New Subdivision Moving Forward in North End

Monday, August 22, 2005 07:41 PM

Prince George construction continues with what engineer David McWalter calls “balance” to the growth of the City.

In one of the few applications presented to the City that does not call for further development in the College Heights area near Walmart, instead, the rezoning request was for the Foothills- Chief Lake road area. The request is for a single family residential subdivision on the land at 5567n Chief Lake Road which could include a convenience store.

Council approved moving the request to third and final reading.

After the vote, Mayor Colin Kinsley noted how good it is to see that there are requests nearly every week for building. “Good to see the hidden jewel of the north is finally being discovered” said Kinsley.

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Posted on Monday, August 22, 2005 07:41 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: shawnpetriw on August 23 2005 8:14 AM

This development may be offering "balance," but it still offers sprawl.

Perhaps with a barrel of oil on its way to $100 we should be looking at infill development and creating density.

Until we create a demand for infill and downtown residential development through scarcity (don't approve development on the edges), we won't get it. The developers will always go for the easier and cheaper route.

We need to make infill and downtown development the preferred route, at least for the next ten years.

Shawn Petriw

Posted by: Marketing Man on August 23 2005 10:05 AM

Nobody is going to develop downtown with the prices that are being charged for rent and land. There needs to be big breaks for revitalization attempts in the downtown core and a number of key players need to be involved.

Posted by: MrPG on August 23 2005 10:08 AM

I agree partially, but it's difficult to force (legislate) people where to build. Do you want to turn people away if they don't build in the bowl? I don't think we as a city have the luxury of doing that.

The Westgate area is a popular place to live for a reason... Less pulp stink, generally less crime, decent retail. If I were a home builder, I wouldn't want to be forced to build in the VLA (for example).

Posted by: shawnpetriw on August 23 2005 4:44 PM

What is a zoning bylaw (being re-written as we discuss this issue) but legislation determining where people can and cannot build?

This is exactly the power local governemnt has, and why the developer had to seek approval for said development.

I am suggesting we should be smarter with the use of that power and look at the bigger, long-term implications of land use decisions.

That a city council has the power to regulate land use and development is not debateable — they have it.

Do we have the right people wielding that power? You decide in November.

Shawn Petriw

Posted by: MrPG on August 23 2005 5:13 PM

Shawn, I guess I should clarify. I am well aware of how zoning works, but as I said, developers only want to develop where people want to live (i.e. Westgate) -- they are simply reacting to demand.

Posted by: owl on August 25 2005 2:34 PM

While subdividing a small property at the outer edge of the City limits certainly feels like adding to sprawl, the fact is this particular subdivision meets the phasing requirements set by the City ans is very much an "infill" project.

It is within the first phase of four phases identified in the current OCP.

Here is the OCP map to look it up. Top left hand corner. South west corner of Chief Lake Road and Foothills.

http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/city_services/ocp/Schedule_B1_Urban_Phasing_Map.pdf