A major new industrial development in Delta, B.C., has moved a step closer to reality.
At its Jan. 9th meeting, council gave preliminary rezoning approval for an application by Beedie (South Perimeter) Holdings Ltd. to build a 254,028-square-foot customer fulfillment centre in the 7500 and 7600-block of 80th Street. Three lots would be consolidated into one for the project.
The site is 9.2 hectares (23 acres), situated between 80th Street to the west, Highway 17 to the east and the 80th Street (Tilbury) Connector to the south.
To serve as a fulfillment centre for Sobeys, the project would bring 1,500 jobs into the community.
The proposal includes an application for a development variance permit, but several conditions must be met. Those conditions include, among other things, an update to a previous traffic impact assessment to address transportation concerns.
A staff report notes there are two driveway accesses proposed on 80th Street and one driveway access proposed at the 80th Street/Tilbury Connector roundabout.
The owner would be required to obtain an access permit from the province for the proposed driveway access at 80th Street/Tilbury Connector, as well as address traffic concerns to the satisfaction of both the City of Delta and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The report also notes municipal staff are working with the owner to resolve technical issues and mitigate traffic concerns. For example, left turns into and out of the proposed development would be prohibited.
Staff are also working with the owner to address pedestrian circulation and access to bus stops on Vantage Way and the west side of 80th Street.
The owner agreed to provide a pedestrian-activated crosswalk with flashing lights along the 80th Street frontage at Vantage Way, at their cost. The crosswalk would be accessed via on-site pedestrian walkways on the development site.
Council has already approved a Streamside Protection and Enhancement Area Development Permit for the project.
