DBIA Second Open House Today

Tuesday, June 09, 2009 04:00 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The second of two planned open houses to discuss the Downtown Business Improvement Area is set for later today.

The DBIA exists as an association, but has no income as it’s plan to renew it’s special levy bylaw was defeated by City Council last December. At that time, the plan was to expand the area which would be subject to an extra levy of $1.70 per thousand dollars of assessment.

Thos who opposed the expansion argued there had not been enough consultation, there was no business plan, the levy was too high and the boundary had been arbitrarily drawn.

Now, the new boundary is the same as the one used by the Smart Growth on the Ground project, and the proposed levy has been increased to $2.23 per thousand of assessed value.

The open house today is to start at 4:00 and run until 7:00. It is taking place in the Ramada Hotel, Cranbrook room.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: CaringSoul on June 9 2009 8:02 AM

I am going to go out on a limb here and speculate that very few businesses in this reccession are doing to well. Now is not the time in my oppinion to be trying to get a cash grab to the tune of 2.23 percent on every thousand. Between the city and the regional district the tax increases were rediculous as it is. When the city planners started creating all the strip malls outside of downtown is when all fell apart for the bowl. It is what it is now and good luck trying to fix it.

Posted by: gus on June 9 2009 12:13 PM

One thing to remember. The City Council sets the direction they give to the planners. I suspect it would be difficult for planners to oppose that direction. I know a few who have moved on, likely becuase of that difference of opinion of how to maintain a balance with respect to the direction of development within the City.

I know that people often say that developers have a tough time in the City to get approvals. Every time I hear that, I have to laugh. Actually I should be crying because of the mess Council has been making of this City over the years.

Why they even bother with planning is beyond me.

Posted by: Harbinger on June 9 2009 8:30 PM

If a merchant downtown was seen to have a bucket of paint and a brush at the ready to spruce up the outside of the ol' store, you can be sure a minion from city hall along with an assessor would be just waiting with pen in hand to make a note to raise this storekeepers taxes. Good luck on that note.

Posted by: lmorge on June 9 2009 11:06 PM

pg has the highest property taxes I have ever seen in any town.

Posted by: thereasonableman on June 10 2009 9:42 AM

That's because they have the biggest appetite for BLING.

This city spends money like a crack addict.