The expansion – an increase from the store’s 60,000 square foot size (not including its 9,800 square foot outdoor garden centre) to nearly 83,000 square feet plus an 8,500 square foot garden centre – will also include a reconfiguration of the retail plaza’s Craigflower Road vehicle entrance, and changes to the parking area as the big-box department store grows to the north (towards Craigflower Road).

 

A second pedestrian staircase will be built along the Craigflower Road frontage in addition to a staircase situated at the intersection of Admirals and Craigflower roads.

 

Although a larger building will require 280 parking stalls based on municipal zoning requirements, the proponent is planning to pay the Township of View Royal $504,000 to provide 204 or 205 total stalls (a discrepancy was noted in municipal documents), including two stalls with electric vehicle chargers, while relocating 29 stalls due to the expansion. Parking for 30 bicycles will also be provided.

 

Canadian Tire’s automotive service centre will remain unchanged, in terms of its presence.

 

The exterior of the store will undergo a re-brand in-keeping with the chain’s motif that features a prominent black feature wall with a Canadian Tire logo, larger brand lettering than the existing design, and branding for pick-up services popularized by online orders during COVID.

 

Canadian Tire has long been a mainstay of the Capital’s retail industry, with its newest stores situated at North Saanich’s Sandown Commons retail centre and in the former Target space at Hillside Shopping Centre. The company formerly operated stores in Gordon Head along Shelbourne Street, in Esquimalt along Esquimalt Road, and along Douglas Street in Victoria. Additional locations include the View Royal store, a Langford store on Peatt Road, and a Saanich store at the Broadmead Village retail plaza, plus an automotive service centre adjacent to University Heights Shopping Centre on Cedar Hill Road. C