Don't expect larger shops to start sprouting up along the Alaska Highway anytime soon.

During the June 28 city council meetings, members opted not to go ahead with a bylaw to rezone the 13 commercial properties at the Yukon Gardens site so larger buildings – up to 1,500 square metres from the current 500-square-metre limit – could be housed there.

The proposed size would have been about the same as the Super A or former Food Fair grocery stores.

The property's owner, Lorne Metropolit, made the application to help sell the properties after the city approved the subdivision of the site earlier this year.

The city hasn't allowed larger stores to be developed on the highway away from the city's core.

However, it's been argued that having the larger commercial sites there would serve the Granger and Copper Ridge areas with their location next to the Hamilton Boulevard extension, a route that goes directly to the neighbourhoods.

It's not an argument most councillors were buying though.

As Coun. Doug Graham commented, the two neighbourhoods off Hamilton Boulevard already have a commercial node closer to them.

A grocery store and mall – containing a pub, daycare and pilates studio, among other businesses – are already located on Wilson Drive next to Hamilton Boulevard.

Graham added that after just going through an process to develop a revised Official Community Plan, it doesn't make sense to now "throw this in.”

Graham, like other councillors, commented he would be more amenable to considering the zoning for specific lots in the mix of 13 to come forward on an individual basis.

Coun. Dave Stockdale agreed, noting Graham had listed off many of his concerns. Those include the fact the site really isn't in a neighbourhood where it could be considered a "commercial node” for that community.

"There are no local residences,” he said.

Coun. Betty Irwin added her voice in opposing the proposal as well, arguing that it has the potential of opening the door to big box stores being located on the highway.

Though not opposed "on principal,” Coun. Dave Austin said he would like to see more detailed plans for the site first.

Countering those arguments were Mayor Bev Buckway and Coun. Ranj Pillai. Both said they would like to see the bylaw get through first reading to begin a process that could include obtaining more information and having public feedback on it.

With that, the five councillors against going ahead with the rezoning were successful in voting it down, much to the surprise of the property owner.

"I was a little astounded,” Metropolit told the Star, noting that he has no plans for his next move.

He will first take some time to consider council's decision, then decide what to do with the land.

"We're just going to wait and see,” he said. "We'll have to sit and think.”