A recent proposal to relocate Costco has prompted neighbours of the new site to try and halt the project.
Their concerns centre around the traffic congestion Costco would generate.
In September, Costco revealed plans to build a 3.6-acre warehouse with 812 parking stalls and a gas bar near the intersection of Baron Road and Leckie Road, just behind the Real Canadian Superstore.
The plan indicates the store would be about 20 per cent larger than the current Costco Highway 97 location, coming in at over 155,000 square-feet.
Ron Ready, a resident in the area of the proposed location, said he is concerned that the already-heavy traffic in the area will become unmanageable if the box store is built.
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香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e already got more traffic on Leckie than we can handle,香蕉视频直播� Ready said.
香蕉视频直播淧utting a new Costco in 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be larger than the existing one. It香蕉视频直播檚 going to be more people, more vehicles and more traffic congestion.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 no place to widen the roadways or handle the increased traffic.香蕉视频直播�
Ready, now retired, used to work as a building inspector and then in management, working directly with city planners on projects like this proposal.
He said one of the biggest issues is the plan does not conform to the current Official Community Plan (OCP), which currently doesn香蕉视频直播檛 allow a facility like the proposed Costco for that site unless the city rezone香蕉视频直播檚 the parcel of land.
香蕉视频直播淭here are 1,000 residential units in this area,香蕉视频直播� said Ready.
香蕉视频直播淭he OCP identifies this land for a medium and high-density multi-family residential. They香蕉视频直播檙e wanting to change it香蕉视频直播o accommodate Costco.香蕉视频直播�
In September, Derek Edstrom, director of divisional partnerships and investments with the City of Kelowna, said residents shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be concerned about traffic issues surrounding the Costco relocation.
香蕉视频直播淐ostco will be working with our transportation team to make sure it is optimized to work effectively,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淥ne positive is that it香蕉视频直播檚 close to its current retail location and we香蕉视频直播檙e not adding to a new area that hasn香蕉视频直播檛 seen a Costco.香蕉视频直播�
He said the city is also conducting a transportation analysis that will examine a number of transportation improvements in the area.
香蕉视频直播淢aking sure there is good access is a priority for both the city and Costco as well,香蕉视频直播� said Edstrom.
Once city planners complete their assessment of the development proposal, they will submit a report to city council recommending whether or not the property should be rezoned.
That will likely happen within the next six months, according to city staff.
If approved, the new location would only be a few blocks away of a residential development recently approved by council at the Baron-Dilworth intersection.
The first phase of the project includes three six-storey wood-frame buildings with 297 residential units. The developer has signalled it also wants to build two additional towers between 24 and 27 storeys tall during the second phase of the project, but the council has yet to see the final detail proposal for that phase.
Barring a complete abandonment of the plans, Ready said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 see any solution that would make the relocation of Costco manageable.
He says area strata councils are planning a presentation to oppose the proposal if and when the required rezoning public hearing takes place.
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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