Those who shop at Otter Co-op can soon add wine to their grocery list.
The co-operative farm and home store is building a new three-storey, 23,231 square foot building that will house their offices and a destination retail and wine tasting facility.
The building will be constructed on the northwest corner of their property at 3650 248 St., and the new store is estimated to create 25 jobs.
According to the architect’s design rationale, the facades facing 248 Street and Fraser Highway are being constructed “to maintain a human scale at street level, give prominence to the corner ‘wine tower’ feature toward the northwest, and intend to express both the function of the building and it’s context within the growing wine and brewing industry in the Langley area.”
During the development permit hearing on July 24, Coun. Kim Richter said she is concerned with the location of the building, and that it may cause traffic congestion at 248 Street and Fraser Highway. Her concerns echo those of a resident who wrote a letter to council suggesting that the building be moved to the southern portion of the lot at 248 Street and 36 Avenue.
“It would take the busy traffic that is probably going to be in and out of that, because it’s a liquor store, down where it’s not going to be so busy because there’s not the dance school, there’s not the fireplace (store) and there’s not the bank,” Richter said. “So if there’s going to be a lot of traffic in and out, it’s going to take it away from that intersection.”
She motioned to have the proposal sent back to staff to work with the owner on siting. That motion failed with only Richter and Coun. David Davis in favour (Coun. Charlie Fox was absent).
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