An Ontario Municipal Board hearing scheduled for the spring over a proposed second Wal-Mart development in Sudbury's south end has been postponed. City of Greater Sudbury officials and politicians are not sure why it has been postponed, but have expressed concerns this prolonged legal battle could drive away developers. Originally scheduled for July 2000, hearing dates have been rescheduled three times. The project's opponents, who include a nearby mall operator, a retailer workers' union and a property owner, say the development would cause harm to nearby retail stores. Project proponents say the development would include adjacent retail stores, create about 125 jobs and contribute $200,000 in annual property taxes to the city's coffers.
