Logistics-Business Park Future Depends on Agricultural Land Commission

Monday, May 26, 2008 04:30 AM

Ten parcels of land, all in bright green are part of a grand plan for a logistics/business park linked to the airport

Prince George, B.C. - There will be a special closed door meeting of the Agricultural Land Commission this afternoon as the Commission hears the case for removing hundreds of hectares of land from the Agricultural Land Reserve to allow the construction of a logistics/business park adjacent to the Prince George Airport.

Prince George Airport General Manager Stieg Hoeg is one of the presenters, “I hope the process listens to reason and can accept that diversification of the regional economy is largely dependant on the plans involving the airport. I think they will hear the rationale for moving it out of the ALR.”

The Provincial and Federal Governments have both made significant financial investments in the expansion of the Prince George Airport, partly because of the long term plans for the construction of some sort of logistics or business park that would link the airport to Canada Customs warehousing and product distribution.

Hoeg is not the only presenter, there will be a case put forth by the Regional District, the Northern Development Initiatives Trust, Mayor Colin Kinsley, Initiatives Prince George, L&M Engineering and representatives of the property owners.

Initiatives Prince George’s Tim McEwan says the Agriculture Land Commission’s Staff report to the Commission follows the mandate of the ALC and that is to see that agricultural lands are protected “The lands are listed as a class 4, so there are some marginal uses, but there is a broader public issue.”

That broader public issue is developing a diversified economic future for the region.

The closed door meeting will be followed by a public session this evening at 7:00 at the Blackburn Community Hall. At that time, the public will see all the drawings and get details of the plans for the lands. It is also when members of the public will have an opportunity to let the Agriculture Land Commission known how they feel about the plans.

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Posted on Monday, May 26, 2008 04:30 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on May 26 2008 6:17 AM

The ALR was a plague that came out of the VaVic delta. I wonder if it is too late to spray for the infestation?

Posted by: lostfaith on May 26 2008 9:07 AM

Thats right polcat we need to get rid of all that AL, who needs it.

Posted by: Bridge on May 26 2008 10:05 AM

diversification of the regional economy is largely dependant on the plans involving the airport. Last time we herd this is when they tried to tie in container loading at the CN yard with the airport. Appears they will not quite their song untill the tax payers are broke.

Looks like the residents in the area will get the shaft again. How many tax dollars will they use this time to deversify the economy.

Cheers

Posted by: Rounder on May 26 2008 1:24 PM

Is that "reserved" land making money for anyone right now? What kind of money will this land produce in the future under the ALR?

The type of development proposed for this area is the potential boost this city needs for the future.

Posted by: lostfaith on May 26 2008 2:05 PM

Rounder
The land making money has nothing to do with it staying in the ALR or it being removed from the ALR.
It is agricultural land, thats land that is capable of producing crops or products that people eat.
If there is no AL left then we all starve.

Posted by: red2b on May 26 2008 3:33 PM

What does that land grow now? How many people does it feed? How many people are lined up to grow crops (food) on that land?
Is it really suitable for agriculture or did a 2 minute stroke of the pen many years ago make it ALR?

Posted by: tinyapplecork on May 26 2008 4:03 PM

Taking ALL of that land out of the ALR for some potential dream.....what nonsense. What exactly does the airport have for a concrete business plan? If there are indeed investors wooing and ready to move in...I concede SOME land may be warranted to pull from the ALR. As of yet, like every other "we are on the verge of something" statement from our mayor, is all fantasy. I agree with the poster on the previous article regarding this: That is a huge plan dwarfing existing modern business/logistics parks.

I really don't believe that is necessary except perhaps to give council more tax dollars.

Posted by: szd on May 26 2008 4:38 PM

Maybe somebody should take a look at Vancouver,Kelowna, Vernon etc. The land down there was at one time extremely productive til all of the walled compounds went up there. Production down there will always be twice of what we get here because we are so far North. If food production is really anyones concern I would start down there and not worry about a black spruce swamp.

Posted by: NMG on May 26 2008 6:17 PM

I have a hunch that the "potential" benefit to using this land for additional airport related development, is much greater than the "potential" for using it for farming and agriculture.

Oh and if the day comes where we actually need this particular plot of land to keep us from starving, I think we'll have bigger problems to worry about :)

Posted by: lostfaith on May 26 2008 9:26 PM

Check out what Parksville thinks about the ALR and a tiny bit of land in the middle of town.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=6798e822-de15-4dec-b16a-c0de39a77071&k=2150

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/parksville_qualicumbeachnews/news/18159459.html