The proposed integrated health and housing project to be located on First Avenue, where NR Motors currently sits, has survived the public hearing process.
It was held during last night’s (Feb. 24) Prince George city council meeting to gather final feedback from the public before councillors voted on its Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments and rezoning applications.
The project would be a first of its kind for the region, with BC Housing, Northern Health and the city partnering on the proposal, which integrates affordable housing with healthcare services to serve the community’s most vulnerable populations and improve downtown.
Phases one and two of the project would see 100 units for homeless and low-income individuals and families with ground floor healthcare space in each building accessible to the public.
The project will not be a shelter, but apartments with supports provided on-site.
“There are people living in shelters, beds permanently that shouldn’t be living in shelters they should be transitioning to the next stage and that’s what this is about,” Ian Wells, the city’s general manager of planning, clarified during the hearing.
“I just don’t see that this is the right location, but I support the need,” said the first speaker during the public hearing, and similar comments were expressed by two other speakers.
The city also facilitated a public meeting about the project at city hall on Jan. 15 which was attended by 27 residents and representatives from BC Housing, Northern Health and the city.
The development will be located on First Ave. (via Hanna Petersen)Staff received six pieces of written correspondence in regard to this application. BC Housing also received feedback from its webpage on the project.
The city says the general themes of the correspondence included site accessibility and layout, not supporting the location, supporting the project, and proximity of the two phases.
“Our staff at the city are saying its right, our partners at northern health are saying its right, our partners at BC housing are saying it’s the right project,” said Coun. Kyle Sampson, who voiced support for the location.
“I think the right partners are in play here to make sure this is successful.”
Coun. Cori Ramsay pointed to similar land-use cases downtown.
“This location is within 900 metres of the Park House Condos which is housing downtown. It’s 1.3 km from student housing which is housing downtown. I am led to believe that housing downtown is not the wrong location but the right location,” said Ramsay.
“We have people in need. Housing first is a proven strategy. Without housing, we can’t get people off the streets which is a huge concern right now.”
Coun. Murry Krause agreed, pointing to the benefits of having medical, mental health and addictions services on-site.
“I have been an advocate for this kind of facility for a very long time where services are collocated in one roof so people have access to the services easily when they need them.”
Mayor Lyn Hall pointed to the former Economy Inn on Third Avenue, which was transformed into supportive housing, operated by Association Advocating for Women and Community (AWAC), for folks with mental health and addiction challenges in April 2019.
“We have a small hotel across from the Dairy Queen downtown which is low barrier housing which is meeting a need and not causing any problems in the neighbhourhood,” said Hall.
“At the end of the day it’s up to council to take a look at the land-use application and make a decision on the site and I feel confident that is the site.”
Council unanimously granted third reading to the needed OCP and rezoning amendments for this project.
Once the project passes final reading and adoption the zoning will be changed from light industrial to a community facility, which will allow the project to move forward.
