Canada Post is moving forward with plans to deliver a major upgrade to its Port Moody sorting facility.
Port Moody council on Tuesday granted a development permit to Canada Post to allow for renovation work at its 45 Mary St. facility.
The development permit and accompanying variance will allow Canada Post to add 1,819 square feet to the building which would then have a floor area of 5,732 square feet.
"There's a serious investment taking place with this building," said Trevor Stupac, Canada Post's manager of construction for Western Canada. "I've done three provinces now and I've never seen such a retrofit."
The development plan was first presented to council in 2007 but work on the project never proceeded despite Canada Post being granted the necessary approvals.
"The last few years I think they considered moving, in fact I had heard they were moving at one point," said Mayor Mike Clay. "Clearly, the world of post is changing. I'm sure they had a lot of uncertainty and now they've decided to go ahead and do a bit of an upgrade there."
Council did voice some concerns over allowing access to the facility of Spring Street, which contravenes the long-term goals for the area set out in the official community plan (OCP).
" There's access off of Spring Street that we need to maintain for those businesses to survive," said Clay. "Until the grand plan comes and we redevelop the whole neighborhood, we need to make sure that people are able to access their businesses."
