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With roughly 200 in attendance, council heard information and concerns regarding an application to change a piece of property located along Weber Street from industrial to commerâ€" cial zoning. to allow for the relocation of the Zchrs store at Conestoga Mall. City planner JTanine Oost erveld said the proposed development. which would be owned by Loblaws. is to That‘s why her role as honourary spokesperson for the annual Tree of Angels holiday toy drive for needy children has taken on new meaning. That‘s what Major Don Oakley of the Salvation Army hopes the drive. which kicks off this Friday at noon at Conestoga Mall, will accomplish again this vear. But after her son, Jesse, was born, Hill found out how much of an impact a brightly wrapped gift can have on a little one. "Now, being a parent, the thought of not being able to see that look on his face would be awful," she said. "It‘s fantastic that we‘re able to help many of those kids have a good Christâ€" mas." she said. year. someone else, but that‘s _ Last year, KOOLâ€"FM‘s Angie Hill enjoyed introducing her then oneâ€"yearâ€"old son, Jesse, to the Tree of Ange!s holiday toy drive. "Each year 1 marvel at _ about as much as he underâ€" This Friday, Jesse, now two, with help from his mom, will place a toy under the tree to kick off the annual campaign. The the folk who come along to _ stands. campaign is sponsored by the Waterloo Chronicle, 105.3 KOOLâ€"FM, Oldies 1090, the City of Waterloo, Conestoga Mail and help us." he said. "At two, he thinks everyâ€" _ the Salvation Army. doeprinnsconers "The support has been _ thing is his." ; Plans in the works to move Conestoga Mail‘s Zehrs store ntil two years ago. l l Angie Hill could only imagine the joy that lights up a child‘s face Christmas morning. 533 Kin VOLvo for hife LOOKING FOR A NEW VOLVO? By Arorea Baiuey Chronicle Staff By Trm MurpHy For The Chronicle yÂ¥ate Bâ€"K VOLVO 885â€"5091 "He‘s coming to the opening," she said of her twoâ€"yearâ€"old son, Jesse. "He knows he‘s giving a gift to someone else, but that‘s about as much as he underâ€" stands. be more than 172,600 square feet, and include a grocery store. and possibly a bank. dry cleaner, a women‘s health club and other businesses. Oakley also encouraged people to donate their toys early to ensure the children get their requested gifts. "The sooner the better," he said. Hill said she‘s looking forward to bringing her favourite little elf to Friday‘s festivities. "The vendor name that it goes under hasn‘t been determined yet, but it will be a Loblaws‘ store," she said. The property. which is currently vacant. lies between Weber and King Streets. next to Conestoga College‘s Waterloo campus. Loblaws is proposing the 12.1â€"acre _ supermarket development be focated on the north end of the properâ€" ty. with almost 700 parking spaces nccupying the sauth end While the campaign usuâ€" ally sees a lot of toys for small children donated, Oakley asked shoppers to remember older children too. He suggested gift cerâ€" tificates as an option. "They‘re very practical and the kids can get some thing they like," he said. overwhleming." Oakley said. thanks to the community, more than 5,000 _ needy children throughout â€" Kitchenerâ€" Waterloo had gifts to open last Chrisimas. He expects the number of those in need to stay consistent this vear. The developers. Zelinka Priamo Ltd., are requesting the city reduce the required The proposal to the city also involves a seasonal sales area at the lower end of the parking lot, installing a traffic light at Milford Avenue and Weber Street, and King Street access at Blue Springs Drive. building setback of 10 metres from the property line to three metres. Oosterveld said city staff will be studying the report in the upcoming months to look at the commercial impact on other businesses in Waterloo, the need for new stores, the suitability of the land chosen by Loblaws, and the suitability of rezonâ€" ing the industrial property, which is in limited supply. There was also concern by council that rezoning the land along Weber Street could cause a precedent in Extensive traffic studies will also occur in the area, looking at the issues of increased traffic, new stopâ€" lights and the widening of Weber Street. Coun. Gary Kieswetter asked staff to determine who would pay for redevelâ€" opment of the intersections future rezoning requests. Utilities and water servic ing, as well as soil contami nation, will also be consid ered. "The site has been identiâ€" fied as a contaminated site on the region‘s list," Oosterâ€" veld said. although staff has no further details. "At this point, there are a lot of issues that have to be hashed through," she said. She said the â€" could take abou months to complete. the studies about two Priamo said the developâ€" ers chose the location withâ€" in Waterloo rather outside the city to work with the city‘s plan to prevent urban sprawl. "The normal course of action is to go to the edge of the city where you have green fields and large tracts of land." he said. "In workâ€" in the area, and inquired about the safety of drivers approaching the new driveâ€" ways. Greg Priamo, of Zelinkaâ€" Priamo Ltd., said the new store would act as a replaceâ€" ment for the Zehrs location at Conestoga Mall if allowed to go ahead. He said the new store would take on many of the characteristics of Zehrs, and the old store would be closed. 9 Claremont Ave., Kitchener (519) 578â€"5 330 ext. 3 Store Howr s Monday to Satin day 9 00am to § 00Opm HINTERIORS â€"â€" S Fi‘DFO & SHOPPE â€" â€" "This is l‘I'("arIy the closest vacant land with retail merit to the mall," he said. ing with city staff and regional staff, it became clear the preference would be for Zehrs to keep their product in the city." _ Priamo said one of the important factors to note is the proximity to Conestoga He said Loblaws feels the location not only addresses the issue of smart growth and developing within the city, but it also helps keep customers close to reduce travel times and provide a good retail opportunity. Priamo said he thinks the new supermarket would be able to integrate itself into the area with limited impact Continued on page 11