New Kelowna Costco gets final council approval but not without some controversy

A city councillor lashed out at Costco today for not planning to put electric car recharging stations in its new Kelowna store but his concerns didn't stop council from giving the development permit final approval.

“I find it a bit hypocritical for myself to vote on this,” Coun. Luke Stack said during a council meeting today, April 26, where the development permit was approved for the new location for Costco at the corner of Springfield and Leckie Roads.

“We’ve been looking so much at trying to reduce our greenhouse gas omissions but here’s a… mega gas station going right into the middle of our town centre," he said. "I’m a little disappointed that they haven’t come forward with some sort of electric vehicle option, knowing that’s a direction we have to go and I would have liked to see some leadership if they had done that.”

Costco is relocating and expanding its existing store but also adding the gas station component.

The structure will include 12 two-sided gas pumps which will serve up to two vehicles each to allow for a maximum of 24 vehicles to pump simultaneously, according to a report to council.

READ MORE: Kelowna to get 24-pump gas bar with new Costco

City manager Doug Gilchrist explained that there are currently no requirements for gas stations to include electric car charging stations but that may change as the City develops its electric vehicle strategy, but the it isn’t there yet.

“So, it’s something they haven’t presented and we can’t make them do it,” Stack said. “I think, in this massive complex in the middle of our town centre, that they would have, at least, put in a couple of electric vehicle charging stations."

In the end, Stack joint the rest of council in approving the development permit.

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