A proposal to create an 85-lot subdivision in the Blackburn neighbourhood has been met with a mixed reaction from neighbours.
A public hearing will be held during tonight's city council meeting to garner more feedback on the Wilmark Homes and Homecraft Construction proposal to turn the 45.5-hectare property from its agriculture and forestry zoning to mainly rural residential. That zoning allows for a minimum lot area of 0.4 hectares.
The proposal features 2.4 kilometres of new road, 3.5 hectares of dedicated parkland and the city has also put together a phased development agreement requiring the developer to extend water and sanitary sewer servicing along Blackburn Road south to Midland Road by Dec. 31, 2017.
The area is characterized by large properties that support a rural and agricultural lifestyle, wrote Brenda Koller in a letter to the city.
"While growth can be positive, it should not erode the lifestyle that the current zoning affords, and it should not be at the expense of existing residents," wrote the 17-year area resident.
However John and Elsie Siemens have lived in the area for 38 years, longer than the neighbourhood was part of Prince George, and have spent much of that time waiting for improvements to water and sewer services.
"By supporting this new development... and this developer extending and improving the water line to Midland Road (and sewer), we hope some of the promises after amalgamation into the city of P.G. that we might have some of the services which people in the downtown area enjoy," they wrote.
Such a development could help boost the city's population base, wrote Bruce Holst. "The lots are of a generous size and will attract quality buildings and by the appearance of your package could potentially be similar to Valleyview on the Hart area," he wrote. "The area has been in stagnation for years, and with this development, the area could become a first-class, desirable area with a rural atmosphere as a positive bonus."
But Gerry and Pat Watson were also on the side of the rural character.
"This is prime farmland and had been used as such since long before we moved beside and in front of [the subject property] 44 years ago," their letter states. "Farmland is getting harder and harder to keep within city limits."
Zelda Craig wrote in to express her concerns regarding the level of traffic the subdivision would create, and noted a lack of a wide enough shoulder on Blackburn Road South for pedestrians and the already high speeds that vehicles take along the route.
The planning department recommended council deny the application when it was initially presented in the spring.
"Administration believes that the proposed development is sprawl development, which is the subdivision of unused rural lands into low density service lots in areas with limited access to public transit, pedestrian connection or commercial services," planning director Ian Wells told council at the April 14 meeting.
The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. in council chambers.
Councillor motions
Tonight's meeting will also feature proposals from councillors Garth Frizzell and Albert Koehler.
Frizzell will introduce an idea to create a Community Covenant, which would have Prince George follow in the footsteps of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario to create a plan to support local veterans.
Koehler is seeking to have the tax levy increase for the 2015 budget capped at 1.5 per cent. He introduced a similar motion last summer, but the limit ended up being set at 2.5 per cent.
