Warehouses and trucks? Not in our backyard, say Brampton residents

BRAMPTON, Ont. (July 6, 2000) — The Ontario Municipal Board struck down an application to build a $100-million warehouse and distribution centre in Brampton, Ont., because the frequency and image of trucking operations would not be in keeping with the historic nature of the neighborhood.

The application was filed by Metrus Central Properties Ltd., to build the facility to supply Wal-Mart stores in Ontario and Manitoba. The proposed 40-hectare site at Mississauga Road and Steeles Ave. would have included parking for 750 heavy trucks and trailers.

However, the site is within kilometres of the designated heritage villages of Churchville and Huttonville.

John Staines, who helped organize a campaign against the warehouse, said residents would “sooner attract the prestige-type industries rather than the low-end stuff like warehouses,” he told The Toronto Star, “which would have ruined the whole atmosphere of this area.”

Brampton, northwest of Toronto, has become a popular location for warehouse operations given its proximity to major highways and expanses of undeveloped land.