The Crescents neighbourhood is already bursting at the seams with medical facilities, city council decided Monday night.
In a 5-3 vote, council rejected an application to rezone and amend the official community plan to turn a 12th Avenue residence into a doctor's office.
The vote followed a lengthy public hearing during which council heard mostly opposition to the plan switch the zoning from single residential to commercial conversion and change the property from having a neighbourhood residential designation to the adjacent neighbourhood centre residential designation, which covers 13th Avenue between Winnipeg and Lethbridge Streets.
"Northern Health, the cancer lodge, Iris House, Simon Fraser Lodge - that entire area is full and we've seen the change over the last number of years that was depicted this evening," said Mayor Shari Green. The problem arises from those services spilling into the adjacent residential neighbourhood. "I don't know that there's any more room left to grow health care in that neighbourhood outside of the site that is already there."
While he could appreciate why local urologist Dr. Guy Paterson wanted to relocate his practice to the neighbourhood, Coun. Murry Krause said the Crescents neighbourhood is one that considers itself under duress.
As Coun. Brian Skakun first pointed out during the evening's discussion, the proposal wasn't consistent with the Crescents neighbourhood plan, adopted in 2003.
"The local Crescents community has a legitimate interest in ensuring that any such uses do not jeopardize the quality and integrity of the neighbourhood," the plan says. "For this reason only a few specific locations for offices are proposed, all for areas adjacent to or in proximity to the hospital."
While the subject property fronts Lethbridge Street across from UHNBC, it is not in the area prescribed in the plan - 13th Avenue near Edmonton Street.
"This is a unique area and it was mentioned earlier as well that this office could be a transition. A transition to what?" asked Skakun. "You have a jewel in the community that's unique - the people look after it, they take pride in it, they don't want a doctor's office in it. And I don't blame them. And I would hope that this isn't the only place in Prince George a doctor's office could go."
The problem of parking on the residential streets surrounding the hospital was a recurring theme during the discussion, with residents and members of council alike expressing frustration over the congested situation.
The applicant was proposing to have six off-street parking spaces for his practice.
Getting those cars off the street was a step in the right direction said Coun. Cameron Stolz, who supported the proposal.
"There's a parking enforcement issue that needs to be addressed," he said.
That issue could be addressed by having resident-only permit parking in the area, said Coun. Dave WIlbur, who was also in support of the application.
"The west side of Lethbridge... it's all dealing with Northern Health matters," Wilbur said, adding the reality being faced is that the area has already transitioned.
Coun. Garth Frizzell also voted in support of the application. Coun. Albert Koehler recused himself from the debate given he had a connection with the applicant.
Planning director Ian Wells said a bylaw regarding on-street parking enforcement will be coming to council at a later date.
