The fate of Ginter’s Meadow will be decided during the city’s full review of the official community plan (OCP) in 2023, following a decision by city council on Monday night.
On Aug. 15, the Ginter’s Green Forever community group asked council to scrap long-term plans for extensions of Massey Drive and Foothills Boulevard through the popular off-leash dog area, and officially designate the area as a park. Following a motion of council on Monday, those requests will be included as part of the community-wide review of the official community plan.
The area commonly thought of as Ginter’s Meadow is a mix of municipal, Crown and private land, city director of planning and development Deanna Wasnik said.
“The OCP renewal process will involve extensive public engagement and consultation to ensure as many of our residents who wish to share their thoughts and vision for our growing community can be heard,” Wasnik wrote in her report to city council.
In response to a question from Coun. Garth Frizzell, Wasnik said she isn’t aware of any immediate plans to develop the land.
Frizzell said the public has been clear that they want Ginter’s to remain a park.
“We’ve heard the will of the public on this,” he said.
“I’m hoping it ends up being a park as well,” Coun. Murry Krause said, “but a fulsome conservation needs to happen. Parks are important, but so is our road network.”
Coun. Terri McConnachie said the OCP review next year is the right place for the proposal to be discussed, because it has larger implications for the whole community.
“There is a mix of current uses and owners right now. There is a lot of information to take in.” McConnachie said. “I think this needs to be part of a larger discussion.”
Coun. Frank Everitt agreed, saying that the public and the next council need to have all the information in hand.
“We want to do the right thing, and make sure we have all the information,” Everitt said.
A motion, put forward by Coun. Brian Skakun, to postpone making a decision on the report until Nov. 21, was defeated 7-2.
“At this time, I feel informed enough to set the direction,” Coun. Kyle Sampson said.
“This is not the final decision, this is a minor decision to move the conversation to the OCP,” Mayor Lyn Hall said.
BIRDSONG PARK REZONING MOVES FORWARD
Members of the North Nechako Residents Group appeared before city council on Monday night, requesting that the area known as Birdsong Park – 40 acres of city-owned greenspace along the Nechako River, west of Foothills Boulevard – be officially designated as parkland.
Currently the land is zoned as a greenbelt, and was sold to the city by Pittman Asphalt as part of a 2016 deal which saw the company’s gravel mine in the area expand.
“This park is a large, intact river area,” North Nechako Residents Group spokesperson Kathleen Haines said. Volunteers have created trails and planted trees and shrubs in the park, which is home to an assortment of wildlife.
Opportunities to preserve riverfront land in a natural state for the community don’t come along often, group spokesperson Meghan Hunter added.
City council voted to request that staff prepare an official community plan amendment and rezoning application for the park, to change the zoning from greenbelt to park. An OCP change and rezoning would trigger a public hearing before city council, when the public would have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed change.
Coun. Cori Ramsay said while she supports the concept, she was concerned about the perception of unfairness or inconsistency, by handing the Birdsong Park request differently than the Ginter’s Meadow one.
“I want to make sure we are capturing all of these areas in the OCP,” she said.
Coun. Susan Scott agreed.
“I think this is an important step to take, but I don’t want to do it as a one-off,” Scott said.
Skakun, who brought forward the motion, argued that the Birdsong Park situation is different because the city owns all the land and council made a commitment to preserve the land as a park to the community in 2016.
