Fort St John city council is inviting residents to make a comment, or leave a comment, at their public hearing on the proposed second entryway for a local gas station’s expansion plan.
The Fort St John Co-Operative Association gas station, or Co-Op gas station, on 100 Street is working with the city to construct a new car wash and drive through restaurant on their property – these new amenities would be in addition to the fueling station, convenience store, and existing car wash currently operated.
Drive throughs and car washes tend to operate on a one-way path – during their initial planning phase with the city in November of 2024, the gas station agreed to restrict access at their second 100 Street entrance, but it has not yet been added as Co-Op’s construction has not yet broken ground.
Now, Co-Op wants to adjust the initially-planned second entryway, so drivers won’t be limited to a right in right out path when accessing the addition.
Initially, it was restricted because residents raised concerns about pedestrian safety – but the company provided a traffic impact study to city staff explaining the lack of actual effects expected if left turns onto 100 Street are allowed.
“The traffic impact study provided by the applicant concludes that allowing for left-turn access into the development off of (100) St is not expected to significantly impact the level of service or overall intersection performance,” said Fort St John city staff in their report to council.
Staff said their internal checks between departments, including the city’s engineering team, did not raise any red flags – hence the recommendation for council to read the proposed zoning amendment bylaw for the first two times.
The amended bylaw passed these readings unanimously at the city council’s August 11 regular meeting, and the public hearing was set for two weeks after that date, August 25.
A copy of the proposed bylaw is available at City Hall, and on Fort St John’s website, for residents to review. Residents who would like to submit comments are invited to join the city council for their 6 p.m. public hearing on the matter next Monday.
