Fall River Sobeys to be expanded

The proposed expansion of the Sobeys store in Fall River is a good example of how a corporate entity can work with the public to get positive results, says the area councillor.

"This was a collaboration between a community and a large business, I don't know how often that happens, but I'm really pleased at how it's gone," said Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank Coun. Barry Dalrymple.

The original plans submitted by the grocery store chain left a lot to be desired, Dalrymple said.

"I wasn't overly-thrilled with it," he said. "It was basically a big, box store," he said.

Dalrymple said when Sobeys first approached the community about adding 16,000 square feet to their Fall River store, he knew there could be problems and asked members of the Fall River Vision Implementation Committee to get involved.

The new plan, Dalrymple said, is much improved especially in terms of new landscaping, and the exterior facade.

Dalrymple said Sobeys and the committee hashed out what each side wanted to see at the site, and a plan was submitted to the city's planning department for approval.

"This development has to go through the process . . . but I like what I see now," he said. "It fits into our rural community."

He said he'd be surprised if the public do not agree.

City planner Andrew Bone said besides expanding the store by 16,000 square feet, Sobeys always wants to build two new buildings on site for expansion of the Fall River Plaza.

"They're not increasing what's already permitted there in scale, they're just reconfiguring it," Bone said.

Dalrymple said the larger store is expected to create more jobs in the area, and offer residents more services.

Michael Creighton, chairman of the Fall River vision committee a community group helping to establish planning policies in the area said Sobeys has been open to their input.

Working with the community, the vision committee has established guidelines outlining what development people want to see in Fall River, and what it should look like. That includes building materials, building heights, scale, parking, landscaping, lighting, signage and more.

Sobeys spokeswoman Jill Thomas Myrick would not comment on the development proposal, or what the new amenities the new store will offer. The public got its first look at the plans for the Sobeys expansion at a meeting Monday night.

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