Prince George City Council has unanimously voted against proceeding with the rezoning for property adjacent to All Roads RV on Queensway for the expansion of the business.

The decision follows much opposition from neighbours. “Ours is a residential neighbourhood not a highway strip commercial zone” said some of the letters presented to Council. The letters were only part of the presentation to Council.

Residents also complain they were not given adequate notice of an open house. One resident noted, the report from City staff indicated there were no locals at the open house, but they say that wasn’t because they weren’t interested, it was because they hadn’t been given proper notification.  The City says it did advertise the open house in the local newspaper which is normal. Residents  say they didn’t see the ad.  The notification for the  public hearing was made according to the rules of the Municipal Act.

The neighbours had submitted two petitions, one had 35 signatures, the other had 37.  The neighbours also submitted letters.  They say in their opposition to the re-zoning, that one piece of property is the only buffer between the residential neighbourhood and the commercialism of Queensway.  They also fear that although they  have been told the existing small home on that site will not be torn down, they are hearing through the grapevine that All Roads plan to bulldoze the site. Not so, says Al Roads Agent Harry Backlin.  He says the home is a rental property and it will stay "as is where is."

Resident Anne Muirhead, speaking on behalf of the residents, says the applicant is asking for expansion, but it has already expanded "illegally" as r.v’s are already being parked on two lots not yet rezoned for that purpose.  She says while the initial report from City Staff in August  recommended denial of the rezoning, a few months later the recommendation is to approve, yet all the concerns raised the first time round (traffic and access) remain. 

A second resident  told Council safety is a key issue for him as there is a day care centre and a seniors home in the area, but he worries the drivers moving the r.v.’s around may not be able to drive properly. He also complained the business is already violating bylaws as the company has not left any space for customer or employee parking on the  lot.

Councillors noted concerns over safety,  traffic and the future for the nighbourhood.  Councilor Murry Krause says he would like to see a full neighbourhood poan develped for "Historic Fort George" before approving any changes to the Official Community Plan.

All Roads has been down this road before.  The R.V., camper and trailer sales company had some issues with City Hall when it first set up operations on First Avenue. That site was deemed not big enough, or zoned for the kind of sales they wanted to carry on. All Roads was encouraged to move its operations to its present location on Queensway.