Public outcry over a proposed B.C. Transit facility at the corner of Foothills Boulevard and 18th Avenue prompted city council to backtrack on approving the development.
Mayor Lyn Hall put a motion before city council on June 12 to rescind first and second reading of the rezoning to allow the facility, and instruct city staff to work with B.C. Transit to find a new location for the facility, rather than proceed to a public hearing on the issue.
Hall put the motion forward at the request of councillors Garth Frizzell, Susan Scott and Brian Skakun.
"I normally always support public hearings and, in this case, I am very supportive of the public feedback received," Skakun told The Citizen at time.
"(But) public hearings are very emotionally draining on everyone. Myself, along with councillors Scott and Frizzell, thought 'Why put people through this? Let's just end it now.' Since I've been on council, I don't think I've ever seen a group so vocally opposed. The issues were overwhelming which makes it clear they don't want this."
The proposed $23 million Prince George Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility would have served as a storage, fueling, maintenance and washing facility for local buses.
It would have supported natural gas-fuelled buses, improved operational efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, according to BC Transit.
The city received substantial public feedback raising concerns about the possibility of conflicts with the nature trails in the area, which run behind CN Centre to connect with Ginter's Meadow.
A preliminary public hearing was held on
March 8 followed by a public consultation period from March 8 to March 17.
At a city open house held in May, residents expressed concerns about lost greenspace, noise, traffic, pollution and air quality.
Others voiced their concerns in letters to the editor and on social media.
"This shows people in the community that these things aren't done deals and that council is receptive of what the community has to say," Skakun said in June.
