Last week I attended what was called an information and comment session on a proposed bylaw that is being drafted by the city of P.G. This was a city-sponsored event, to inform and take feedback from the people affected in flood zones.
Actually it just turned out to be a session that the city was telling us what was going to take place, rather than looking for input.
This bylaw will devalue any property in the flood zones dramatically, by the way of regulating so severely what one can do with his/her property, making it so expensive to attempt to build, renovate or alter an existing property or build a new structure, hence making a piece of property unsaleable.
When questioned about flood proofing our property as was described, it was mentioned that most of the owners in the area I live in are seniors, and do not have the many thousands of dollars to do these things, and was met with basically a shrug from the experts.
The city for many years has taxed our homes at an inflated rate, and now it seems that they are about to pull the rug out from under us.
To call this a meeting for input from affected people, how ludicrous. It was a meeting to tell us what they are going to do. They were asked if they would expropriate or purchase these properties and it was stated flatly, that was not in the picture.
So, after 50 years of supporting this community with our lives, taxes, and work, it is now time to watch as the most major investment we can make dissolve away to nothing.
Thanks Prince George mayor and council for taking care of the long-time seniors once again.
Bill Manders
Prince George
