Oil Can Charlie’s North Battleford owner Jay Bottomley, front right, along with partner Keegan Sparrow, front left, at council's meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Business development

Oil Can Charlie’s shop coming to Battleford

May 19, 2021 | 2:00 PM

The Town of Battleford will be welcoming a new business later this year.

Oil Can Charlie’s announced it is expanding its presence in the Battlefords and will open a shop at fifth Avenue West and Battleford Crossing, near the Co-op gas bar location in the Battleford West area. Oil Can Charlie’s currently has a store in North Battleford in the local area.

Jay Bottomley, owner of Oil Can Charlie’s in North Battleford, along with Keegan Sparrow a partner in the project, gave a presentation to council on the initiative at this week’s meeting.

Bottomley, Sparrow and Sheldon Rafuse together are partners in BSR Ventures Ltd. on the project development.

“I’m super excited to be coming to Battleford. It’s going to be the exact same foot-print as the store in North Battleford, but it is going to be dressed up,” Bottomley said, adding the design would include stone and stucco features.

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Mayor Ames Leslie was pleased to see the new business come to town.

“It’s always great when people build in Battleford,” he said.

Site plan proposal for Oil Can Charlie’s new lube shop and proposed area for future development. (Supplied)

Bottomley provided council with a proposed site plan for the project.

He said the partners purchased the property from Dean Kupchanko (of Battleford West Properties Ltd.) earlier this year.

Phase 1 for the Oil Can Charlie’s lube shop build would start in August, to potentially open in November.

For Phase 2 and 3 the partners hope to create a 15,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. commercial retail unit or strip mall in the vicinity, with construction to start around 2023 or 2024.

Council granted Bottomley’s request to install a 10 ft by 20 ft double-sided digital billboard on the south-east corner of the property, facing north and south, to promote the business. The signage will have a dimmer for night time, and follow bylaw requirements.

Tax abatement request

The partners requested a five-year municipal tax abatement to get the project started.

Town CAO Ash Alam said in his submitted report the town offers a two-year municipal tax abatement for its Commercial Industrial Incentive Program policy for new business.

However, council noted they were aware some businesses received a longer abatement.

Coun. Kevin Russell said he would like to see what other businesses were granted previously.

“I’m in favour of five years; I’m fine with it. But if no one else got five years,… I don’t want to upset the apple cart,” he said.

As proposed by Coun. David George, council asked administration to bring back a breakdown of what previous abatements were granted for new businesses before members make a decision.

As a result, council tabled the motion to return for a decision at its upcoming meeting in June.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow