New Winnipeg Costco clears hurdle at city hall

The plan to build a fourth Costco in Winnipeg cleared a hurdle Wednesday at city hall as the grocery giant wants to put a new store near Headingley by Assiniboia Downs.

A city committee voted in favour of altering some city requirements – which were requested by Costco. The requirements include four loading areas instead of five and reduce bike parking stalls from 64 to 32.

"I think it's exciting for the neighbourhood here in Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood as well as St. James," said Coun. Evan Duncan.

The new Costco is part of the Westport Festival Project. Those involved say this will act as the necessary anchor tenant to draw restaurants, a hotel and other retail stores to the mixed-use development, which also includes housing.

"The principal building will have a floor area of approximately 167,000 square feet," said city planner Robert Galston.

While the project moved a step closer Wednesday, it isn't a done deal yet, as Costco now needs to go through the site plan approval process and obtain a development permit.

It's unclear when this will get done and when construction could start.

"I would hope it's sooner rather than later, but I don't control that timeline. From Costco's standpoint, step one (is) done, let's get step two and three underway so we can get it up and going in the area," said Duncan.

With those site plans still yet to come, full details of the new grocery warehouse have not been released.

However, Costco is pledging to have 24 fuelling stations on site, the most of any Winnipeg location, to prevent lineups.