A rezoning application to support a service station at the west end of Salmon Arm is going to council.
The applicant, 406900 BC Ltd (Country Camping Leisure Products) wishes to rezone their split-zoned property that includes 950 30th St. SW and 3101 9th Ave. SW., located by the SmartCentres development.
Divided by 9th, the property consists of undeveloped agricultural land north of 9th and Country Camping to the south. The application includes rezoning the southeast portion of the property (which includes 950 30th St. SW), from C3 (Service Commercial Zone) to C4 (Fuel Service Station Commercial Zone), to accommodate a proposed car wash, gas station and convenience store.
A staff report provided at the city’s April 15 development and planning services committee meeting noted the applicant is also seeking a boundary adjustment subdivision, “which would amend the parcel boundary between the two parcels to run in a north/south direction along the proposed C-4 and C-3 zone boundary.”
“I think this is an appropriate spot for a gas station and convenience store,” said Coun. Sylvia Lindgren, who asked if Country Camping would be the owner or if it would be sold to someone else. She was informed it would likely be the latter.
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Asked about access, senior planner Melinda Smyrl suggested it would be from 9th. She said the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has indicated it supports the rezoning and future development of the site, “provided access is through municipal roads only, so that would be 9th Ave. SW.
Coun. Tim Lavery said the proposal makes “imminent sense to me and if this is successful, I think this is good for the city and it’s good for the current owners as well.”
Mayor Alan Harrison also spoke in favour of the application. He said one of the key questions council might face pertains to the portion of property in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).
“I think it’s pretty important to note that the ALR land is not being affected by this particular proposal,” said Harrison. “The official community plan suggests highway commercial development in this area and the zoning that’s being requested, C4, is that. I’m fine with the access/egress – it will just make Country Camping a little bit smaller but it looks like there’s quite a bit of space there.”
The application received unanimous support to proceed to council. A public hearing is anticipated for the May 13 council meeting.