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WIIITY FRE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1991, PAGE 5 Conventioncentre, proposai taken ut fpannig imbo E. Bqy Mie *oaluI -A iajor convention centre pro- ,posed for northý Whitby bas been tâken out of Uplanning limîbo." - Towin councýil's planning and deveiopmient Co nmmittee v*oted latwekto begin processing an application for a $10 million céritre.;Planned for the'northeast crnèr, of Taunton Rd., and Hwy -'The committeess. action reversesé a February '1990 deci- sntg, Postpone cQnisidera tion of teproposai, until,tlte, Tow's, officiai plan review'Ji conpletéd. An olverbul of Whitb's. offi- ciai ýplan (a -document Wbich ,,sti- pllates iand use poUicies in a nic Mipality ) began early, .last yar. ,Te process is . expected to take another year. DePveloper Michael Volpe and layer David Sim* a ared before the commiittee to as tat a. decision 'on 'the centre not be deàlayed mucb further. . * 'Sims reminded the committee that the development was ori- g$nallyproposed in July 1989 and then deferre;d seven months - He said Volpe n iay not be able tô afford the project if it is deiayed too much longer. «Its timely that it be lifted fr.om the table and that it pro- ceed as expeditiously as pos- but wit fortheofflciàl 'ilanf and, then waitfôoýr servicing it ll:be delayed too long,» hie added. (The. 15.5 acre site is now zoned agriculturai.. Water and sewer ser.ices..woul4d hve. te be bi lae?èforethe building côm d' Councilior -Ross -Batten, coin- mittee chairman, told Sims Bthat council bad no choice but te do What it did. «We were caughtý up in'the officiai. plan process, we wanted *te make sure it fit in Iwith what we wanted in that area,» said Batten. That question bas now been answered, Batten said. , The (officiai Plan) consultant is s8in it cou Id fit in te what we want; teacmlih»said Batten. 1Councilior Lynda, Buffett then nxoved *that Voipe's application be brought forward at t he «ear- liest convenience. _1 think it's something we e as fitting there, I want to see it corne forward,» said Buffett.. .However, planning director Bob Short cautioned against such a move. Short argued that from -a plan- ning persjective teproposai shOUId wait unti the review is completed. Batten said he appreciatedi Short's concerns, but as a comn- znittee we prefer te see it deait with now.» In a subsequent interview, Batten explained the rationale' for rejecting Short's recommen- dation., 'Mhe developer originally wan- ýted it in. Oshawa. We went. after the ,faciity because we feit it was a goo0d project and a good loca- tion for it,» said Batten. "Then we got inte, the officiai plan review, we thought it was in Our and bis bést interests te put it in the officiai plan review. "We wanted th', make sure it woiftinto theoverali plân.", Now that the planning consul- tant bas indicated tbat it does, it was no longer necessary te put the proposai on hoid,' Batten sad. Batten, said Short, and' the planning department had no alternative but to recommend against lifting the application fromn the table. "I understand their logic, it bas te be a political move.. «Fromi a planning perspective, if they were te recommend it corne off the table, there could be problems." Batten said a staff recomnien- dation would set a precedent, wbich might prom pt other deve- lopers te seek similar treatment. It bas te be a political deci- sion. We went after it and we don't want te douhiecross; him,» said Batten. Batten said the application will iikeiy corne back te commit- tee in June. 1A public meeting wili be heid and the application theni circula- ted for commente from various government and publicefigencies. The first phase of the 100,000- sq.-ft. centre will feature a 1,200- seat banquet and wedding bail, a 300-seat hall, a 150-seat bhail, smaller rooms and a 200-seat restaurant." The main hall could handie up to 2,000 people for conventions. There wili be parking for 1,000 vebicles. The centre would empioy 80-90 fuli-time -staff and another 120 part-time workers. More Big Top Savings: The Carpet Extravaganza For three days o nly. more than 700 carpets will appear at -savlngs* of 40%1 Dîscover thîs connoisseurs collection ýof magnificent wool and sîlk'Oriental rugs, kelîms and dhurries. And our designers are here to help wîth colour schemes as you choose you own unique floor art. But hurry, hurry hurry. The show is'qver Saturday, and the s.avîngs vanîsh. Thrday, Friday, Saturday gay 16,7,1 Our Incredible furniture savlngs of up to 70% < continue throughout the week. 4 IVU~AU P& <FiNtýE FURNITURE SINCE 1929