The upcoming city council meeting on Monday will address the rezoning application of 6161 Otway Rd. from agricultural land to light industrial. This will allow a steel fabrication company to increase the industrialization of the Nechako river valley within city limits. This is being framed as a company versus local residents issue, as there will be an increase in noise, pollution and traffic in the area. This industrialization is upstream from our city wells and on top of our aquifer.
This application should be opposed by all citizens of Prince George who value good urban planning, who value our drinking water and who enjoy the Otway trails. Placing industry far from the highways and within a few hundred metres of people's homes, and near to the places of recreation, causes conflict. We have a large city. It is poor urban planning to increase the industrialization of the Nechako valley, while much of our industrial parks remain empty.
As a cyclist, I find it ironic that some of the best cycling routes in the city are through the zoned industrial areas of the city, such as Boundary Road, where there is little traffic and little industry.
I wound encourage all citizens to attend the city council meeting if they value good urban planning, the Otway corridor, and our clean drinking water.
David Nelson
Prince George
