Developer Rainer Hummel recently met with the executive board of the St. Davids Ratepayers Association to hear what the group would like to see happen to the old CanGro Foods plant, which closed June 27. Bruce Woodruff, member of the SDRA, said the group was supportive of moving the lands away from heavy industrial zoning towards a change to residential."(Hummel) was supportive to put the plant forward to rezone the lands residential rather than developing another heavy industrial," Woodruff said. "While CanGro wasn't disruptive to St. Davids, other uses such as a truck depot, for instance, might be due to the noise. We're all on the same page. He plans to meet with all residents to see where the project goes in the future."

Hummel said he also met with neighbours of the property along Line 8 Road, who told him that they would also like to see residential lands. Hummel said town staff are currently working on a report to see what can be done with the lands and further meetings with town and regional planning staff will have to be scheduled to discuss the matter.

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done before we can move forward," Hummel said. "We have to weigh the options out and find something that's suitable for the CanGro lands.

Hummel Properties purchased the St. Davids canning factory from CanGro Foods in May. Hummel's original intention was to lease out the 108,000 square foot facility for space.

CanGro Foods, a fruit processing company which markets under the DelMonte and Alymer brands, announced in January its intention to sell or close the 100-year-old plant. Outsourcing canning procedures to facilities outside North America was the reason behind the closure.

The elimination of about 300 factory positions and contracts for 150 tender fruit growers in Ontario resulted from the closure.