So strange that Councillor Evans stated on September 8, 2020, at the Special Council Meeting, that “I want the record to show that Sackville is open for business.” Now here he is, barely a month later, flip flopping on being open for business.
If Exit 506 is to be attractive to additional retail development, then one must not throw barriers up in front of them. Most highway exit food businesses include the convenience of being able to utilize a drive-thru pick-up as long as there is room for them to do so and Exit 506 provides this. Drive-thrus are an integral part of most exit based restaurants today.
Councillor Evans does not seem to realize that this is not about a drive-thru in the downtown area, but is about attracting an additional business just off the TCH for the convenience of the motoring public and to create many more jobs for Sackvillians as well as the Mount Allison students. This is about alleviating some of the congestion at the ill conceived Exit 504. It is about increasing our commercial tax base to help take the load off the residential rate. The future with electric cars will see ZERO emissions if one has to wait in line for a bit. The disabled need to be given equal opportunities when it comes to accessing food and drink. A parent with children in a car needs to be able to utilize a drive-thru instead of unbuckling the kids to accompany them to stand in line inside instead of proceeding with their vehicle outside. Snowstorms and rain events makes a drive-thru the sensible way to go.
I am afraid that the large cleared lot across from the Ultramar will remain vacant for one very long time unless the Town lightens up on developers. Parsons Investments were already put ‘thru-the-ringer’ just by trying to build their Ambulance building. They stated to me that there was no place in ALL of Nova Scotia that was as difficult and demanding as the Town of Sackville is. This has to change. Sackville must become OPEN FOR BUSINESS especially as it relates to attracting a higher percentage of the approximately 12,000 vehicles that pass by our front doors on average each day.
Enough with all the barriers!!
