Latte talk about empty lot

Photo: Contributed - Google Street View

City council begrudgingly said yes to a new commercial development in Rutland.

The project would be situated at the northeast corner of Rutland Road North and Highway 33. The land has been vacant since 1995.

The development would include three food-primary businesses, Starbucks, a second Memphis Blues Restaurant and Domino's Pizza.

Council was torn between the need to develop an area that has been vacant for more than two decades and a concern over traffic congestion with the placement of the Starbucks drive-thru.

"I have to say I'm still very concerned a drive-thru is on the corner here, but I also know it has been in a rather sad state for a number of years," said Coun. Gail Given.

"Hearing from staff that this is not a 100 year building ... this may be the interim step to something bigger and better another 30 years into the future. I am prepared to go along on this particular one just to see something new happen on that corner."

Developer Gary Tebbutt has owned the property for three to four years.

He told council he has looked at almost every conceivable way of trying to develop the property, leading him to this particular proposal.

"We were as concerned as ... you are asking about the stacking and the drive-thru, so we hired CTQ (Consultants) and their traffic engineering department to measure the traffic counts and the number of cars that go into the drive-thru at two Starbucks," said Tebbutt.

"The one we wanted to make sure they did was the one at the corner of Highway 97 and Gordon."

Tebbutt said that drive-thru is probably the busiest in the Okanagan, and he has never been there when the traffic was extended beyond the end of the building.

"We also measured two of the busiest Tim Hortons as well. I don't know what it is, but they have more than 300 per cent greater drive-thru traffic relative to their square footage than a Starbucks has."

Tebbutt indicated Starbucks is particular about how well each location functions. He said the company has agreed to a lease for up to 20 years and is happy with the way the site and drive-thru is configured.

"The reason I'm really concerned is I'm not sure what else we would do with this corner if we weren't able to get this particular application to move forward," said Tebbutt.

"If you look at our site coverage, we've gone way below what's required. If you look at our parking, we've exceeded what's required."

Tebbutt said he has met with the Uptown Rutland Association, Rutland Business Association and adjacent neighbours, and everybody supports the application.

"I understand how difficult this site has been to develop and we've heard part of the reason why it's been hard to develop is because of the requirements of the (Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)," added Mayor Colin Basran.

"Am I thrilled to have a drive-thru on the corner? Not necessarily. But it sure is a heck of a lot better than what it is now. I know Mr. Tebbutt has tried for three-plus years to try and find something that works where tenants would want to come. He finally has found that balance."

While it won't please everybody, Basran said it will help the continued evolution of the Rutland Town Centre.

"(In the future), I see parents dropping their kids off to play soccer at a revitalized Centennial Park, leaving their car in the park and walking over to grab a coffee, maybe grab a meal while their kids are playing soccer in a brand new park.

"Now, all of a sudden, we have a brand-new town centre concept and feel in Rutland we have been trying to get for so long. This is another great step in that evolution."