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Behavioural centre in wrong location, city staff says

City council is being urged to turn down a request to convert a home into a centre for behavioural counseling and life skills training centre for children with developmental disabilities. In a report, staff says rezoning 788 Preston Rd.
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City council is being urged to turn down a request to convert a home into a centre for behavioural counseling and life skills training centre for children with developmental disabilities.

In a report, staff says rezoning 788 Preston Rd. to allow the use amounts to a "'spot' designation that is inconsistent with the surrounding neighbourhood.

"This would fragment the residential uses in the area and would lead to undue traffic within a local neighbourhoood," staff adds.

A better location would be either along an arterial or collector street or near the hospital or Phoenix Medical Centre, according to the report.

In February 2016, T&K Behavioural Interventionists Ltd. was granted a one-year temporary use permit to run the centre at the location.

Also on the agenda:

- Council will decide whether to submit a bid to host the 2020 Federation of Canadian Municipalities Sustainable Communities conference.

The four-day event attracts over 400 delegates and more than 25 exhibitors. Criteria include being able to provide at least 500 hotel rooms rated three diamonds or better.

- Representatives from Immaculate Conception School will give a presentation on safety concerns in the Westgate subdivision.

- Railway and Forestry Museum executive director Ranjit Gill will speak about a plan to build a timber-framed display pavilion to shelter its rolling stock.

The project's total cost is $580,500 and $250,000 of that has been confirmed so far.

- A request to amend the official community plan to allow a mini-storage facility and mix of commercial development at the corner of Monterey Road and Highway 97 will be up for third reading.

By the time a three-week consultation period had ended, the city had received two emails raising concerns about the proposal and are included in the documents provided to council.

- A proposed 10-year sports tourism strategy will be presented to council along with a request to provide $50,000 per year towards a grant to help host sports events in Prince George.

- Council will decide whether to allocate $6,000 to a student mentorship program.

The proposal comes from the select committee on student needs and, if accepted, would provide students an opportunity to learn more about local government by attending the conventions for the North Central Local Government Association, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Coun. Jillian Merrick chairs the committee.

- The maximum fine for violations committed under 10 bylaws is set to be raised to $10,000.

Council will consider the hike for bylaws related to animal control, noise control, parks and open space, garbage collection, property maintenance, parking and traffic, off-street parking, snow and ice control, highways and water regulations and rates.

The change would give a judge to impose the levy if an information was laid in accordance with the recently-adopted notice enforcement bylaw and the offence is "severe in nature" and it is "in the community's interest to have the courts determine the most appropriate fine," staff says in a report.

- A bylaw to rezone 2395 Queensway to allow a vehicle sale and U-Haul rental business will be up for first and second reading. If passed, the item will go to a public hearing.

- Final reading is in store for a bylaw calling for three-per-cent increases in fees and charges for several city services over the next three years.

Services offered by the cemetery, CN Centre, arenas, Civic Centre, swimming pools, Pine Valley golf course, Masich Park, Prince George Playhouse and animal control are among those to be affected.

- Bylaws to allow addition of a convenience store at the Co-op Cardlock at 990 Railway Rd. in the BCR Industrial Park are up for final reading.