There are presently more than 925 Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and it is this country's largest retailer of home health care products.

The store is currently located in the Highland Plaza across from the development site on Tower Street South.

The new site will require some minor zoning changes to accommodate building and to meet noise control issues.

"This application is a minor variance with respect to a minor setback," noted Township of Centre Wellington Senior Planner Brett Salmon.

The variance will allow for more room for the 17,000 square foot store on the property. The variance will allow for a 3.75 metre setback along the lot line.

Direct notification went out to residents living within the immediate area of the site. Salmon added, however, no public meeting is required for a minor variance.

The construction of the store will require the demolition of five properties on the site on both Tower Street and Belsyde Avenue.

A gas station also sits on the site and removal will require clean-up.

"Shoppers have done an environmental impact assessment," noted Salmon, adding there were some minor concerns.

"There are some issues and they have to have a clean-up plan," he said.

The widening of Tower Street south of Belsyde will also be required. This project was already in the capital works plan and would have moved forward with or without the Shoppers Drug Mart development.

"We are talking about a change to the turning lane," Salmon said, "Tower Street South is also to be widened or improved next year."

Once the minor variance is approved, Salmon says Shoppers Drug Mart can put forth an application for a building permit.

He added similar building projects are being done by Shoppers Drug Mart across the country and the design fits the size of their other stand-alone stores.

The application for the minor variance is expected to come before Township council in October.