A new shopping centre is in the works for Prosperity Ridge.
Platform Properties Ltd. will be the developer of the Prosperity Ridge Shopping Centre that will consist of approximately 100,000 square feet of retail space, according to the company’s press release.
“I think it’s great news that the developers are still looking forward to filling up that retail space. I think it shows they’ve got confidence in the future of the City of Williams Lake,” said Mayor Kerry Cook.
City council paved the way for the development last year when it amended a no-build covenant to allow for the construction of up to 75,000 square feet of additional retail space of Prosperity Ridge’s development lands.
At the time, the City had allowed the additional square footage because a study indicated that traffic didn’t increase as much as it was previously thought.
As the covenant now stands, to develop beyond the 75,000 square feet will require a traffic study along the Highway 20/South Lakeside/Hodgson corridor to ensure that buildings in excess of that size restriction will not negatively impact the existing road infrastructure, say City staff.
“The company does know very clearly how much they can build up to without going over that number (75,000) that would require an additional traffic study,” Cook confirmed.
In the event of the need for a traffic study and subsequent road improvements, it would be up to council to determine who would be responsible for funding the necessary changes.
According to Platform’s press release, the shopping centre will attract new retailers to Williams Lake.
“It will offer existing retailers the opportunity to relocate in a new project that meets the retailer’s needs when it comes to store size, layout, parking, signage and synergies with neighbouring retailers …,” the release says.
The first phase of the shopping centre will be open to the public in early 2012.