A 93-year-old 91原创 corner store could be revitalized as part of a new development, but Township council isn鈥檛 sure if a gas station should be part of the process.

The Berry General Store was built in 1930 at the corner of 232nd Street and Fraser Highway.

For years it served the local farming community, and was for the last several decades of its operation known as the Old Country General Store.

But the store has been shuttered and boarded up for years.

A report to Township council on July 24 said that Mounpillar Enterprises wants a heritage designation for the building, and plans to restore the original building, as well as expanding business on the site.

The new structure, to the east along Fraser Highway, would include a gas bar and a mixed-use building with some housing on the second floor.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see the Berry building revitalized,鈥� said Councillor Michael Pratt.

But he said he wasn鈥檛 so excited about the gas bar.

The Township is working to encourage both active transportation 鈥� walking and cycling 鈥� and public transit, and there are already gas stations along Fraser Highway, he noted.

Adding another isn鈥檛 a small matter.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e effectively a permanent structure,鈥� he said.

Pratt moved that the project be referred back to 91原创 Township staff to work with the developer to come up with a project that doesn鈥檛 include a gas station.

The motion passed on a five to four vote.

The Township has recently been looking into more development of the industrially-zoned 鈥渆mployment lands鈥� that front parts of Fraser Highway, mostly between 228th Street and 240th Street. That would include the area where the Berry store is located.

The goal is to provide more industrial land 鈥� in short supply across Metro Vancouver 鈥� and to create more local jobs.

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