Revelstoke Petro-Canada, Starbucks parking change denied over congestion concern

A request from the developers of a planned Starbucks/Petro-Canada to reduce the number of parking spots required in order to expand the restaurant has been denied by Revelstoke City Council. Another request to build a taller-than-allowed sign was also squashed.

The development received approval in 2014; this was a request for a revision of the plans.

Encora Engineering plans to build a Petro-Canada gas station in its old location next to McDonald’s and A&W on the Trans-Canada. The overall development will include a coffee shop, a convenience store and a drive-thru.

City council agreed with city planning staff: this revised plan is trying to pack too much into a small space and it will lead to traffic headaches. Image: From City of Revelstoke development application

Their development permit request to reduce its number of car spaces from 12 to seven to allow for 36 more seats at the Starbucks was denied at the April 14 city council meeting. City planning staff determined that the area during the height of summer tourism is congested enough without removing car spaces at an additional retail location.

“It’s no secret to anybody in the community that this intersection is already a huge problem and this is going to add more congestion to it,” Mayor Mark McKee said.

“Reducing parking in an already tough area … I think that would be setting a bad precedent.”

Last hear, local cafe owners expressed concerns that having yet another chain on the highway would be more reason for tourists not to venture into downtown and see what else was available.

Site developers Encora Engineering also requested a development variance to allow its maple leaf sign to extend past the roof canopy, which was approved.

The taller-than-allowed sign was not.

“Staff haven’t supported this request as it doesn’t fit with the other two signs in the block which is McDonald’s and A&W,” development manager Dean Strachan said of the taller sign. “We couldn’t identify a sightline benefit to make this sign larger than its neighbours’ signs.”

Previous: Proposed Petro-Canada gas station wants rules tweaked