MONTAGUE — The land clearing is well underway and the official building permit for APM's new million-dollar mall development was approved here Tuesday night by town council. The 40,000-square-foot retail development is being constructed on a six-acre parcel that was formerly home to the McGowan Motors' car dealership.
The application to proceed with the project — which includes a residential component — earned majority approval with one councillor objecting. "The application is for a retail mall valued at $1.8 million and comes from APM on behalf of Loblaws,'' said town development officer David Mabon. "Another portion of the land in question will be subdivided for senior housing.''
Brian Gillis, APM's vice-president of development, told council the project is being built in what the company considers the "heart of the town''. "We feel this investment will be a success and Montague is a good place to grow and prosper,'' he said. The meeting was advised the initial development will be the construction phase followed by the marketing of shop space. While some tenants are already secured, others are still in the wings and council was told the developer has been approached by another restaurant interest as well.
The six-acre field is currently being cleared and leveled and Gillis said the project should be up and running by late August. The new development requires the town to extend the water system since the mall will be served by a fire-protection sprinkler system. The project has also passed environmental guidelines. However, Councillor Paul Sullivan, who objected to the permit approval, questioned whether the town was breaking its own bylaws by allowing the project to proceed. "I'm very much in favour of this development,'' he said. "But my point about whether we are following proper procedures is based on the liability potential. I don't want to see it bungled.'' That remark caused Mayor Pat McGowan to cut off further discussion and prompted a council vote which approved the permit.