Hurley’s supermarket gets approval for branch at previous location

The Central Planning Authority has approved an application that will see Hurley’s supermarket return to its original location at the now-demolished Eden Centre Plaza on Walkers Road.

The board, according to recently released minutes of its 15 Dec. meeting, issued the approval for the supermarket, pending construction of an 8-foot-high wall along all of the property’s common boundaries, a 6-foot-wide sidewalk which is to be built within the boundaries of the land, and the removal of the current sidewalk.

Hurley’s supermarket opened at Eden Centre Plaza in 1986, after its earlier iteration, Hurley’s Meat Market, moved from its airport site. The entire plaza was severely damaged in Hurricane Ivan, and was subsequently torn down.

To build the new $4.9 million 35,360-square-foot supermarket, the CPA said, the three adjoining plots, which make up the site, will have to be combined, and one of those plots cleared.

Additionally, the board requires the supermarket owners to abandon their plans to incorporate grasscrete for the driveways and parking lots.

“The Authority does not support the use of grasscrete as a parking/driveway surface for commercial uses as it does not wear well due to the amount of tire movements which tend to cause the grasscrete to fail,” wrote the CPA when giving its reason for its decision.

In its original application, Hurley’s applied for a variation of the planning regulations to allow them to develop 75.7% (0.7% more than permitted) of the site plan, to permit larger and more parking spaces, which was viewed favourably by the CPA.

“The Authority agrees with the applicant that the provision of wider parking spaces, as well as additional parking spaces above the required minimum, represent sufficient reason and an exceptional circumstance to warrant allowing the additional site coverage per [the law],” it said.

Due to the CPA’s refusal to allow the use of grasscrete, the overall development for the site must now be increased.

“A condition of approval has been imposed requiring a revised site plan showing the removal of the grasscrete which would then increase the site coverage to 82.1%,” wrote the CPA.

Objections raised

The application was not without objections.

Neighbours in the area, including at the nearby South Palms complex, objected to the proposed supermarket, saying they would be impacted by the noise from the store’s generators, refrigerators, air conditioning units and delivery trucks. They also raised concerns about rodents and odour from garbage facilities at the site.

When returning its decision, the CPA said it took the objections into consideration; however, they believed “they do not raise sufficient grounds for refusing permission”.

“Conditions of approval have been imposed requiring an 8-foot solid wall to be
erected along the common property boundaries of the objectors,” wrote the CPA. “This wall will mitigate concerns related to privacy, trespass and to some extent noise.”

The CPA added that “the applicant is proposing to use a closed top trash
compactor which is loaded from inside the building. The Authority is satisfied
that this approach to trash collection will significantly minimize any potential
nuisances related to smell and waste overflow.”