Kelowna council gave the green light to a new Triple Osa国际传媒檚 and Chevron gas bar proposed along Highway 97 and Sexsmith Road during a May 12 public hearing.

Albeit, with a tinge of reluctance, according to the mayor.

City staff recommended non-support on the application in part due to the citysa国际传媒檚 climate action plan and the GHG emissions caused by idling in drive-thru lanes, but council decided against that recommendation.

The new burger joint was also proposed on industrial land, prompting the need for council to grant a variance to allow for the restaurant and drive-thru at the gas bar.

sa国际传媒淲hile drive-thrus represent a convenient way for many to pick up a meal, it cannot be said that they are a necessity,sa国际传媒� read the report by city planner Aaron Thibeault. sa国际传媒淩ather, it is a choice, and a choice that comes with a cost.sa国际传媒�

While councillors largely agreed that drive-thrus do have an environmental impact, they said the area is largely car-centric and the impact of not approving it would be negligible.

sa国际传媒淒o I think we are going to save the planet with this particular application? No,sa国际传媒� said Mayor Colin Basran. sa国际传媒淚s it another cut? Potentially.sa国际传媒�

Coun. Luke Stack said the solution should be to encourage people to reduce their own emissions and not to sa国际传媒渙utlaw drive-thrus.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚 go through one every day literally, but I drive an electric vehicle, so I donsa国际传媒檛 have any emissions,sa国际传媒� said Stack.

Much of the concern from residents sent to council sa国际传媒� and posted on social media sa国际传媒� was surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and how important drive-thrus have become in terms of getting food.

sa国际传媒淲e donsa国际传媒檛 build cities based on pandemics,sa国际传媒� said Coun. Ryan Donn, the lone councillor against the proposal in the 8-1 vote.

sa国际传媒淎t some point, we are going to have to say no if we genuinely want to move the dial lower to reduce people using cars.sa国际传媒�

The proposal also shows plans for landscaping to minimize the visual impact of the drive-thru sa国际传媒� which the applicant described as quite extravagant compared to proposals it has made in other cities sa国际传媒� and two electric vehicle charging stations.

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