Industrial Land Plans for Prince George Outlined

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 03:56 AM

The City of Prince George is looking at three plans for the development of major and light industrial lands. The plans are necessary as there is increasing demand for light industrial lands as the Prince Rupert port opens up new opportunities including the possibility of increased manufacturing sites in the region, especially if new mines are developed.

The report from City Staff say the diverse labour force here is well positioned to move into the roles which may develop with increased oil and gas exploration in the north west, mining and the potential for manufacturing.

There is however, an awareness that industrial lands are best suited outside the bowl area, as air quality issues persist. While the report says the number of building permits for light industrial is low, Councillor Don Zurowski asks if that is because the current supply is inappropriate? That is one of the uestions that will be asked before the plan returns in the final form.

Option One - Short Term (approximately 5 years)

This option identifies the existing undeveloped and unzoned land base designated for light industrial development in the Official Community Plan. As identified in the report, 443 ha of land is currently designated in the OCP for light industrial development that has not yet been zoned or developed for industrial purposes. Most of this land (348 ha) is located west of the airport. It is felt that this land base will be sufficient to meet short term demand, although some of this land is encumbered by current subdivision configuration, ownership not conducive to development by private interests and topographical constraints.

Option 2 – Medium Term 5 – 15 years This option involves the addition of 250 to 300 ha of land to the light industrial land base. This land would be designated for light industrial development on the Future Land Use Map in the OCP. Situated west of the airport, this would facilitate the growth of a critical mass of light industrial development in this area, enabling the establishment of complimentary land uses on a phased basis.

3.17.3 Option 3 – Long Term 25 yearsThis is the same time frame established for the designation of land for urban residential development and for which growth projections are established for the City.

This option would involve the designation of the 685 ha land assembly for light industrial development which is currently under consideration for removal from the Agricultural Land Reserve pursuant to applications from two separate proponents.

The draft plan will be offered for public consultation and the final report which recommended changes to the Official Community Plan will be presented to Council before the end of the year.

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Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 03:56 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Parrothead on September 18 2007 7:34 AM

Sure designate more industrial land. before it's of real use, the infrastructure to support it must be there. I'm talking about roads. The truck traffic that will soon be increasing to and from Prince Rupert will all flow into Prince George from 16 West. 16 West is NOT ready for that. We need to have the ability to move that traffic away from downtown, and that means a ring road.

And that, my friends is a long way off.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 18 2007 1:36 PM

There is land reserved for ring road development, if it is ever needed, but right now the focus is on the railway and airport transportation infrastructure possibilities. Lets not increase the truck traffic aspect as it is not as fuel efficient as the railway in the future, and not as fast as cargo aircraft in the near term.

Posted by: Chadermando on September 19 2007 5:51 AM

No plans to develop an industrial site in the North East where the wind blows? I guess all industrial development will be light industrial non polluting? Polluters need not apply?

I think if we were serious about becoming a transportation hub we would have the provincial and federl governments paying to build a ring road connecting the west to 97 south, and 97 south to Salmon Valley providing access to major industrial lands through the Fraser Flats.

Posted by: pulpworker on September 19 2007 9:17 AM

Ridings, both federal and provincial, are sewn up and won't change in the next election(s). So don't expect any favors from the governments, they don't have any voters to sway. Besides, what are the alternatives?

Posted by: owl on September 19 2007 9:12 PM

Heavy industrial land needs to be outside the city limits. There is very little, if any, land in the City limits which would be reasonable for industrial land.

This is the City's OCP, not the RDFFG's.