April 15 was a “first step,” and applauded all those who attended it.
As first reported in last Thursday’s Daily Bulletin, the telephone hearing between the OMB, the Town of Fort Frances, Wal-Mart’s lawyers, and Bud Edwards, acting on behalf of Metke, who had filed the appeal in January, lasted just over an hour.
The OMB chairwoman gave her reason for judgment immediately.
“She ruled that the motion to dismiss my appeal be immediately granted. She also complimented the town’s administration for the completeness of their submissions and the clear, concise nature of our official plan,” Metke noted.
He added the next step is for the town to look at the site development plan, which municipal planner Faye Flatt currently is readying for council. This likely will come before council for approval this month.
“I hope that critical issues, such as my traffic and pedestrian safety concerns on King’s Highway, as well as the substantially increased use of Second Street East by cross-town traffic, will be effectively looked after,” remarked Metke.
“I sincerely hope that council ensures that Wal-Mart pay for any costs associated with the development, such as turning lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, sidewalks, and traffic lights, to name a few of the infrastructure issues.
“Certainly a company the size of Wal-Mart should not receive any money from taxpayers to open the store,” he argued.
“Fortunately, the Town of Fort Frances Official Plan contains the following provision: ‘The town will consider incentives to encourage the continued viability of the downtown business area.’
“Now that the re-zoning bylaw enabling Wal-Mart to start construction has been enacted, I hope that council does not neglect its commitment to the downtown core,” Metke stressed.
Flatt said Wal-Mart has now filed building plans with the town for a 130,000 sq. ft. store at the King’s Highway site, and that a site plan currently is being worked on.
A site plan must prove to council that the business built there must be focused on serving the needs of tourists and local residents, have sufficient parking for large vehicles (such as RVs), be attractive as part of the “gateway” at the west end of town, and pass any water quality, drainage, and erosion assessments.
If council gives it the nod, the company will begin construction shortly afterwards.
Council originally approved the re-zoning of the King’s Highway property on Dec. 9.
Fort Frances Times
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