The decision came following a public meeting last Monday where some residents voiced concerns over the building. The land, which is on the corner of Highway 89 and the 7th Concession, was previously zoned Agricultural. The new zoning designation is Commercial.

Regular procedure would have the land rezoned before a retail business could be built, but the township deemed that because of the nature of TSC’s business, it would count as Agricultural use, said director of planning Gerry Caterer. The store had its grand opening in April.

“It’s up to us how we deem it; we deemed that it was an agriculturally-related farm produce store,” Caterer told the Herald the next day. “There are a lot of farm-related businesses according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food (and Rural Affairs.)”

While the township said the use was agricultural, the solicitor for HVM Holdings Inc., the company that owns the land, said he considers it to be a commercial use. That is why the application was made, said John Taylor, a Tilbury lawyer for HVM.

“This business there caters to farmers and what not, and it was thought that that fit into the definition of allowable uses, but we have a difference of opinion,” said Taylor, by phone. “The official plan allows commercial and industrial, and that is a better description of what is there, because it more of a commercial, although it caters to farmers.”

The official plan has the stretch of land along Highway 89 marked for future commercial use and industrial development.

That had some nearby residents concerned.

Albert and Mary Hrassnig live across the 7th Conc. from the lot in question. They questioned why residents often have to jump through hoops to have things built on their properties, but this building was approved and built quickly.

“You can’t build a garage, but you can build this?” said Mary Hrassnig

“It’s only fair that the residents are given the same treatment.”

While the Hrassnigs had some complaints, they said TSC is a relatively good neighbour, and the matter could be worse. They are more concerned about heavy industry moving into the area, which they said would cause a traffic nightmare and put too much stress on their well water system.

“Of all things, (TSC) might be one of the better, but they crept up on us,” Albert Hrassnig said.

Some residents at the meeting, including the Hrassnigs, said the lights from the storage yard are on all night, and are visible from bedroom windows. The residents did note that the lights had been dimmer recently, though.  TSC manager Brad Griffin said the next day that he readjusted the lights after he received complaints.

No one from TSC was at the meeting.

E-mail reporter Kurtis Elsner at kelsner@simcoe.com