Regional District Frustrated with AG Land Reserve Commission
By 250 News
Friday, August 19, 2005 04:02 AM
"We have to stop this nonsense that the world revolves around the GVRD, and damn it it doesn’t! " Those are the words of Fraser-Fort George Regional District Chairman Colin Kinsley after hearing the Agricultural Land Reserve Commission had refused to grant the Region it's request to have some land rezoned.
At issue, an Official Community Plan for Pineview, which calls for some light industrial near the airport, highway commercial at the corner of highway 97 and the Old cariboo highway, and more light industrial on Willow Cale Road. The ALR returned the plan making major reductions to the pieces of property it would allow to be pulled from the reserve.
Chairman Kinsley added, " Here we have companies and towns in the Fraser Valley asking for rich river bed land to be pulled from the Agricultural Land Reserve for more industry and they get it. Meantime, I am aware of cases in this region where the ALRC has looked at gravel and rock sites that had poor elevations and the Commission has ruled the site could be leveled for the addition of greenhouses. "
Kinsley's concerns are at least partly validated by a report put together by the Staff with the City of Burnaby. Their report indicates that while the North Region ( including Fraser Fort George) has consistantly added lands to the agricultural land reserve, (more than 103 thousand acres from 2002-2005) the area which encompases the farm rich Fraser Valley, showed a net loss of more than 350 acres during the same time frame.
Chairman Kinsley went on to say "Then you have companies like Accenture pulling out of Prince George to set up in areas where they will contribute to snarling traffic, pollution and substandard housing, where young people will never be able to afford to buy a home until they are at least middle aged."
Director ZenZen put it very plainly "It seems all the development is allowed to happen south of Hope, we’re a small community trying to move ahead, and our hands are tied…it's frustrating not to be able to make decisions in our own region."
Director Bob Headrick says this is not a new problem "I've been wrestling with these guys for years" says Headrick "We need to know that if a company wants to set up a widgit shop, that we can provide the site for them, otherwise, we may as well put up a sign saying Electoral Area D is not open for business".
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Posted by: gypsy on August 19 2005 8:38 AM
Does anyone know if we subsidized Accenture to get them here initially?? Any concessions???
I suppose the young workers could afford to buy a house here??? Will the wage remain the same in Nanaimo??
Well anyhow they did not snarl traffic- they were it---and we already have lots of pollution---and approximately 4000 illegal suites permitted by City Hall for rent, (probably more now), but I assume they are all above sub standard. Of course they would not know that at city hall, as they are not subject to inspection-or are they???
Now just why did Accenture get out?? The best of all worlds was provided right here in Prince George-and they pull out????
Not to worry folks!!!!
Initiatives Prince George can just arrange to subsidize some other company to move here.
We will have that GST rebate money to spend soon. City Hall will spend that wisely-to be sure. Just have to solicit-and that Harris study for $145,000.00 will surely render great advice.
If not, we will just pay for a company to come here-even if it is just temporary.
Worked before---it'll work again!!!!!