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Tim Hortons restaurant development application approved by council

Timothy Schafer
By Timothy Schafer
June 29th, 2018

One of the most nationally-recognizable cups of coffee is set to be poured in Grand Forks.

The city has approved a development permit application at its June 11 regular meeting for a Tim Hortons restaurant for Central Avenue.

The application is to develop a 2,500 square foot (232 sq. m), 40-seat restaurant with a drive-through, patio and parking on a portion of the existing parking lot south of Save-On Foods/BC Liquor Store/Fields along the north side of Central Avenue.

The owner, Alcar Investment Ltd. of North Saanich, noted the restaurant would feature a new “welcome” image that Tim Hortons is introducing in Grand Forks as part of its brand revitalizing initiative.

Agent for the owner — Dillon Consulting of Richmond — noted that an illuminated pylon sign on the southeast corner of the site will be landscaped and contain the names of all the businesses on the site.

“This new look features design elements that are natural looking, lighter and more inviting including porcelain tile, wood grain siding, black window frames and red entry doors and drive-thru windows,” Dillon Consulting noted.

“A new ‘Tim Hortons’ script is being introduced.”

Development permits look at the form and character only, said city deputy manager of Operations and Sustainability, Cavan Gates, while a zoning bylaw defines the permitted uses of the land.

“In this case, the site was already zoned for the restaurant use, so no rezoning was required,” he said.

The architectural elements of the new development are intended to provide a “cottage” feel, including a gabled roof line, decorative wood trim and molding accents, stone base with a stone sill and wood siding.

As far as parking goes, angle parking will remain along the east side of Fifth Street and parallel parking could continue along the west side of Fourth Street.

The parking regulations require that the restaurant provide 14 parking spaces on site and the existing stores require 70 parking spaces (for a total of 84). The proposed redesign of the site provides a total of 93 spaces which exceeds the requirement by nine spaces

In addition, no new access is proposed off Central Avenue, but a double drive-through bay is proposed parallel with Fifth Street.

The existing driveway accesses into the entire site are proposed to be relocated further north toward the existing stores along both Fourth and Fifth streets.

“This will create more safe and convenient access to the existing stores and a reconfigured parking area with enhanced circulation throughout the site,” read a city staff report to council.

There will be an outdoor fenced patio on the east side of the building that will feature 22 seats and have pedestrian access directly from the sidewalk along Central Avenue.

Outside of the restaurant a 1.6-foot wide landscaped strip is proposed along Fifth Street, Fourth Street and Central Avenue.

The entire commercial site is 2.21 acres in size and is designated commercial core, in which restaurants are a permitted use. According to a city staff report, the proposal conforms to the regulations within the zone with respect to lot area coverage, building height and setbacks.

As part of the commercial core of the city, the project is subject to general commercial development permit area (DPA) guidelines respecting site design, building form and character identified in the city’s Official Community Plan.

“The DPA guidelines are intended to ensure that developments in the commercial core area compliment the historic downtown area, have a high standard of visual character and help establish strong community identity,” read a city staff report.

The project had been reviewed by numerous provincial referral agencies and there were no objections to the development permit.

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