Skip to content

Gas station and drive-thru restaurant proposed near Abbotsford Airport

Plan also includes convenience store, charging stations

A service station, drive-thru restaurant, and convenience store are being proposed on the west side of Mt. Lehman Road near Abbotsford International Airport.

The plan comes before city council at its meeting on Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 21) for first, second and third readings of a bylaw zoning amendment and approval in principle of a development permit.

A staff report to council says applicant West Fraser Development, in partnership with the airport, is proposing to develop 9.25 acres (3.74 hectares) of land at 1590 Mt. Lehman Rd.

The land is located just northwest of the airport and Tradex, and west of Conair Group.

The proposal calls for a 5,700-square-foot (535-square-metre) commercial building containing the three businesses, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles.

The staff report includes a site plan of the proposal that lists Tim Hortons as the restaurant.

The property is currently in the I4 (airport) zone, which allows for airport and accessory commercial uses such as a service station, coffee shop, liquor store, pub, restaurant and retail businesses.

But the zoning does not include drive-thru restaurants, and an amendment must be approved by council in order for it to proceed.

The staff report to council recommends that council approve the amendment.

“Given that a significant proportion of airport users rely on person vehicles and the site’s strategic location at the edge of the Urban Development Boundary, the addition of a drive-thru restaurant is considered a necessary and logical enhancement to this area,” the report states.

The report states that one of the conditions for final adoption is that the Ministry of Transportation approve the plan, which might require a traffic impact study.

The project must also be approved by the Ministry of Environment, as the property is adjacent to the main channel of Fishtrap Creek.

No public hearing is required for the proposal, as per new provincial guidelines adopted last year that state the hearings are only required when there is an amendment to the Official Community Plan.

Breaking News You Need To Know

Sign up for a free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up


Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
Read more