As Prince George (hopefully) grows, our new Official Community Plan should take a bolder approach when it comes to access, types of housing and supporting small businesses in the city’s new subdivisions.
Several neighbourhoods, whether built or planned, have only one road in and out. Examples are the Bench Lands, University Heights and Charella Garden/Barnes.
This design flaw is not just an inconvenience. It is a serious safety risk, one that could have far-reaching consequences for residents and emergency responders alike.
What if there is a traffic accident, a natural disaster or an infrastructure failure like a sinkhole or flood that blocks the sole access point? In an emergency situation, every second counts.
A single point of entry could trap residents or delay critical help. Fire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles need to be able to reach homes quickly, and if the only road into a subdivision is impassable, lives could be at risk.
Wildfires across BC and Alberta have made it clear that the environment is not always our friend.
They are stark reminders of how vulnerable we can be, especially in big subdivisions where there is only one road in and out. Even in less dramatic scenarios, think of the frustration caused by a routine accident that ties up traffic or the difficulties faced by emergency services during a medical crisis or a fire.
The new OCP should ensure the safety of neighbourhoods by requiring a secondary entry/exit point, even if it is not meant for everyday use.
Housing affordability can be improved by allowing more varied housing options in subdivisions. Instead of cookie-cutter lots and large single-family houses, the OCP should require new subdivisions to have a variety of lot sizes, from smaller for lower cost housing, to slightly larger, permitting duplexes or fourplexes.
There needs to be a return to encouraging the building of smaller starter houses.
To help address rental affordability, small two-storey apartment buildings should be mixed throughout the community.
It’s also about how we envision our communities. Our growing cities and suburban areas should be places where people can live, work and thrive. Unfortunately, many new subdivisions are designed with little thought given to walkability and the creation of vibrant, mixed-use spaces that encourage small businesses.
In many of these new neighbourhoods, residents are forced to rely on their cars for almost everything. The lack of nearby small-business plazas or small retail hubs means that people cannot easily walk to a convenience store or a café.
Creating walkable neighbourhoods with nearby commercial spaces would greatly improve the quality of life for residents, giving them the freedom to run errands without the hassle of getting in a car for every trip.
This is also about economic opportunity.
Small businesses like convenience stores, nail salons, hairdressers, bookstores and cafes are the lifeblood of a neighbourhood.
They provide jobs, foster local character and keep money circulating within the local economy.
However, without accessible commercial spaces, entrepreneurs are forced to either set up shop in clearly less-than-ideal downtown Prince George or in malls or plazas, which often require significant upfront capital and extreme rents that puts locations like that out of reach for small startups.
The lack of affordable, walkable retail spaces in our neighbourhoods stifles innovation and entrepreneurial growth. It is far more cost-effective to plan for these spaces upfront in the development process than to retrofit them later.
The absence of small-business hubs also has a social cost.
People crave the kind of communities where they are able to walk to a neighbourhood bakery or chat with a local business owner.
These small retail spaces create opportunities for social interaction and strengthen the fabric of our communities.
It’s not enough for neighbourhoods to simply provide homes. They need to be designed as places where people can connect, share experiences, and feel a sense of belonging and safety.
The OCP needs to encourage more affordable housing and accommodation options. It should encourage walkable, mixed-use spaces that support small businesses.
By reflecting these priorities, the OCP can help ensure that future generations inherit not only beautiful and functional communities, but also safe, sustainable ones.
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