By ROY WOOD
A few months from now Osoyoos residents will likely be able to combine a trip to the grocery store with an oil change, a car wash and a big bucket of deep-fried chicken parts, all at the same mall.
Town council today approved a combination drive-through car wash and oil change operation on one side of the Gateway Plaza parking lot and a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet on the other.
The two proposals, both from well-known local developer Hart Buckendahl, would both be allowable within the parking stall requirements of the plaza, whose anchor tenant is Buy-Low Foods.
The Great Canadian Car Wash is proposed for the vacant lot immediately east of the Dollar Store. According to an analysis presented to council by planning director Gina MacKay, the operation would use currently vacant land, take advantage of the location at the intersection of two major highways and “service both the travelling public and the local residents.”
Council gave first and second reading to the zoning bylaw amendment and scheduled a public hearing on the issue for 4 p.m. on Sept. 17.
The proposal for the Kentucky Fried Chicken store didn’t technically need to be brought before council, since the use falls within the permitted uses in the “Shopping Centre Commercial” zone. However, MacKay she thought it appropriate to inform council of the decision by the planning department to approve it.
The KFC will have 16 seats inside and a drive-through window in the rear. It will be located along the western edge of the property backing onto Highway 97, just south of the Interior Saving Credit Union.
MacKay said that during discussions of the project with the developer, the size of the building was considerably reduced to ensure the integrity of the handicapped parking spaces associated with the credit union.
She said the “form and character” of the new building will align with colour and finishes of the existing businesses in the plaza along with the familiar red and white KFC corporate colour scheme.
KFC is the world’s second largest restaurant chain, behind McDonald’s. It is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.