PRINCE GEORGE – It will require a third meeting for Council to tackle the Official Community Plan.
After several more speakers presented to Council their concerns about portions of the document.
One presenter called the city the “Eight-Hour City.” Eight hours from Edmonton. Eight hours from Vancouver. Eight hours from Calgary. Eight hours from the deep sea port of Prince Rupert.
“There’s so much opportunity here,” noted Saransh Tiku with Linde Canada. “I don’t think any other city in Canada can boast being in the centre of a population of three million people.
Council began its own debate, with Councillors noting they each had a series of amendments to the plan, starting with Councillor Brian Skakun, who had eight for consideration:
That Council DIRECTS Administration to return a report to Council on how to rezone the city-owned property north of Moore’s Meadow from AF: Agriculture and Forestry to P1: Parks and Recreation.
That Council DIRECTS Administration to return a report to Council outlining the consequences and options by removing the right-of-way and redesignating the portion of land between 18th Avenue and 22nd Avenue and between Massey Drive and Ferry Avenue to Park and Open Space on Schedule 12: Future Land Use in the “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 9525, 2025.”
That Council DIRECTS Administration to return a report to Council outlining the consequences and options of rezoning the portion of land between 18th Avenue and 22nd Avenue and Massey Drive and Ferry Avenue to P1: Parks and Recreation in the “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007.”
That Council DIRECTS Administration to return a report to Council outlining the consequences and options by removing the two properties (PID: 015 070 531 and PID: 015 069 815) adjacent to Ginter’s from the Urban Containment Boundary on Schedule 1: Growth Management in the “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 9525, 2025.”
That Council DIRECTS Administration to return a report to Council outlining the consequences and options by removing the Future Development (yellow) from Schedule 1: Growth Management in the “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No .9525, 2025” along Tyner Boulevard and the escarpment with exception to the small portion of Endowment Lands for the purpose of building student housing by University of Northern
That Council DIRECTS Administration to report back addressing the consequences and options of amending Schedule 1: Growth Management in the “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 9525, 2025”, incorporating the Urban Containment Boundaries outlined as “Urban Area” in Schedule B-4: Growth Management in the “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 8383, 2011.”
That Council DIRECTS Admin to report back addressing the consequences and options of section 18.14.1 section 8.5.19 from 2012 OCP which reads “The city recognizes the importance of the Aeronautics Act and should endeavour to advise land use applicants of the airport master plan recommendations. This includes considerations to no new residential development and other sensitive land uses in areas near the airport.”
That Council DIRECTS Administration to return a report to Council on the consequences and option to add the Cowart Malaspina expansion into the Official Community Plan.
Ultimately, all were referred to Administration for further discussion.
The third meeting for Council consideration of OCP is set for April 16th.
