REGINA - A second Costco location in Regina is one step closer to reality after a discretionary use application received approval at City Hall.
Regina's Development Officer Deborah Bryden has granted approval to the application for WSP Canada Inc. to develop a 14,800 square meter "Retail Trade, Shop" with "Retail Trade, Fuel Station", at 8701 Dewdney Avenue. The location is in the Westerra neighbourhood and the zoning is MLM- Mixed Large Market Zone.
A report from Planning and Development to Bryden on Aug. 20 gave its recommendation to approve the discretionary use, and the approval was granted August 21. It follows a public notice period in which submissions were accepted at City Hall up to August 14.
Based on the response there is widespread support for a second Costco. According to the report, 620 comments were submitted and 566 of those supported the proposal. Comments pointed to support for the additional Costco, the alleviation of pressures on the existing Costco on the east side, and the creation of jobs. It was also seen as a catalyst for future retail in the city.
There were 35 comments saying they would accept the proposal if features were different, and 19 comments expressed complete opposition citing impacts to traffic and concerns about the location.
The development report noted the proposal fit with the land use plan of the Westerra Neighbourhood Plan. The proposed "Retail Trade, Shop" was located in the area identified for large-format retail. The proposed fuel station is discretionary use due to proximity to neighbourhood development, but the report deemed it acceptable as both properties are required to have landscaping across the property line. No negative environmental impacts are anticipated.
While the City has given its stamp of approval to the project, whether the project will actually happen will not be certain until shovels actually hit the ground and construction gets under way. There had been rumours of a second Costco development at other west-side locations in recent years which did not come to fruition, but this proposal appears to be the furthest along in the process.
Regina currently has a Costco location on the east side of Regina at 2110 Anaquod Rd. in Regina, south of Victoria Avenue.
