Coquitlam councillors said they will need more information before re-examining the city’s longstanding policy prohibiting self-serve gas stations.
The impacts regulatory changes would have on jobs was a major concern along with how elderly or disabled people would be served if bylaw changes were adopted.
“They are looking for data,” said Adrien Byrne, a representative with Chevron Canada, the company pushing for the changes.
While he acknowledged jobs would be affected if self-serve were allowed in the city, rule changes would also lead to greater investment in local stations. For example, Chevron could add a Triple O’s restaurant and the employment opportunities that come with it — features he said the company does not tend to offer in cities where there are strict regulatory environments.
“I can say that it would impact employment,” he said, “but it would also allow for greater investment in the municipality.”
Earlier this month, Chevron Canada said it would begin pushing the city to allow self-serve gas stations. Coquitlam and Richmond are the only jurisdictions in British Columbia that mandate full-service stations only and the company said the bylaws were an impediment to market demand.
Mayor Richard Stewart said he favours the split-island model, which allows a mix of full- and self-serve at most stations. That would mean those who are unable to pump their own gas would still be served, he said.
“It works in other communities,” Stewart said, adding that self-serve could operate between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., when there is currently no gas station service in Coquitlam. “I am comfortable with it.”
But whether changes are coming to the city’s self-serve policy is still unclear.
Staff are swamped with development projects working their way through city hall and there was an unwillingness from council to move the gas station issue up the priority list.
“They appreciate how busy we are right now,” Jim McIntyre, the city’s general manager of planning and development, told The Tri-City News. “Is this really the highest priority relative to other development applications right now?”
Still, he added that staff would be reviewing the issue. A preliminary report was expected to be brought forward in the fall, when council could decide whether they want staff to pursue policy changes.
The rules prohibiting self-serve stations date back to the early 1980s.
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