City Planner Ryan Mackrell outlines concerns with a proposal for a gas bar in the College Heights neighbourhood. (Angela Brown/battlefords NOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the chambers

Council nixes gas bar proposal after receiving letters against it

Sep 24, 2019 | 5:00 PM

The people have spoken.

North Battleford lawmakers decided against approving a discretionary land use request for a proposal by a developer to build a gas bar and convenience store at a property at 1708 Thompson Crescent.

Residents raised their ire about the proposal when they were informed it was coming to council.

“Council didn’t feel that it was an appropriate use of land within that particular zone, being really close among residential properties,” Mayor Ryan Bater said. ”As well, council received a considerable number of pieces of correspondence from neighbours from within that area voicing opposition to that development.”

The site is located to the east of Foodland and southeast of North Battleford Comprehensive High School. It is surrounded by residential single-family homes.

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Bater said the city received about 30 letters from residents opposed to the idea of the gas bar, particularly in their neighbourhood.

The challenge with having a gas bar at the site, Bater said, is that it can create a lot of traffic in the residential area which may be difficult to accomodate.

Residents were also concerned about underground and above ground petroleum tanks associated with gas bars, and the risk of fuel leaks, as well as the gasoline odour that would be present in their environment.

They also said in their letters that the College Heights neighbourhood already has “serious crime issues,” and that having a gas bar business in the residential area would make matters worse.

“The neighbourhood has spoken quite clearly,” Bater said.

Administration recommended denying the request. City Planner Ryan Mackrell said in his report that administration was concerned the proposal could result in further land-use conflicts in light of the numerous objections received.

Ultimately, council agreed with administration’s advice to deny the land use request for the gas bar and convenience store project.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow