SASKATOON — The standing policy committee on transportation is set to consider the proposal made by Arbutus Properties about opening a full-service grocery store in Midtown Plaza in downtown Saskatoon.
The Vancouver-based developer approached the city about a grocery store project that will also have a restaurant and take-out counter. The committee will meet Monday, May 2.
The grocery store is proposed for the space in Midtown that was initially developed for another business but has remained vacant.
The administration report recommends installing a full traffic signal at the intersection of Auditorium Avenue and Idylwyld Drive, removing the median on Idylwyld Drive between Auditorium Avenue and 22nd Street, and installing a traffic island at the intersection of 21st Street and Idylwyld Drive.
These changes were all previously identified in the Imagine Idylwyld project plan.
The report recommends the city completes these changes once the grocery store reaches a certain point in development. The cost of the infrastructure changes is $220,000.
The requested tax abatement for the grocery store is not recommended, as the available space at Midtown has already been approved for a tax abatement.
If approved by the committee, the next steps will be in the developer’s hands.
