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Zoning Change Headache

Friday, 16 October 2015 at 14:07

A popular farmers market in Woodstock has asked City Council for a change in Zoning.

WOODSTOCK - A hot topic at City Council last night had to due with a zoning change.  

Changing the zone of a farmers market in the Home Hardware parking lot on Dundas St. in Woodstock attracted the attention of a competing business owner to express his displeasure.  Owner and Operator of Foodland Woodstock, Chris Chapman, does not want to see the application be given the green light as it would allow the market sell a wider range of products.  "We got to work to maintain a level playing field in the community, and when a business was given a business licence 10 years ago to operate a farmers market and since then has expanded, I just had to flag it.  Is it fair that someone can come in like this in the peak months with low overhead?"  

The market is seeking to become a Special Transitional Industrial Zone and Chapman may not have been pleased to hear the zone change application had been filed, but is ready for the competition.  "Any sort of competition could potentially draw business away from my business, and I recognize that, and accept it.  Competition is good, it is part of our country, it is a terrific thing.  I just want to make sure the competition is all on a fair and level playing field."  

Chapman presented the issue he has with the change in zones with council last night.  "When a farmers market is now a meat market or a bakery market that was not what was agreed to over 10 years ago.  It is a competitor, that's great, but I just had to flag the concerns that I had, and the interest in my business, my staff, and my customers." Council will tackle the issue once a response is heard from the Downtown Woodstock BIA, as it was felt appropriate they also had a say in the matter.

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