The public will have a chance to have their say on a proposed 150-unit multi-family development at the west end of 22nd Avenue, south of Exhibition Park.
Prince George city council has given first and second reading to bylaws to amend the official community plan and rezone a two-hectare lot at 4292 22nd Ave. to facilitate a proposed multi-family development by Prince George developer Hayer R. Construction Firm Inc. The City of Prince George will conduct a public consultation period, prior to the proposed bylaws coming to a formal public hearing.
The site currently has a single-family house built on it. The proposed development is located immediately west of Hayer’s Framework 22 development, still under construction, which consists of a mix of townhouses and apartment condominiums.
“(City) administration supports the proposed bylaws as they will facilitate the infill and redevelopment of an under-used existing site, while addressing a housing need,” city director of planning and development Deanna Wasnik said.
In response to a question from city council, Wasnik said the proposed development wouldn’t impact the walking trail immediately west of the property, which connects 18th Avenue to the Ginter’s Meadow trail system. The trail follows a road right-of-way to allow a potential future extension of Foothills Boulevard.
Coun. Cori Ramsay asked administration to work with the developer when preparing a traffic impact study, which will be required before the bylaws can be given final approval, to ensure traffic associated with trail users is accounted for.
Coun. Tim Bennett raised concerns about the capacity of nearby Pinewood Elementary School to accommodate students from the development, given the development already taking place in the area.
“We know we are in a housing crisis. We know that we need opportunities to add…. those middle-housing options,” Coun. Tim Bennett said. “(But) we just added a significant development next door. It’s an expectation of families that there are school and daycare facilities in the area.”
Wasnik said the city refers applications for new residential developments to School District 57, but had not received any feedback from the district.
Given the popularity and public interest in the Ginter’s Meadow trail network, Mayor Simon Yu publicly encouraged the developer to submit a landscaping plan to the city “as soon as possible, so the neighbourhood can see what is planned here.”
