As expected, the decision to expand the grocery section of the Owen Sound Walmart has been put off for a month and a half.
Council voted unanimously at last nights council meeting to defer any decisions to April 20th.
Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners says Walmart’s lawyers requested an extension via e-mail last week.
Lovell Stanners says council agreed because the only people being hurt by making the process longer would be Walmart.
She says council and A & P have nothing to lose by putting the decision off.
The letter from Walmart came after Metro Foods, owner of Food Basics and A & P stores asked for a deferral so they could deliver a report for staff including information on store sales and their risk of closure.
Councillor Bill Twaddle says council needs to take every opportunity for discussion.
Twaddle says they have to get the best information as possible and look at how reasonable and reliable Metro Foods figures are.
Walmart wants council to approve an official plan and zoning by-law amendment to expand the grocery section to 35 thousand square feet.
