There was a time Delta council fought to ensure full-service was available at local gas stations for residents.
Will council consider the idea now?
Several residents recently wrote to the current council conveying concern a North Delta gas station was reportedly going to drop its full-serve option for motorists.
They noted older people and those with mobility issues will be most affected.
A staff response noted there are no municipal requirements or regulations in Delta to compel a service station to provide full-service and that the decision is that of the business owner.
Another staff response to more letters submitted noted a report will be prepared for council on the issue.
Back in December of 1979, council proposed a bylaw that would give the municipality control over the number of self-serve gas stations in Delta.
The council of the day asked municipal staff to develop the bylaw after Chevron Canada announced plans to convert the full-service station at highways 10 and 99 to self-serve and remove the service bays.
Council had withheld the building permit necessary for conversion for 30 days in the hope that the new bylaw would pass in time to prevent the conversion of the station.
The bylaw would see council have the power to approve any new self-service stations or conversions, while also establishing special zoning for self-service stations.
The bylaw was approved in January of 1980 with Chevron’s application cited as the primary reason.
“I feel we have to draw the line somewhere. It’s unfortunate that this application was the straw that broke the camel’s back as far as council is concerned,” Ald. Norm Lortie remarked at the time.
Lortie’s comment followed a letter from Chevron Canada which outlined the steps the company had taken to preserve its full service station and charged council was discriminating against the company.
Mayor Earnie Burnett asked the alderman if they felt increased hours to 24-hours-a-day would compensate for the loss of full-service, but council members argued they wanted to ensure full-serve was going to be available to residents.
Ald. Karl Moser noted that Chevron could apply to change the station to self-serve under the provisions of the new bylaw.
For years neighbouring Richmond has had a bylaw stipulating gas stations must offer full-service.
