New cinema coming to Chatham?

By Aaron Hall – Daily Post Editor

Chatham-Kent Council is set to hear more details regarding a proposed multi-screen cinema and home improvement store for the north-side of Chatham.

A staff report by Director of Planning Services Ralph Pugliese indicates that Medd Developments, based out of Tecumseh, is looking at developing a vacant 8-hectare site on the west-wide of St. Clair Street, immediately south of the current commercial development.

Pugliese told Council at Monday’s (March 1) meeting that the full proposal is expected by April.

“We’ll have to look at land use and land needs,” Pugliese said. “We felt it was important to being it to your attention.”

Chatham Counc. Anne Gilbert entered a successful motion to have this issue be discussed further at next Monday’s, March 8, planning meeting.

“This is a complicated issue,” Gilbert said. “I think we need planning 101 at councillors… as this is as clear as mud.”

Pugliese said that the provincial policy statement for such development requires a comprehensive review.

Pugliese’s report states that the Planning Act requires all planning proposals to be consistent with the provincial policy statement.

The policy states: “… sufficient land shall be made available through intensification and redevelopment… to accommodate an appropriate range and mix of employment opportunities, housing and other land uses to meet projected needs for a time horizon of up to 20 years.”

The report indicates that the Medd proposal will add additional lands to the current Power Centre Commercial land supply (on St. Clair) and will require the expansion of the urban boundary.