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Kelowna council dismayed by lack of EV chargers at Costco㽶Ƶֱs 㽶Ƶֱ24-pump mega station㽶Ƶֱ

Kelowna city council approved development permits for Costco, gas bar on Monday
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A rendering of the Costco Wholesale and accompanying 24-pump gas bar along Baron, Leckie and Springfield roads in Kelowna. (Contributed)

Kelowna㽶Ƶֱs biggest grocery store is officially set to be accompanied by one of the region㽶Ƶֱs largest gas bars.

But some city councillors were less than enthused to learn the 24-pump gas station that covers 9,000 square feet won㽶Ƶֱt include any electric vehicle charging stations.

On Monday, April 26, city council gave final approval and issued a development permit to Costco㽶Ƶֱs new Kelowna 167,000-square-foot warehouse and its abutting gas bar.

City staff said the gas bar will allow 24 vehicles to pump gas simultaneously, with space for three or four vehicles to queue behind each of the six service aisles. Costco did not include plans for electric vehicle charging stations at the gas bar or the warehouse parking lot, much to the chagrin of Coun. Luke Stack.

㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱve been looking so much at trying to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but here㽶Ƶֱs this 24-pump mega station going right in the middle of our town centre. I㽶Ƶֱm disappointed they haven㽶Ƶֱt come forward with some sort of electric vehicle option, knowing that㽶Ƶֱs the direction we㽶Ƶֱre going,㽶Ƶֱ said Stack, whose sentiment was echoed by Coun. Loyal Wooldridge.

City manager Doug Gilchrest said the city doesn㽶Ƶֱt yet have the ability to mandate charging stations at developments, though that may change as the city㽶Ƶֱs electric vehicle strategy develops.

㽶ƵֱIt may well be that this moves from encouragement to something that㽶Ƶֱs required under a bylaw,㽶Ƶֱ said Gilchrest.

Wooldridge and Coun. Charlie Hodge were the lone dissenting votes in council㽶Ƶֱs 7-2 approval of the project. Despite Stack㽶Ƶֱs pointed comments towards Costco for the exclusion of charging stations, he voted to grant the project a development permit.

Costco㽶Ƶֱs new location is set to open sometime this year, situated along Baron, Leckie and Springfield roads behind the Real Canadian Superstore. The gas bar is set to be built along Baron Road, across Durnin Road from the main parking lot.

Costco gas bars are known to sell gas slightly cheaper than competitors. In Kamloops, showed Costco customers could fuel up for 134.9 cents per litre on April 26, while most other gas stations in the city were charging 139.9 cents per litre.

READ MORE: Kelowna council expedites road improvements in anticipation of new Costco

READ MORE: Kelowna council approves rezoning for contentious Costco relocation

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com



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