City council gets its first official look at Costco’s proposed new position – Kelowna News

Fourteen months after plans were first unveiled for a new Costco in Kelowna, the long-awaited move is finally set to land on the city council desk on Monday.

In the first phase of what will be a long process, the Council will be asked on Monday to approve amendments to the official Community Plan and a request for a change of zone.

The 5.97 hectare property, never developed, is divided into agricultural zones, and has an OCP designation of residential and mixed residential-commercial.

It is located along Leckie, Baron and Springfield streets, in the middle of residential districts and in close proximity to the Dilworth and Orchard Park shopping centers.

In a report for the board, staff note that the current Costco at Highways 33 and 97 has served the city and beyond for 30 years, but as the city has grown, so have members and traffic to the store. .

“Costco proposes to move the existing business to a larger site that would allow for both a gas bar and a larger warehouse to allow the business to continue growing,” the report said.

Staff further indicate that the proposed move does not represent a “significant detour in terms of transport mode”, as the current location approximately 770 meters to the northeast is generally considered to be within the same neighborhood.

“The site is well served by several major roads, including Benvoulin Rd to the south, Springfield Rd, Leckie Rd, Baron Rd, Dilworth Rd and Highway 97N.

“The central location benefits Kelowna residents in terms of maintaining a reasonable average vehicle travel distance to more outlying or remote locations.”

If approved, the proposal will go to a public hearing before moving forward.