Public hearing for new Costco location gets official date

Residents will soon have the chance to speak for or against plans to move Kelowna's Costco to a new location.

On Tuesday, Dec. 8, starting at 4 pm, a public hearing on the potential move will be held at City Hall in front of councillors.

Plans call for a 167,177 square foot warehouse building along with a gas bar on a vacant 5.97-hectare site situated on Leckie, Baron and Springfield roads.

The potentially large increase of traffic to the area has remained a concern for both councillors and residents alike.

However, a report from city staff does suggest the surrounding area will likely see little change in overall vehicle traffic.

"The proposed new Costco will be a large traffic generator and regional destination although the existing site, situated approximately 770 m to the northeast is generally considered within the same neighbourhood and as such the proposal does not represent a significant departure in terms of general transportation patterns or network impact," states the report.

Built in 1991, the report to council states that Kelowna's population has grown considerably in the past 30 years and the demand for memberships now exceeds the current store's capacity.

A total of 907 parking stalls will be available between the two sites.