Prince George Part of Smart Growth Project

Thursday, October 04, 2007 01:23 PM

Prince George is one of a handful of B.C. communities that will be taking part in a new project called "Smart Growth on the Ground" that will help P.G. with its plans for downtown.

This non governmental program provides resources and expertise to assist in the development of a sustainable development plan for a specific area.

"This program will help bring focus to our plans for downtown," says Mayor Kinsley. "I am so pleased to have been one of the chosen communities to participate in the initiative and look forward to the momentum it will help generate as we continue with our current and future plans to revitalize our downtown."

The process will include stakeholder education and input, preparation of a design brief, an intensive design charrette, research, and ultimately, on the ground changes such as new buildings, infrastructure, and by-law amendments.

Othe communities taking part in the project are Maple Ridge, the District of Squamish and the Town of Oliver/Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.

The cost to the City to take part is in the range of $45,000 which is 10% of the total cost of the project.

SmartGrowth BC defines ‘smart growth’ as development which exemplifies the following characteristics:

Mixes land uses;
Well designed, compact neighbourhoods;
Provides a variety of transportation choices;
Creates diverse housing opportunities;
Encourages growth in existing communities;
Preserves open spaces, natural beauty and environmentally sensitive areas;
Protects and enhances agricultural lands;
Utilizes smarter and cheaper infrastructure and green buildings;
Fosters a unique neighbourhood identity;
Nurtures engaged citizens.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2007 01:23 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: gonefishing on October 4 2007 3:05 PM

I'd like to see them plant some trees along fist avenue so we don't need to stare at train-tracks...it'd be nice to see some time and money invested there as well.

If it's possible of course, I don't know who owns the land

Posted by: slider71 on October 4 2007 3:20 PM

Good idea gonefishing...also how about having all the overhead power and phone lines put underground as well.

Posted by: duffer on October 4 2007 4:21 PM

It would be nice to have the street lights working on 1st Avenue also. Half of them don't work. Maybe they need the money out in Wal-Mart land more.

Posted by: diplomat on October 4 2007 4:53 PM

Somebody (duffer) has to call either the City or BC Hydro, it depends on whether it is a metal lamp post or a wooden pole. I forgot who looks after which, but without a phone call they might still be out next year at the same time!

I also would like the City to examine the wooden industrial warehouses (sheds) along First Avenue and declare that those which are unsightly, unpainted, even ramshackle (on the verge of collapsing) to be either repaired or knocked down.

The City has standards for residential subdivisions (Bylaws) but doesn't seem to be at all concerned about the pathetic appearance of most of First Avenue.

Do a little bylaw enforcement, please!

Posted by: Buzz on October 4 2007 5:03 PM

Amen for fixing up 1st avenue...it's pretty wretched for visitors to our city when they come from that direction. Too bad we couldn't move the entire CN Rail yard as well as the sawmill, and turn that entire area into parks/condo's/restaurant/theatre...we'd rival any city in Canada for the river frontage in that area.

Okay, I'll go back to my crack pipe now......

Posted by: Harbinger on October 4 2007 8:30 PM

Plans fer downtown. Is this something earthshakingly new? Din't they have one before? Grand plans. Committees. Ideas. Focusing. Momentum. Generating. Input. Design briefs. (I got briefs). Maybe in the future the city shouldn't be allowed to use these words again to describe "revitalising downtown". What the hell is " an intensive design charrette?" Isn't that the guy in Quebec? It ain't in my dictionary.

Posted by: Runner46 on October 4 2007 8:34 PM

Buzz. The fact is that we don`t rival any City in Canada and we probably never will. What we got is what we got. The secret is to work with what we got, not some pie in the sky ideal.

By the way, my perfect town was Kelowna until August when I visited friends there. They wouldn`t let me even think of walking down down.

Harbinger, I suspect the "plans" have something to do with the co-generation idea.

Posted by: owl on October 4 2007 9:08 PM

"Harbinger, I suspect the "plans" have something to do with the co-generation idea."

I sure as hell hope not. :-(

Here is the best explanation of charette I can find in 30 seconds of googling ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charrette

Posted by: Harbinger on October 4 2007 9:22 PM

It says Charette is a French word for cart or chariot. I got a car and a pick up truck. I have a new word fer my vocab. I feel good.

Posted by: Chester on October 4 2007 10:04 PM

Sounds great around a board room table. What is going to look like on the ground? It's a good start anyway to begin thinking how things could look different. I'm glad we are a part of this program. We do need some help. Chester

Posted by: owl on October 5 2007 9:26 AM

"We do need some help."

I will second that any time!!! The thing all those who might get involved with such a planning session must be carefull of is to ensure it is not steered by someone who has a hidden agenda, such as the Backpacker situation ... which is really not all that hidden.

Charettes can come wih some pre-conditions which will set the limitations which make them almost useless exercises. I have seen it happen on too many occasions. They must be led by neutral facilitators, preferrably not by someone who has planning expertise.