Major commercial development proposal up for discussion at Monday’s city meeting

Proposal drawings show a Costco may be coming to the city’s east end. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell has details.

A significant commercial development proposal in Windsor’s east end will be discussed at Monday’s Development and Heritage Standing Committee meeting.

Rock Developments Inc. is seeking amendments to the city’s official plan and zoning bylaws for a commercial project on a vacant lot north of Tecumseh Road East and west of Catherine Street. The proposal includes retail space, a gas station, and restaurants.

Ward 7 councillor Angelo Marignani, who sits on the committee, believes the project is a positive step for the city.

“It’s an exciting proposal, an exciting project that is long been awaited for the City of Windsor,” said Marignani.

He noted that residents have expressed concerns about potential strain on existing infrastructure and emphasized the need for careful review.

“We need to ensure that the infrastructure around that development will not be burdened as a result of the development,” Marignani explained. “That includes our roads, our traffic, our sewers, and our stormwater management. So what we’re going to be looking at specifically is, that development and also maybe some modifications that can be made to ease that disturbance or that stress on our infrastructure.”

Marignani told CTV News the benefits of the project, include convenience for residents and additional tax revenue for the city.

“Nothing’s a done deal until it is a done deal. So at this point in time, we have to do our due diligence as a city to ensure that the infrastructure is up to par and help with that project and that development so that it does, improve that area of our city with more options for the residents as well as increase the tax base. I would hate to see this go to another municipality such as Tecumseh and receive that tax base.”

According to a city report, the proposal includes two commercial buildings and a gas bar, with a total floor space of 25,000 square meters and nearly 1,400 parking spaces. While the identity of the businesses has not been confirmed, conceptual drawings feature the colour “Costco Red.”

“Anyone living in the East End, that becomes the new sort of shopping area,” Marignani said. “You have Tecumseh Mall. You have Walmart, you have another big box store in there and you have everything you really need in that area. So any residents who are moving into that area, especially with the battery plant, the announcement of, the East Airport Industrial Park, the three new companies that are coming there and more to come down the road, that area is going to be a little hub for the City of Windsor, especially also with the East End terminal in transit.”

The development would have access points from Tecumseh Road East and Catherine Street, with plans for new roadway connections and potential future road extensions.

Located in Ward 8, the proposal will be reviewed at Monday’s meeting, which begins at 4:30 p.m.