Amazon won’t set up a distribution centre in Oakville after all.

After community groups announced their opposition to conversion of a Cornwall Road facility for the e-commerce giant, officials from Amazon reached out to town council on October 25 to announce the company would fulfill demand through its newly opened facility on Avonhead Road in Mississauga instead.

The decision comes after a weekend in which residents protested the planned relocation by walking along Cornwall Road to raise awareness about the volume of transport trucks that would come through the neighbourhood daily were the Amazon building constructed there. The proposed site is across the road from hundreds of homes.

In a letter to Ward 3 Councillor Janet Haslett-Theall, Amazon officials said they heard feedback from the community loud and clear, and chose a better location for their operations so as not to “upset the community.”

“For the past 18 months, Councillor Haslett-Theall and I have been keeping our residents up-to-date and aware of the H & R – Amazon application at 2175 Cornwall Road through our e-newsletter, ongoing meetings and discussions,” said Dave Gittings, Oakville Ward 3 Town and Regional Councillor. “We received unanimous support from our council colleagues for our request to have the site plan for this location come before council earlier this year. This process allowed residents  to provide their input. After a full process, we are pleased that a more suitable location was secured nearby.”

“Amazon’s consideration is appreciated,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. “Council and town staff believe the assistance of the Ontario government in capping future uses of the site will prove to be important in future, whether or not Amazon is involved in the REIT’s plans.”

In January, Oakville’s council agreed to a settlement deal that would see Amazon use the 311,000-square foot space on Cornwall Road to supplement its fulfilment in the Greater Toronto Area.

Featured image: Google Maps view of the proposed site on Cornwall Road. (Google Maps)