OLDS — Olds Co-operative Ltd. has laid claim to a piece of land in Netook Crossing Business Park.
The Co-op expects to begin work next week on a cardlock fuel station that will be the first structure in the commercial subdivision east of Olds.
“We hope to have completion by the end of December,” said general manager Rodney Perigny, adding that weather will likely be a determining factor.
In addition to the cardlock station, which will consist of 10 pumps, Olds Co-op plans to eventually develop a convenience store and regular gas pumps.
“Right now, it’s probably a three- to five-year plan,” said Perigny.
Olds Co-op currently operates a grocery store and a gas bar in each of Olds and Carstairs.
“We’ve been kicking around the idea of a cardlock for a few years now,” said Perigny. “Location has always been an issue.”
Being in Netook Crossing Business Park should result in sales from other businesses there, he said, and also draw traffic from nearby Hwy 2.
The cost to develop the cardlock facility will be about $2 million, excluding land costs, said Perigny.
Terry Johnston, vice-president of Netook Crossing Business Park developer OPUS Building Canada Inc., said five lots have already been transferred to new owners, with seven or eight more likely to change hands by year end.
One of the buyers is Olds RV Inc., which plans to operate a full-service recreational vehicle dealership there.
“He’s hoping that he’s going to be in business by the first of January,” said Johnston.
Another buyer is Canada West Self Storage, which is currently preparing its development plans and should begin construction in the spring, said Johnston.
Located southwest of the junction of highways 2 and 27, Netook Crossing Business Park is part of Mountain View County’s Netook Crossing area structure plan.
That plan covers about 4,000 acres, which includes residential areas.
The business park covers 143 acres, with the site work there mostly complete.
“Since we’ve finished our site work and it’s finally starting to look like a business park, the level of inquiries has increased,” said Johnston.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com