Another development planned

By DENIS LANGLOIS
Sun Times staff

The landscape of Owen Sound’s main eastern gateway could dramatically change within the next few years.
Local businessman Peter Van Dolder is the latest developer to submit plans to city hall to create a large-scale commercial development near Owen Sound’s eastern boundary.
Two other companies are also securing approvals for multi-store shopping complexes east of The Home Depot on 16th St. E.
“My vision is to create a business park for small businesses on the east side of Owen Sound,” Van Dolder said Tuesday in an interview.
On behalf of his company Andpet Realty Ltd., Van Dolder has applied for draft plan of subdivision approval to permit a 15-lot industrial subdivision on 14.88 hectares of land that includes the Van Dolder’s Home Team Custom Exteriors store.
Parcels of land, measuring .6 to 1.2 hectares apiece, will be subdivided to create the business park, Van Dolder said, and individual sewer and water connections will be put in place. He said he plans to sell the new lots to companies interested in building a store.

The land proposed for the business park is designated as industrial in Owen Sound’s official plan, but is classified as manufacturing in the city’s zoning bylaw.
A public meeting on the subdivision application is scheduled for April 12 at 7 p.m. in the city hall council chambers.
The Van Dolder’s Home Team store was built in 2008. As part of the project, Andpet Realty partnered with Owen Sound to push city water and sewer service to the property from Transcontinental RBW Graphics.
Van Dolder, whose company also plans to create a 60-lot residential subdivision behind the East Court Plaza on 16th St. E., said most businesses prefer to build on serviced lots. He said he already has “some interest” in the proposed business park, which would be built on the most eastern site on Highway 26 that is within Owen Sound’s city limits.
Van Dolder said the development has been “a couple of years in the making” and he would like to see construction begin this year or next.
Also along Owen Sound’s east-side commercial strip, Sydenham Holdings Inc. has submitted draft plans to construct a shopping complex next to Home Depot on 16th St. E., which is west of the Van Dolder’s Home Team property. City council has approved a zoning change to permit a shopping plaza and five standalone stores on the property.
Across the street, Villarboit Development Corp. has announced plans to build a shopping complex at the former Louis’ Steakhouse property, to include a Lowe’s hardware store, Value Village and Michael’s Arts&Crafts.
City/county Coun. Arlene Wright said the trio of proposed developments is good news for Owen Sound, which is struggling with out-of-whack property tax ratios for the commercial and industrial sectors and a slow-to-grow population.
“We have to increase our tax revenue,” she said. “We cannot just keep raising taxes on the residential class.”
Wright said she hopes developers will “take advantage” of reduced development fees, which were approved by city council earlier this month. The fees for commercial developments has dropped from $1.97 per square foot to $1.85 per square foot.