By Cheryl Jahn

Public will have more opportunity to comment on OCP

Mar 19, 2025 | 11:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE -The word of the public hearing over the City’s proposed Official Community Plan was “greenspace.”

It was standing room only in Council Chambers as one-by-one, members of the public presented to Council and the overall theme was encouraging Council to preserve green spaces in the community, such as Moore’s Meadow, Ginter’s Field and Forests for the World.

An OCP provides a blueprint for development over the course of the next decade.

The last OCP has been in place since 2012.

Judo

Prince George Judokas earn medals from international tournaments

14h ago

Dance Festival

Prince George Dance Festival returns with huge amount of dancers

14h ago

Politics

Bachrach ready for election call

16h ago

The plan sets out an area of “urban containment” which sets out areas of the city that are growth priorities and other areas for future development.

“Growth should not come at the expense of what makes the community beautiful and liveable,” noted one speaker, Selene Maxwell.

“The City is in the process of liquidating what makes this community desirable,” said Annie Booth, a long-time supporter of preserving Ginter’s Field. She also presented a series of presentations that her UNBC Environmental and Sustainable Studies students drew up, all of which cited green spaces as a possible reason they may wish to stay in this community beyond their education.

The voice of the Friends of Ginter’s, James Steidle noted that Council shouldn’t based a community’s success by building permits, saying Council has “an obsession with growth at all costs.”

However, after three and a half hours of public input from more than two dozen speakers, Council opted to adjourn the public hearing, given the lateness of the hour and the fact it is Spring break when many speakers may not have a chance to attend.

The public hearing will resume on April 9th.