Those holding their breath for a Tim Hortons in Sooke will have to wait for their coffee a bit longer, with an opening day now slated for early December.
The project is a go with the leveling and clearing of the eight-hectare site – located between Saseenos Elementary and Edward Milne Community School – set to start in March.
“It seems to all be going well. It’s coming together, so we’ve got some positive movement,” said Jeff Frank, senior director with Castle Main Group, a First Nations services company and the developer behind the project.
Construction of the building will start by end of May.
Some things still need to be addressed, notably what’s the best way of dealing with the traffic flow along Sooke Road.
“What we’ve had to work with [Transportation Ministry] is that stretch of highway, as it had some issues with accidents, and now it’s about figuring what’s the best way to deal with that and integrate that into the development,” Frank said, adding those discussions will be ongoing in the coming weeks.
With that, comes the final piece of the puzzle.
“The federal infrastructure money is what we’re waiting for,” Frank said.
It’s the first step too, of a much larger project, with Tim Hortons and Petro-Canada gas station as the first phase. Second phase is the addition of mixed-use commercial buildings.
The Timmies, which was initially slated for a March opening this year, will be part of a 3,600 square foot convenience store that will serve a Petro-Canada gas station, complete with three island pumps of gas and diesel service.
The Transport Ministry is working with the District of Sooke and the developer to review the proposed site and potential traffic impacts, including possible changes that may be required to the local road network, said media spokesperson Danielle Pope.
“This review is part of a thorough process that is standard for these types of development proposals near provincial highways, and is still ongoing at this time.”
