Since 1996, John Brink, with either L&M Engineering or David McWalter as his agent, has applied five times for rezoning of the properties known as Brink Place or Nechako View subdivision.
The number of lots in these developments have grown from eight to 102. All having the opportunity for access through Edgewood to school and parks along inadequate infrastructure.
It is my view there has been a process of rezoning by stealth.
Since 1996, with each rezoning application, Edgewood residents reminded each city council of an expectation they laid out that the developer needed to secure alternate access points when the subdivision grew beyond the initial eight lots. The developer has made promises regarding closing of a significant access point and for dedicated parks spaces.
Neither the expectation laid out by the city nor the promises made by the developer have been honoured.
Developers can make promises in public and city council makes decisions based on those promises.
Yet when expectations are not honoured or promises are broken, there is not means of appeal or correction. Let me give you a prime example:
In 2002, John Brink, in exchange for a zoning change, agreed to place a covenant on a five-acre portion of land next to the Nechako River. The city recognized slope stability was an issue and there was a need to protect the Nechako watershed by way of covenant. The subject area teems with birds, ducks, eagles, and all sort of wildlife and is next to a salmon bearing river. The essence of the covenant was that the developer would not touch one blade of grass without City of Prince George permission.
Despite the promise, in 2014 and 2015 under the watchful eye of
Mr. Brink and Mr. McWalter, a contractor removed hundreds of trees and significant vegetation from the steep slope, moved thousands of yards of gravel, pushed hundreds of yards of top soil over the bank, extensively trimmed dozens of remaining beautiful fir trees, and constructed a 70,000 square foot gravel pad in another green belt area. All of this activity was in the covenanted area and completely contrary to the public promise and the covenant specifically forbidding such.
In answering to city council,
Mr. McWalter blamed an overzealous contractor, yet the work went on for two seasons.
It is my view that the developers know they have preference with the city and that they could break the covenant with impunity. When reported to city council, this breech of promise was met with indifference and the latest request for rezoning approved unanimously.
I am not sure how the city council maintains a high standard on matters pertaining to city business when this egregious violation is met without a single question.
Rolf van Driesum
Prince George
