Concept  of layout of  new strata development on North Nechako  Road

Prince George, B.C. – Council for the City of Prince George has  approved a rezoning application to  pave the way for a 27 unit strata development on North Nechako Road,  but there are traffic concerns.

The development  has  some concerned about  the  cumulative effects  on  North Nechako Road.    This is one of three  housing developments  along North Nechako Road,  and while it may only be 27 units,   when  added to the  Nechako View  project,  and  one  just east of North Meadows,   there could soon  be a significant number of vehicles added an already  busy North Nechako Road.

There area number of  concerns:

• North Nechako Road does not have sidewalks,
• traffic turning left to access  or egress Cedars Christian School  often backs up  in the morning
• there are no pull outs for transit

A traffic generation report   for this  particular development was completed by L&M engineering,  but   there was no ‘traffic count’ done  “We didn’t actually do a traffic count,  we  just looked at the trip generation  for the site” said L&M’s Terry Fjellstrom “It’s a theoretical traffic count”  which is based on the size of the particular development.

There was no indication the trip generation  report took into account  the  combined impacts of this  development  and two other  projects that  are just  a couple of kilometers  west.

Councillor Brian Skakun   supported the development,   but  said he appreciated the concerns that have been raised about traffic along this corridor “I think at some point,   because it is such a bottle neck, that   I think we’re really going to have to look at a long  term mitigation  plan for this because the traffic there can  be horrendous, and it’s not getting any better and the  more development there is  along North Nechako,  Foothills,  the Hart, it’s just going to  be a funnel.”

Skakun’s comments were supported by his fellow Councillors,   “We’re not just seeing one development in that area” said Councillor Murry Krause,  “We are seeing a number of them, so I really do think we have to have a conversation about  traffic safety  on those roads.”

Mayor Lyn Hall “I can certainly agree about the concerns that have been raised around the pedestrian  traffic,  traffic itself,  the potential of trailways, I  know how difficult it is to put sidewalks in that area.”   While  pleased  the City will  be taking a  more in depth  look at  safety along North Nechako,  the Mayor says  this development  will round out  Prince George’s housing supply “We are  now getting to the point where we are providing  housing for a wide range of  demographic in our community and we didn’t have that   two or  three years ago.  we are seeing development for seniors,  we’re seeing  development, potentially, for students,   and others  throughout the community and this   just adds  to the housing  market opportunities for people in Prince George.”

The rezoning was unanimously approved.