Local Businessman Planning to Showcase City's Southern Entrance

Sunday, October 23, 2005 02:55 PM

Art Knapp Plantland at the junction of Highway 97 and the Old Cariboo Highway

The owner of Art Knapp Plantland is hoping to move ahead with plans for a multi-million dollar development at the southern entrance to Prince George.

Jos Van Hage says he opened his garden store at the intersection of Highway 97 and the Old Cariboo Highway 26 years ago, believing the city would expand south, but it's grown to the north and, now, west.

Van Hage say while designs for the project have yet to fully take shape, he would like to see a 19- to 24-acre parcel of land near his garden store re-zoned to allow a motel, restaurant, truck stop and, possibly, some equipment sales. He says the development would help keep the southern store viable.

Van Hage says the four-acre parcel in the "y" of the highways' junction is already appropriately zoned and he has just received support from the Fraser Fort George Regional District to approach the Agricultural Land Reserve about re-zoning the remainder, in hopes of making the size of the lot attractive to potential developers.

The recent upswing in the economy has convinced Van Hage the timing is right for the project, "Oh yeah, definitely, especially at that location because it's the entrance-way to town."

He says a lot of people by-pass the city, using the Old Cariboo Highway, to head off to Jasper and Edmonton. "So, when we can get them to stop there and buy fuel, maybe (have) a meal, or do a little bit of grocery shopping, or whatever they need, it's an ideal location."

Van Hage expects the A.L.R. decision to take approximately three months. If approved, it would then go back to the Regional District for a public hearing on the rezoning application.

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Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 02:55 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: whatz thaa on October 23 2005 11:01 PM

Way to go Jos. Good to see something happening out there.

Posted by: owl on October 24 2005 12:55 AM

Smart Growth?????

A great store. The other two locations are likely working much better for Art Knapp Plantland.

Problem #1, the City has really not grown since 1990 or so.

In my opinion, for that part of the Regional District to grow the population in the City would have to take off at 2% plus per year and the bridge built across the Fraser which would short-circuit driving past the Casino to get to HWY 16 West.

In fact, those travelling the Yellowhead from the East to get to the West Coast or Alaska via Dease Lake would then use the old Cariboo Highway if they have no interest in stopping in PG, which could then get some Federal Dollars to upgrade an interprovincial Highway.

I would be careful though, since with a bridge access connecting just to the west of Sintich Trailer Park, I would think that Highways might want to link with the old Cariboo highway by connecting along the Johnson Road area or a touch to the north.

Anyway, a southern Fraser crossing, combined with real population growth, could see rural residential growth in the RD along HW 97 since it would shorten the distance to the College Heights Regional Shopping Development thus making the area more attractive.

As far as the portion of land within the City goes, its not even a blip on the screen in the OCP long range plan. It is virtually all in the ALR at the moment.

The other development which could give the whole thing a different perspective would be a the development of a cargo transfer facility at the airport. A large one, or a series of them, could be a major employer and put pressure on nearby residential development.

Posted by: Marty on October 24 2005 4:19 AM

I think its a great idea.
I have often wished for a place to fuel up and buy food etc out there.
I know for one if its a gas station that i have a commercial card for myslef and other staff would be fueling up company vehicles etc . there for sure.
I drive that old caribou hwy at least a few times a week it seems.
And hopefully oneday the dept of transport moves those rediculous, traffic jamming, acident causing, scales out the BCR and locates them near there as well.