Plans to restrict the number of car dealerships in Colwood have shifted into high gear.
As a first step towards improving the “woefully unimpressive” gateway to Colwood along Island Highway, the city intends to amend its land use bylaw, adding ‘automotive dealership’ to the list of prohibited uses.
If adopted, it would mean all new automotive dealership businesses looking to be located within Colwood would have to seek council approval via a rezoning application.
“This process will enable council to review and make decisions on future automotive dealership businesses and locations on a case-by-case basis,” writes Richard Roy, senior planner, in a report to councillors.
Seven existing automotive dealerships in Colwood would be placed in a state of legal non-conformance, allowing them to continue as long as the business remains operational. One other is currently operating under a temporary use permit, which expires in May 2026.
“We’re not saying you have to leave – this is about this council and the community getting a say on future operations,” said Coun. Dean Jantzen at the Feb. 24 council meeting.
“We’re not trying to stifle or impact somebody’s existing business,” he added.
Initially proposed by Jantzen in January 2022, the idea behind the amendment is to unlock land for more creative, mixed-use ideas, to help transform the ‘Colwood strip’.
While supportive of the bylaw amendment, Coun. Ian Ward felt more needs to be done to help hurry along the improvements. “How do we incentivize people to make Colwood’s entryway … our gateway lands, something better than the strip mall car lot fiasco that it evolved to be,” he said.
"What we’re presenting here is wise I believe," said Mayor Doug Kobayashi, who noted that while automotive dealerships do "produce good revenues for the city," he feels Colwood has "got carried away a little bit" with the number of businesses in the area.
At the meeting, the bylaw received its first three readings, which was unanimously supported by councillors. Its final reading will be considered at a meeting on March 24.
