Haldi Residents to Keep Up The Fight
Friday, March 15, 2013 @ 4:39 AM
Prince George, B.C.- It is full steam ahead for the residents of the Haldi road community who oppose the changes to the Official Community plan.
Those who attended a meeting last night in that community agreed to press forward with their legal options to battle City Hall over its approval of changes to the OCP and a rezoning, which open the door for the development of a recovery centre in a rural residential community.
“We have to wait until we see what City Council does with the fourth reading on the changes” says Laura Jagodnik of Haldi Road, “But the people here really feel City Council was just going through the motions at the public hearing, and had already had their minds made up before the meeting started.” Council voted 8 to 1 in favour of the OCP amendments and rezoning, Councillor Brian Skakun was the lone dissenter.
The focus now will be on raising the necessary funds to cover the court costs. “We are trying to set up a special bank account, but in the meantime, some of us will be contacting those who had pledged financial support. We are encouraging anyone who wants to assist, to contact us through our email at haldiroad64@gmail.com” says Jagodnik.
The meeting also saw the development of a sub- committee that will look for information on the process that must be followed in order to break away from the City of Prince George. The Haldi Road region has little in the way of City services, no sewer, no water, items which had been promised to the region more than two decades ago, shortly after the area became part of the City.
The Northern Women’s Supportive Recovery Centre is expected to provide services for up to 30 women. The majority of the beds will be privately paid at an estimated cost of $6500 a month. The initial plans which called for the development of an artisan bakery and greenhouse had to be scrapped as those applications are not allowed under the approved zoning.
Comments
Bravo!
more tax dollars wasted while Haldi residents fight this…it’s gonna happen…get over it & move on & save all PG taxpayers the costs because you don’t want to help these women in your neighbourhood!
Its not about the women mythoughts! The OCP and zoning amendments don’t clarify women – all it allows is an institution. The current proponents want a women rehab center, but what happens when its no longer viable? Opens up the door to anything classified as an institution.
Also, high density housing does not fit in with a rural residential neighbourhood. A center of this sort would work in my neighbourhood, only because I live in town and there are apartments nearby – extra traffic wouldn’t be noticed.
It’s sad that the neighbourhood needs to raise funds to fight the city on what is obviously wrong while the proponents sit back and let the city pay for their fight – or I should say the taxpayers pay for their fight.
probably little hard to move on when when you live beside a huge sewer lagoon and have water trucks running through your neighbourhood……
This should be put in an area with city services or city services should be extended to Haldi residents.
I also want to say that I really hope they are successful in leaving the City of PG. Currently in the market for a house outside of city limits myself and this will only expand the possibly locations. I wonder if Beaverly will also join them?
The city limits are at Hartman Road so almost all of Beverly is outside already.
Posted by: peegee on March 15 2013 7:22 AM
I also want to say that I really hope they are successful in leaving the City of PG.
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I have to wonder if that would change anything? Is there any reason the recovery center couldn’t go ahead in the District?
One side of Hartman is city, the other side isn’t. There is/was a house on Hartman that I was interested in at one point but on the wrong side of the road.
I think the district has different regulations in regards to institutions, but I’m not 100% sure on the matter. All I know is they have much better snow removal and road maintenance than what Haldi gets now with taxes about half of what people pay in city limits.
Haldi residents need to separate from the City
City hall as said they look after the good of city not the individual property ownersâ¦No kidding they look after their friends and whoâs pockets they can fill up with tax payers money
Haldi really has no reason to be in the City the services would be the same and the property taxes would be significantly lower
Haldi still has no water or sewer lots of roads are still dirt and the city has said it is to expensive to install services
So why stay in the city???????????????
Haldi road, and other areas came into the City through amalgamation in 1972,. Since then they have paid taxes and got little or no service from the City.
I think they should fight this issue to the bitter end, because the fact of the matter is, a few **vested interest groups** are getting preferential treatment over the concerns of the majority in the area. This kind of BS has to stop, as it takes place all over the City.
I for one will back up my support with a **cash** donation.
The email does not work. I get a message that says the site is not properly set up.
Cheers
I had no problem with the email address. I added the address to my contact list.
There is a great article in today’s free press written by Eric Allen on this matter. I too will be supporting Haldi Road with a cash donation. I just can’t believe all the *yes* men on City council who are clearly either too gun shy or lack the leadership skills to appropriately represent the Citizens of Prince George. With the exception of Councillor Skakun and Frizell, most councillors seem to be towing along with Mayor Green’s “Lets Get Started* mantra in support of privitization, selling off of public assets, and appeasing the interests of a select few who want to line their own pockets and who don’t seem to have an invested interest in the greater good of the Citizens of Prince George. ‘Lets get Real’! and elect some decent candidates in the next municipal election for Mayor and council and put a stop to this insanity.
