The owners of the Bon Voyage Plaza are looking to rezone the vacant land immediately west of the Vanway-area strip mall to develop a self-storage facility or other commercial use.
The rezoning for the 0.85 hectare (two acre) property will go before city council on Aug. 15. Chris Matte, managing director of Matte Bros. which operates the mall and has a controlling interest in the Bon Voyage Motor Inn, said the project is still at the early stages.
“We’re still doing our due diligence,” Matte said. “Gone are the days of being able to break ground next spring.”
If council approves the rezoning and the company’s preliminary work looks favourable for the project, Matte estimated the company would be looking to build a roughly 25,000 to 30,000 sq. foot self-storage facility on the vacant site.
The land is currently zoned AF: Agriculture & Forestry, and the proposed C6: Highway Commercial zoning would be a natural fit for the area, Matte said. The existing Bon Voyage Plaza is also zoned C6.
If the plans for a self-storage facility doesn't go ahead, the C6 zoning would allow a variety of other vehicle-oriented retail and commercial uses.
Members of the public have until noon on Aug. 15 to provide feedback to city council, prior to the rezoning being considered.
According to a city report going before council on Aug. 15, final approval of the rezoning bylaw would require a traffic impact analysis showing that area roads can handle the traffic, a servicing brief showing there is sufficient water and sewage capacity, and the owners would be required to register a restrictive covenant agreeing not to build on or disturb the water drainage channel on Bear Road and Deer Road.
