A Value Village store is being proposed for an industrial site in Queensborough, but it may conflict with the city's concept for the site.
The city has received an application for a development permit for 325 Gifford St. to allow construction of a 45,530-square-foot building. The city notes that the site was part of a 2009 rezoning and official community plan amendment for the former Western Forest Products site.
That application had divided the site into three smaller sites - a warehouse for Kruger Paper is nearing completion on one site, Lowe's building supply is located on another site, and the third site is proposed for a multi-tenant industrial building.
"The owner is proposing to place Value Village as a tenant in the first unit," stated a preliminary report to city council. "This use would be permitted under the existing Light Industrial Districts (M-1) zone. Currently, council is considering an amendment to the M-1 zone to remove all non-industrial uses from the zone. Should this zoning amendment be adopted, the Value Village store would become lawfully nonconforming."
In addition to 30,000 square feet for the secondhand store, the applicant is proposing a 15,530-square-foot industrial unit at the site.
The next step in the process will see city staff and the New Westminster design panel evaluating the proposal against the Queensborough industrial park design guidelines.
