Anti- business due to default? No fabric store here since Fabricland left a few years ago. Who needs to set up a business in PG, let alone expand? BBK can set up just across the street from city hall. With all the side effects I'm sure city council won't mind. Might keep the undesirables away from the 'burbs.

The whole East end of the City is practically empty with for rent, lease, signs all over the place. Plus the City owns scads of land down there. It would be ideal for this type of operation. Why put it next to a residential area??

Those who voted in favour have made the residents in the area furious. Not likely they will be voting for the yahs in the next election.

Ah its a green project, now I feel good all over. Go for it.

"Councillor Brian Skakun said he could not support it because he thinks the rezoning doesn’t fall under the official community plan and was concerned the rezoning could be challenged in court."

Actually it was Grant Bain who provided that explanation as being the key reason why Administration recommended the rezoning be denied.

I watched this debate. I tell you, it was totally absurd. I thought I was watching a bantering debate written by Lewis Carroll.

Residents were concerned about the storage of plastics for recycling on site, feeling that plastic was toxic. One councillor proudly noted that the plastics used for food storage such as yogurt, milk jugs, etc. was not toxic. The Councillor could not even consider that the residents were concerned what would happen to them if the place went up in flames not the day to day situation of shredding and storage. When polystyrene, for instance, combusts it does give off PACs and other toxins depending on the heat of the fire.

Several Councillors could not understand that the dust the residents were concerned about along the laneway was not the part of the laneway that the owners were using in the regular access to their business which they would be paving, but the laneway further down behind the houses which was not being paved and people used since they access on Hollandia was frequently blocked on busy days.

Then they many could not understand the legality of the rezoning with respect to the OCP despite the simple to understand explanation provided by Grant Bain. Several got it, but the rest were left in the dust. We need a Municipal Board in BC so that these matters could be taken up by residents.

Another said it was a business improvement. What it is a business expansion by moving the “buffer” even further into the residential area of the subdivision.

The Mayor was the sanest in this case, followed closely by Basserman, Krause and Skakun. Simply put, it is the right kind of business getting ready fro an increase in business, but in the wrong location.

The owner is going to be making a major new investment by building a new building. That building will have to be paid off with an increase in business. An increase in business means more traffic which, in that location, will mean more congestion. If there is a competing business set up somewhere else in the City in a central location with more room to move around without congestion and with additional room to grow, the business in that location will eventually die.

But then, that is not why Council exists, is it. Whichever way the decision went, it is nothing more than a crap shoot.

I believe that for this to go ahead a traffic study will have to be done which must show that the predicted congestion is not bad enough to stop the project. The interesting thing is that Council does not get to decide. It will be an Administrative decision. Them’s the ones who recommended it be rejected in the first place.

The makings of an internal political football.

I found the whole thing sureal. I can see why it would take a lot of dollars to get professionals to work at the Hall. ;-)

Seamutt, you hit the nail on the head. If it is green, the neighbourhood and the people using the streets to access other businesses can all go to hell.

If this guy really wants to expand his business he should operate it somewhere else. I think Council would have done not only other users of the area a favour, they would have done him a favour.

Maybe now that he is close to upzoning his property he can sell it at a higher price and relocate to a more appropriate place. It would not be the first time that was done.

Oh ..... I am starting a tally for voting purposes this November.

Four have received the first points towards my count down for making the appropriate decision. ;-)

I agree with gus on this one, the conversation was absurd.

The focus on this location overshadowed the second portion of the application: to include intermediate recycling centre in the Highway Commercial zone. BBK was previously classified as a ‘recycling centre minor’ under their zoning. Beyond what a ‘recycling centre minor’ can collect, an intermediate recycling centre can accept electronics such as computers, TVs, and cell phones, as well as household appliances, batteries, and office equipment such as photocopiers. Prior to last night’s decision an intermediate recycling centre was only permitted in light industrial zoned properties to ensure it was not adjacent to residential properties. I can’t believe that portion of the application, which influences a lot more properties then just this one, was not even discussed.

When Council “discussed” the residents’ concerns regarding toxic material they should not have focused on plastics.