Another commercial node will see a new group of shops open at Dewdney Trunk Road and 248th Street if a rezoning bylaw passes council.
Rudy Di Giovani wants to build between four and 16 commercial units for a total of 16,500 sq. ft. of shop space on the one-acre lot at the northeast corner.
The development would require the creation of a new “village commercial” category that would be between the community commercial and neighbourhood commercial zones.
Planning manager Jim Charlebois told council that while Webster’s Corners at 256th Street and Dewdney Trunk Road is also considered a commercial node, it won’t be affected.
“The historical centre of 256th Street will still remain. It has limited potential because it’s not in Metro Vancouver’s Fraser sewer area.”
That means businesses outside the area can’t connect to Metro Vancouver’s sewage system.
However, the corner at 248th St. is within the sewer area.
The corner was also recently added to its commercial industrial strategy which lists areas the district wants to develop.
Coun. Al Hogarth, a realtor, asked if the commercial complex should have a residential component, such as rental units to increase security in the area.
Planning director Christine Carter, though, replied that while the district doesn’t oppose residential, it doesn’t want to include it automatically in the new zoning category.
That way, developers have to request a residential component, giving the district leverage in the type of project proposed.
Council will look at the rezoning proposal at a future meeting.