1975 was more than two decades ago
The Beaverly area within city limits by the Beaverly Elementary School is past the ‘Welcome to PG’ sign..odd
They have a city well there and a huge city lagoon on the opposite side of the highway that services their area. Surprised the same approach was not taken in the Haldi and some Chief Lake and Blackburn areas within the city boundaries. Maybe too much cost compared with running the pipes from downtown area? Also heard there were sewer issues in that area a few years ago too, so maybe it is not such a good idea either
A little off topic but
Just watched CKPG..apparently Mr. Charles Scott will be campaign manager to Liberal Shirley Bond. Just watched the Mar.4 public hearing in regards to the OCP and listened to Charles talk about how on the day of the hearing made a few phonecalls to “other” (would have perhaps been useful had you mentioned which ones) planning departments throughout B.C. asking if they had any problems with Recovery Centers. ??? really ??? – absolute political madness and I call BS again!!
^^^^^I’ve said this right from the start, there is to much politics involved with this fiasco. More and more of the players coming to light are the Liberals! My question would be would a certain main player be involved in another scandal?
It is downright scary to read how many are involved in this.
If uou are turned off by Ms. Bond’s campaign manager and his tire to the recovery center, remember to use the most powerful tool you have to express your displeasure…Your Vote!
Residents in the Millar support you! Fight on, Haldi community!
Seriously, Charles Scott is her campaign manager…..it has been nice knowing you Shirley. His arrogance is matched only by Stolz’s. We need a political “re-set” button, at all levels.
Does Prince George Need A Municipal Conflict Of Interest Commissioner?
By 250 News
Thursday, December 06, 2007 03:52 AM
Former City Councillor Dan Rogers says there is a need for more accountability in municipal government, “As someone who has been involved in local government for more than a decade, I have observed that while we are very quick to say we are the most open and accountable form of government , the reality is there isnât a strong mechanism in place to ensure thatâs the case.”
Speaking to the issue raised by residents of the Miller addition as to whether there was a conflict by some members of Council who voted on the re-zoning of the old Back Packer Motel to make way for a new home for the homeless , Rogers says , “The concept of having a third party, along the same lines as the conflict of Interest Commissioner that is in place with other levels of government ,would be of great assistance in ensuring accountability and for clearing the air when false accusations are made.”
ROgers says the trouble with the system as it stands, is that it’s simply a matter of he said-she said, “There is no way to either prove there is a conflict of interest or conversely, protect the reputation of someone falsely accused.”
Rogers says while the Court is an option, it isnât a realistic option for either those who make the accusations or those falsely accused.
Such a Commissioner says Rogers “Would make local government more transparent and accountable while protecting the reputation of those that run for local office.”
Rogers suggests the responsibilities of such a Commissioner would include not only Prince George City Hall, but Regional District, and the Communities under that umbrella.
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How long until we have a conflict of interest commission for Municipal governments. W need one with scary Shari at the relm.
It is a sad day in Prince George, when it’s citizens must take their government to court!
Mayor Green and company save Skakun have no respect for the home owners of this city! It’s becoming more apparent as time goes on that our Mayor and her blind sheep are simply puppets on a string. Our brave soldiers in the great wars fought for their/our homeland. Our fellow citizens of Haldi road must do the same to defend their vested interests of home and property in the theater of the courts. Bravo, you have support throughout the city because council’s recent decision on Haldi Road effects all the neighborhoods of this fine city!
Three is a real need for an independent conflict of interest Commissioner to decide when Mayor and Councillors are “in conflict”. For them to declare themselves “not in confict” is laughable….they go on until caught and many important decisions are voted on in the meantime, i.e. OCP amendments, zoning changes, etc.
The latest OCP amendment change in the works will have more of an impact on all neighborhoods of the city than many residents of Prince George realize. It will give Mayor Green and Council the freedom to locate an institution in any neighborhood of the city at whatever densities they like…..scarey!! Too much power in the hands of the Mayor!!
The OCP was carefully developed to provide a well thought out plan for the city (in consultation with neighborhoods) for future development of the city for both urban and rural areas. With just one amendment, the Mayor and Council will undo all the good work that went into the development of the OCP…what a shame and a sad day for the whole city….not just the Haldi neighborhood who’se concerns were completely ignored by Mayor and Council (except Brian Skakun) at 3rd reading for the OCP amendment. The whole city has to get behind the Haldi community to support them in their legal battle to stop Mayor Green and Council from stomping out the rights of all Prince George residents. I will be supporting the Haldi residents in their fight against city hall….they are fighting for the rights of the whole city against a Mayor who wants to extinguish their rights…..that has to be stopped before the OCP amendment is allowed to pass!! It has passed 3rd reading already and only needs to pass 4th and final reading before it becomes law (and the well intended OCP terms become history). The current council (except for Brian Skakun) is not working for the people, it is only working for businesses who will profit from these intrusions into neighborhoods. Protect your rights!!
Sorry about the typo in “Geepee” posting…First sentence should read: “There is a real need for an independent conflict of interest Commissioner….”
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