SmartCentres’ proposed shopping centre for the west end of Salmon Arm is back on the table, but reduced from 34 to 22 acres….

SmartCentres scales back development plans

Salmon Arm Observer
By Martha Wickett
May 12, 2010

SmartCentres’ proposed shopping centre for the west end of town is back on the table.

The City of Salmon Arm has now received a revised application from SmartCentres, confirms the city’s director of development services Corey Paiement.

The application was put on hold in January after the Ministry of Environment asked the company to redo a portion of its Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) report regarding its property near the Salmon River. The issue in question was how often the river spills over its banks and, in turn, how close to the river a development could be built.

Paiement said Wednesday that a revised application was received earlier in the week, which features a smaller footprint.

‘Basically the difference is, the proposal is for a retail area of approximately 20 acres,’ he said, explaining that the former application was for 34 acres of retail development.

The city had not yet received the revised report from a qualified environmental professional (QEP) that’s required by the regulation, but Paiement said the city has received an e-mail saying the Ministry of Environment has approved the QEP report.

Paiement said the city is also awaiting an updated traffic study because traffic requirements may be less with a smaller retail development. The property is located northeast of the intersection of 30th Street SW and the Trans-Canada Highway.

Regarding time frame, Paiement said once city staff have received all the information, they must review it to consider the changes.

‘The earliest it could possibly start going before council would be sometime in June to (the) development and planning (committee).’

SmartCentres’ Salmon Arm Shopping Centre website notes that its revised RAR assessment was approved April 30, and the amended proposal will consist of approximately 22 acres.

‘We are requesting the site be rezoned to Comprehensive Development Zone to permit the development of the shopping centre. National retailers including Home Depot, Future Shop, Winners, Staples, and more, continue to express interest in locating their stores in Salmon Arm,” states the website.

The diagram on the website outlining the new plan shows just one large format store, as opposed to the three that were once proposed.

Nathan Hildebrand, land development manager for SmartCentres, responded by e-mail to the Observer.

‘The total proposed size of the centre is approximately 240,000 square feet and we anticipate construction to occur in phases over the next four to five years,’ he stated.

When SmartCentres submitted its first application in October 2007, which was turned down after a series of marathon public hearings, the company reported it had purchased about 60 acres with the plan to use 40 acres for retail and parking.

In a second attempt, in August 2009 the company submitted a report from a qualified environmental professional to the city, to try to get environmental requirements dealt with first. However, in December, the ministry commissioned an additional environmental assessment.

At the May 12 meeting of the Salmon Arm Downtown Improvement Association board, DIA manager Joanne Mason told the board that Hildebrand paid a visit to the DIA last week.

‘It was nothing more than a courtesy call ‘ they’re resubmitting their application to the city. They will be requesting a substantially smaller parcel of land.’

Coun. Chad Eliason, the city’s representative on the DIA board, said he would expect a public hearing in June or July.

‘If I was a betting man, probably mid-summer,” Eliason said.

Mayor Marty Bootsma told the Observer that he spoke to Hildebrand about a week ago and understands that the revised plan would include about eight acres above and beyond the urban containment boundary.

‘It looks like it’s scaled back considerably.’

Asked if SmartCentres is frustrated or happy with the process, Bootsma said he’s sure the company would have preferred to have its first proposal go through.

‘I can’t speak to their emotions, if they have any. It’s a business, right?’