New Subdivision Plan Moves Forward

Monday, February 16, 2009 08:07 PM

Area outlined in red is site of planned subdivision

Prince George, B.C.- The plan for a new 59 home subdivision has been moved forward by Prince George City Council.

The plan calls for the discharge of existing land use contracts, amendments to the Official Community plan and the rezoning of property.

Located at the corner of Otway and Foothills, the property borders on Moores Meadow. The land use contracts date back to 1977 and allowed for the removal of gravel.

The plan includes a multi family residential complex.

This is the first project to come before Council which has special consideration for the existing cement and asphalt plants. In both cases, the construction of residential properties will be at least 300 meters away from the plants.

The owners of Rolling Mix Concrete plant say they will voluntarily sign an agreement indicating they will never allow an asphalt plant on their property. While the continued operation of the concrete plant is expected to have some impact, a 200 meter treed buffer between Foothills and the residential development is expected to minimize those problems.

The area to be developed is 5.6 hectares.

Speaking against the development was Steve Lang, a man who lives in the Rainbow Park area. He says as a teacher, he takes classes to the Moores Meadow park and worries that once the residential area has been built, the "ambiance" of Moores Meadow will be lost. "It is one of the main attractions of Prince George, it is one of the first places I was introduced to when I moved here." He would like to see the City purchase the land and extend the green belt.

Development Services for the City of Prince George says the development won't infringe on the park, and its expected once the subdivision is built, there would be improved connectivity with the trail system.

Councilor Debora Munoz wanted to see a human health and environmental impact study for this particular application "We are proposing to place sensitive receptors 'people' close to existing industry." She says her concern is "Building new residential properties near point source emitters, I think it is an incompatable land use." She says she wants to avoid having residents coming forward in twenty or 30 years very angry or disappointed. Mayor Rogers says he could not support that motion, that he believes the work has been addressed by Development Services and in his mind it is a case of "buyer beware."

Having said that, Councilor Munoz is the only one who voted in favour of that motion, whichwas defeated. She was also the only Councilor to vote against all aspects of this development saying she doesn't see it as infill.

L&M Engineering's Heather Oland says the plan was developed having "More than followed prudent set backs between industry and residential areas."

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Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 08:07 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: bohemian on February 16 2009 8:34 PM

New council, same result: build the edges, and ignore supply/demand issues that will keep infill development (downtown and other older areas) from becoming economically viable.

Since this particular proposal needed a change to the Official Community Plan, it could have easily rejected it.

I suppose we'll see lots of city planning staff at the upcoming Smart Growth on the Ground workshops, drinking coffee and eating donuts on our dime, but ignoring (again) the information.

Posted by: active on February 16 2009 8:55 PM

development services says it won't infringe on the park !? That is because part of this scheme involves taking a bunch of land out of the protected park and turning it into (less protected) greenbelt -- gone will be the pines and other indigenous plants already growing there -- here come more suburban landscaping generic plants & more urban sprawl and traffic snarls.

Way to go Lang for being the one voice against this stupid thing

and 2 thumbs down to city councilors and mayor who voted for the dumb thing.
Great Smart Growth on the Ground planning yet again!

Posted by: HD on February 16 2009 10:08 PM

Nice dreams for now.
Nobody in their right mind is going to buy or build a house in PG for awhile.

Posted by: DPJ on February 16 2009 10:48 PM

good to plan for the future when grown\th returns to Prince George. Lots of potential in the economy here. Some of you pessimistic individuals should look and the glass half full instead of half empty.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 16 2009 11:32 PM

I wonder where the new asphalt plant will be? If it is ever built. Maybe we can buy asphalt from Alberta. Without a plant near PG maybe we can turn PG into kinda like Beverly Hills. Mix a little gravel with the tailing ponds near Athabasca and trailer or train it to here. It's called inter-provincial outsourcing. Doncha know?

Posted by: RUEZ on February 17 2009 6:58 AM

I know there's a subdivision in College Heights with only one and a half houses built on it. Why would anyone develop a new sub. at this time?

Posted by: Lamb on February 17 2009 8:40 AM

Wonder how close the subdivision will be to the container rail traffic going through? That is extremely impactful.

Good for Mr. Lang attending and speaking up at Council.

I think they will also get the poisobous air up there.

Posted by: gold_rush on February 17 2009 11:13 AM

Ya its hard to believe they are thinking about another subdivision, as the subdivision at Highway 16 and University Way is empty except i think two houses. The proposal at Moores meadow i think isnt to bad, as most of the area in that picture is just a gravel pit along with beetle killed forest. So in the long term, might not be to bad of location.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 17 2009 12:48 PM

Almost one and a half houses. Glad I ain't his banker. Reminds me of the Bates house in the movie. All ya need is a motel there.

Posted by: caranmacil on February 17 2009 9:57 PM

Well I remember a few other empty subs inmy time. Seems to me they all made a lot of money in the long run. Still, i guess others know more than i do. As far as i know people ARE buying and building houses in PG right now, as they always have (though at a slower rate). Does everyone posting here have to subscribe to the doom and gloom forcasts these days? Why dont you all try actually comparing the economy of PG today with some other periods in our recent history? It seems to me we are still much better off than we were during some good times in the past.
All that aside, if someone thinks they can make a go of such a developement why would council care to think otherwise? Where exactly would the down side be?