Developments proposed on Southridge Avenue, O’Grady Road, Stringer Crescent and Nicholas Avenue in College Heights could result in more than a thousand new apartment, townhouse and duplex units, along with some commercial retail development.
Troika Management Corp. is seeking to rezone undeveloped, treed land located at 5958 Stringer Cres, 6100 O’Grady Road and 5743 Nicholas Ave. (Lots 2, 3 and 4 on the map) to facilitate a mixed development of rowhouses, duplexes, apartment buildings up to six stories tall and some secondary commercial uses. The developer has offered to register a restrictive covenant on the 17-acre (6.95-hectare) section of 6100 O’Grady Road to limit the development density to 80 units per hectare, and restrict apartment buildings to a maximum of six stories tall.
In a rationale letter submitted to city council, Stephen Duke of Kelowna-based Troika Management Corp. said the maximum number of new housing units on the three lots would be 1,032.
“Located in the western end of Prince George in the College Heights district, our project addresses an ever-growing need for the city,” Duke wrote. “Our proposal creates the opportunity for a variety of housing typologies to meet the needs of Prince George young couples, families, and empty nesters. The location of this property is ideally situated for those who want amenities within a short walk, which are key attributes attractive to both groups and the City’s objectives to reduce car-centric development and promote active transportation where possible.”
The development would also support $7.5 million in area road improvements identified in a nearly-700-page report on the cumulative impact of the two proposed developments by L & M Engineering, Duke added.
City council received 16 letters and emails opposed to the proposed development, many from mobile home owners in the College Heights Residential Park also located at 6100 O’Grady Road.
Many of the letter writers were concerned the proposed development called for the demolition and redevelopment of the mobile home park. However, maps and reports provided to city council show the plan is to develop the treed, vacant land west and north of the park.
City administration is in support of the rezonings on O’Grady Road and Stringer Crescent (Lots 2 and 3 on the map), but not on Nicholas Avenue (Lot 4).
“Although the applicant’s proposal is consistent with the apartment buildings located at the corner of O’Grady Road and Stringer Crescent, Administration is challenged to support the proposal due to the intended building scale and density,” city director of planning and development Deanna Wasnik wrote in her report.
SOUTHRIDGE AVENUE DEVELOPMENT
Prince George-based Bic Hayer Rental Properties Corp. is seeking to rezone a 2.85 hecatare undeveloped lot at 6700 Southridge Ave. (Lot 1 on the map). The proposed zoning would allow a multi-family development of up to 350 units on the site.
City council received six letters in opposition to the proposal, mostly citing concerns about increased density, traffic and the visual impact of apartment housing on the area.
City administration was in support of the proposal.
“The subject property is currently vacant and underutilized,” Wasnik wrote in a report to city council. “If approved, the proposed redevelopment would offer medium to high-density, multi-family housing within an active transit area, approximately 250 m of a transit stop (OCP Policy 8.7.23), and within walking distance of daily needs and amenities.”
City council will consider first and second reading of both proposed projects at Monday’s city council meeting.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the total number of potential housing units.
