Public Consultation On Residential Wood District

Monday, April 26, 2010 08:46 PM

Area within orange rectangle is suggested for special District

Prince George, B.C. – Establishing a Residential Wood Innovation Comprehensive District, won’t be an easy or quick project.

The idea is one that came from the Smart Growth on the Ground project. It suggests such an area with increased density and primary wood construction, be established in the area bounded by Winnipeg and Victoria Streets; 4^th and Eleventh Avenues. It is an idea that is strongly supported by the “Downtown Partnership”.

The idea is not very popular with residents of the Crescents neighbourhood, who say the increased density and height of apartment buildings will have a negative impact on the historical flavour of their neighbourhood.

Staff advise, just entering into a public consultation will cost about $25 thousand dollars in advertising, space rentals and staff time. They also advise, working on this project could cause delays in other work such as the Official Community Plan and the Golf Course – Neighbourhood plan.

Council has agreed to go ahead with a public consultation. The source of funding for that process has yet to be identified.

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Posted on Monday, April 26, 2010 08:46 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: gus on April 26 2010 9:21 PM

delays in the Official Community Plan????

Good lord. That is already 4 years late. What's another 2 years???? Why do we even bother having an official community plan? When was it ever adhered to??????

Posted by: gus on April 26 2010 10:19 PM

The downtown "high rise" office buildings have a major impact on the historical flavour of the downtown with wooden sidewalks.

We can get the heritage people in town to put up some of those neat signs after those low rise abodes have been torn down.

Posted by: pgmatt on April 26 2010 10:33 PM

I prefer they not build anywhere as it will ruin the heritage of ugly,shitty buildings that Prince George is world renowned for.

Posted by: Eagleone on April 26 2010 10:46 PM

IS this an eminent domain issue... looks that way to me. Is it because the politicians think they can, so they just do it anyways? What ever happened to private property rights?

Posted by: DPJ on April 27 2010 1:06 AM

NIMBY's

Posted by: gus on April 27 2010 6:05 AM

I think you may be on to something eagleone when it comes to the wood part.

The City has a right to zone property as to use. It may actually not have a right to zone based on construction material unless it can be shown that it is for public safety. There are building codes which deal with much of that and the City cannot require that an owner build to a higher standard than required by the codes.

The City can set voluntary guidelines. They can sweeten those deals with financial or bonusing incentives.

The Crescents group, however, would be concerned about the height and possibly the density.

If this City will ever start to grow in population again and the density were to stay low, that area would eventually fill up with larger houses of modern vintage to replace the small houses of another era that dominate the area.

Posted by: He spoke on April 27 2010 7:21 AM

You want density, stop the urge to develop more lots. This will increase pressure on existing land space, and then you will densify the existing area.

Yes, the corridor between the bypass and Carney, 5th and 15th should be turned into medium density housing. Not in a way to encourage a future slum, but an upend apartments and condos.