A home improvement centre and a service station are likely to be among the first tenants in Red Deer’s Southpointe Junction.
Applications have been made to the city on behalf of Rona Inc. and Shell Canada Ltd. for approval to develop facilities in the new commercial area west of Taylor Drive and north of 19th Street.
The Rona proposal calls for a 44,000-square-foot store, plus a 10,940-square-foot fenced garden centre and a 16,400-square-foot covered storage area. The east-facing store would be located just north of 19th Street.
Shell is seeking to build service station, with four pump islands, a 2,270-square-foot convenience store and a car wash. These facilities would be built northeast of the Rona store.
Both applications are scheduled to be heard by Red Deer’s municipal planning commission on Wednesday. Site development approval is being sought, as well as authorization to operate the garden centre, storage area, service station and car wash as discretionary uses.
Rona currently operates a home improvement centre at 2610 Gaetz Ave., and the Quebec-based company also owns Totem Building Supplies at 7730 Gaetz Ave.
Shell has a half dozen service stations in Red Deer, but none in the south end of the city.
The development applications are the first for Southpointe Junction, which is the commercial portion of the 157-acre parcel south of Red Deer College between Taylor Drive and Hwy 2. The entire area falls under the Southpointe Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan, which also contemplates residential development, natural areas and an eco-innovation park.
Southpointe Junction is being developed by Qualico Developments West Ltd.