Ron Rotzetter and his proposed Bear View development wasn’t the only new shopping center discussed during the Feb. 5 District of Clearwater council meeting.
During the public comment period at the end of the meeting, Wade Elliott, one of the owners of Safety Mart, outlined plans to build a shopping center at the Highway 5/Park Drive intersection (near the courthouse).
Their main supplier, AG Foods, is involved in the project, he said. They plan to begin clearing land this spring and begin making water, sewer and electrical power connections. Construction would begin in the spring of 2014, with opening date by September of that year.
The proposed shopping center would be 85,000 square feet in size. This would include a new 24,000 square foot grocery store (the present Safety Mart is 17,000 square feet).
Cost of the project would be about $16 million.
They have spoken to a number of local businesses and many are interested in moving in, Elliot said.
Discussions also have been held with Tim Horton’s, he reported. The fast food chain is considering either a location in their shopping center or one with Jim’s Food Market across the highway.
“They’re really interested in this town,” the Safety Mart spokesperson said.
One concern would be getting adequate electrical power for the project.
Another would be highway access. The Ministry has indicated access, if any, would be limited to right turn only, he said.