Friendship Lodge Gets Green Light from Council

By 250 News

Councillors vote in favour of  changes to  allow construction of Friendship Lodge                 

Prince George City Council has approved the changes necessary to proceed with the construction of Friendship Lodge.

(at right, Architectural rendering of  Friendship Lodge)

Council voted in favour of the two recommendations presented by City Staff, the first called for a revision to the Official Community plan so it will read: “Portions of Queensway are also suitable for higher density multi-family”.  The second recommendation called for the rezoning of the property at Queensway and 17^th to allow for non-profit housing.

The final vote was  6  in favour  and  three against. (click on video icon for  video of vote)

Here is how the Councillors voted, and  their comments:

Mayor Kinsley:  FOR  the OCP ammendment because he believes this will be an asset and will not take away from the neighbourhood as suggested. "The fears that often accompany any  kind of change are  often unfounded, and I beleive in my heart that will be the case here as well."

Councillor Murry Krause:  FOR :  "I am not in a conflict of interest." "We have got to stop usimg emergemcy wards,  shelters and jails as a way of dealing with the homeless"  He says  residents  are expresing fear, but   says  research shows once such facilities are   operating,  there is no impact  on safety, or  on property values.  "The facility will be owned by BC Housing it will be attractive and landscaped. "  He says it will also be well run, pointing to the  positive aspects of the Native Friendship Centre’s  projects. 

Councilor Glenn Scott:  Against  "We’ve heard a lot  from the Miller Connaught  area,  it deserves to be saved not descimated " Scott says he went back  to the neighbourhood and says it  is one of the most attractive  neighbourhoods in the City. The concept is right, in my mind the location is wrong.We are elected by the citizens  to work on their behalf, we can’t loose site that we  have to listen to he citizens. " he pointed to the  petition of  hundreds of names opposing the  project as the voice he would listen to.

Councillor Don Zurowski:.  FOR  says many of the people who will live there  are the same folks who live in the basement suite next door.  "This is change, and  change can be positive. There is nothing we can do today to  alleviate the fears of the neghbourhood."  In my  view this is a soution not a silver bullet, it won’t solve it all, and there needs to more  of  this kind of work done."

Councillor Brian Skakun:  AGAINST  I do not support this application,I am  as compasionate  as anyone else,  but I do not support this project.  He  pointed to the  proposal for Baldy Hughes.   where  hookers won’t be plying their trade at their  front door  or crack sellers, selling drugs  on their doorstep. " This  neighbourhood has put up with way more than  it should have  to for the past  ten years.  I believe residents should have a say on how their neighbourhood  is  developed "

Councillor Shirley Gratton:  FOR  "This is the hardest decision I have had to make , and I will reluctantly  be supporting this project."

Councillor Deborah Munoz:  FOR "Whenever possible  proponents should select a site which is already  appropriately zoned."  She says there is a demand for affordable housing, but there is no supply. "I will support this project on the basis that everyone deserves a good home."

Councillor Sherry Sethen:  AGAINST  While she believes the project is needed,  she desn’t believe enough  information has been  given.  She didn’t feel the  questions she had , had been answered.  "I do not believe this project, governed under the landlord tenant act is the way to look after the project."  

Councillor Don Bassermann:   FOR     "Socially there is  a need, socially there is a need to walk the talk."  Bassermann says  Councillors are elected to represent the citizens and that includes the disenfranchised.

Many of the residents who oppose the facility were on hand for the Council decision.  They are not surprised by Council’s approval as they had  argued from the very beginnning that , despite Mayor Kinsley’s statement to the contrary, they believed this was a done deal.

One resident remarked on his way out of Council Chambers "Why should we taxpayers expect anything from Council?  They never listen to us."

Joanne MacMillan, spokesman for the Millar/Connaught  Citizen’sCommittee says  the  Committee is  completely "disatisfied,  and in complete disagreement with Council. It shows they really don’t know the scope of the  whole project and did not have all the information."

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