Costco is looking to build a new gas station with a maximum of 24 pumps in Ottawa’s east end. The retailer has filed an application with the City of Ottawa to build a new gas bar at the Costco Wholesale Business Centre on Cyrville Road, along with a new entrance to the store and gas station along the street. Under the plan, 18 pumps would be constructed immediately, with six planned for a future expansion. The parking lot would be reduced from 603 spots to 478 parking stalls. “There will be no changes to the existing main retail building as part of this site plan application,” the application said. “This development will include a gas bar, reduction in parking stalls, and an additional site access accompanied by soft landscaping. The gas bar will be implemented on the eastern side of the existing building with a new site access onto Cyrville Road.” According to the accompanying zoning confirmation report, the gas bar will be able to accommodate a total of 66 cars at any given time, with 48 cars in the queue and 18 at the pumps. “Costco gas bars are also designed to accommodate a large number of vehicles to keep service moving quickly,” the report said. “For the initial build-out of 18 pumps, each lane will be able to accommodate one car at each pump (three cars/pumps per lane), with eight cars in each queuing lane, for a total of 11 cars in each lane.” There would be no sale of convenience items or food at the gas pumps. Construction is expected to begin this spring and be completed in the summer. Three Costco locations currently have gas bars – on Hunt Club Road at Merivale Road, on Ogilvie Road and on Strandherd Drive in Barrhaven.
