Minor Brothers may expand to Thorold
The southwest corner of Cataract Road and Reg. Road 20 may soon be home to Minor Brothers Farm Supply Ltd., if zoning amendments and other considerations are approved by city officials.
Currently, the well-known agricultural-based business operates feed and farm supply stores in Fenwick, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Wainfleet, Stevensville, Dunnville and Waterford, Ontario, with its production facilities and head office located in Canborough.
The family-owned company hopes to expand by adding a new location on Reg. Road 20, where the business would be “similar to the other Minor Brothersstoresinthearea,”according to Margaret Walton, who presented the company’s proposed application at Thorold city council Tuesday, as a planning Agent of Planscape Inc.
A strip mall, building supply business, landscaping yard, indoor storage facility, active farm, and Service Ontario centre currently occupy the lands surrounding the proposed agribusiness.
Since these consist of a mix of commercial and agricultural uses, “It fits,” noted Walton.
In addition to erecting “a small retail cluster” on the one-hectare portion of the property currently zoned Highway Commercial/Industrial, Minor Bros. proposes to establish “a feed supply warehouse and miscellaneous retail outlet to serve the neighbouring farm community.”
“The front of the building will be attractively designed to be aesthetically pleasing,” Walton said.
Citing economic development as “an important consideration,” of the proposal, the planning justification report states that the store “will promote economic development by supporting agriculture and providing employment.”
Two pre-consultation meetings were held on March 15 and April 19 at Thorold city hall, attended by city and Niagara Region staff, as well as staff from Minor Brothers.
The city’s senior planning manager Eldon Darbyson said that while “We have received a number of comments” about the proposed business, none were opposed to the application. Initially, however, there was some concern expressed by John Ravenda, whose nearby businesses include SafeStor, Ravenda Homes and Hwy. 20 Self Storage.
After meeting with city staff and reviewing plans for the project, “I am all for the proposed development and encourage growth in the area,” Ravenda stated in correspondence to city staff dated July 7.
Darbyson said staff “will conduct an analysis, and will be looking at the impact and scale of the project,” adding that its scale is “very small” in nature.