Mindful that the promise of a big box shopping village at the BC Hydro site was actually part of the last municipal election campaign, city council seems determined to keep the embers burning for development even if Royop has abandoned all hope of development.
The debate for the revised options for the site found an old familiar face for council step back into the spotlight, as former Councillor Paul Kennedy weighed in with his opinions on how the site should be zoned in the interim, while would be developers kick the tires.
As a matter of fact tires seemed high on his mind as well as other current councilors as all agreed that the current zoning could result in a tire marshalling yard being allowed to set up shop on the site, a prospect that all promised to remain vigilant over.
Kennedy’s re-introduction to the process at City Hall as a private citizen, will of course start rumours anew that perhaps with a three year rest away from civic duty the local veterinarian may have designs on another run for council, or perhaps even as a potential candidate for Mayor in the fall.
While those possibilities bounce around the city, the actual topic at hand, that of the shopping village on the highway will seemingly get even more exposure as we get closer to municipal election time.
The Daily News follows the trail of bread crumbs that may one day yet lead to all of our favourite big boxes popping up on Highway 16.
City turns attention to its post Royop mall plan
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Monday, June 02, 2008
Pages one and three
Even though Royop decided not to follow through with their commercial mall development on the outskirts of town, the city of Prince Rupert would still like to see that area (the old B.C. Hydro site) redeveloped in the near future.
So that meant a public hearing needed to be held to zone the land away from the Royop plan, and Monday night, city council did just that prior to the regular council meeting to see if anyone from the general public had a problem with the land reverting back to the original A-1 (Amenities-one) zoning that existed prior to Royop's interest.
Zena Krekic, the city's planning consultant, explained that the reasoning for going back to the original zoning, as opposed to the special C13 (Business and Commercial zone) and M2 (Light Industrial zone) that was in effect during the time of period that Royop was looking at developing the land.
“Staff continued working with (them), said Krekic.
“But due to their economic model, (they said) the project would not be sustainable.
“All the work that has been done is not lost, and we can keep it on file. We (revert) to the initial zoning… but can retain our OCP (Official Community Plan).”
Krekic added that he hadn’t received any correspondence following the filing of his report, but had responded to six phone calls.
However, Paul Kennedy, a Rupert resident, was on-hand, and voiced his concerns regarding the proposed new Zoning Bylaw.
“I think it should be left the way it is,” he said.
“If we’re looking at long-term, (we could have) an import car dealership or maybe a Boston Pizza… but a tire-marshalling yard could *go in there)… it’s zoned if you change to amenity.”
Mayor Herb Pond suggested though, that the only reason to set it back to the way it used to be would simply be to make it easier for council to change the zoning again should another business come calling.
Reverting it back to the way it is *zoned) is to have a tool to control what it is.” Pond said.
But Kennedy said council would be wise to leave it in the current zoning if the hope is to attract further potential business suitors to Prince Rupert.
“I don’t see much point in changing it,” he said. “I would like to see some light commercial development. It seemed to make sense to us when we re-zoned it.
Under the A-1 zoning, the land would be left open to potential industrial development, such as a tire-marshalling yard, log-booming area, an arena, or even a golf course- but the majority of council didn’t seem that concerned when the topic came up once again during the regular council meeting.
“Generally, (A-1) is for low-intensive uses,” said Krekic. “But the chance that this zoning could take place is not imminent.”
Coun. Joy Thorkelson asked if there was another type of zoning that would ensure no tire marshalling company would ever move in there; after all, having that type of business on the outskirts of town certainly wouldn’t do Rupert any justice.
“If somebody wanted to come and do it, we’d have to let it go,” she said.
But Krekic said it wouldn’t be that easy.
“If somebody wanted to do such a big project, they would have to talk to us,” he said. “And I’d have to say we’d suggest they go into the industrial park… or somewhere else.
Pond said that at the end of the day, reverting back to the initial zone was the way to go, and council could change the zone again at a later date if another business showed interest.
“It’s less than a perfect tool that we’re left with,” he said. “But we want some ability with what happens with the entrance to our community.
“The deal was never completed… so we’re reverting back to the way it was.”
Coun. Ken Cote said that only reason council was even worried about it was the fear that tire-marshalling company would step right in and develop the vacant site.
“Let’s not make this too complicated,” he said. “Let’s make it back the way it was, and if it comes to that, we’ll deal with it.”
Council passed the final reading 4-1, with Coun. Nelson Kinney the only member voting against the motion. Coun. Kathy Bedard was absent.
The debate for the revised options for the site found an old familiar face for council step back into the spotlight, as former Councillor Paul Kennedy weighed in with his opinions on how the site should be zoned in the interim, while would be developers kick the tires.
As a matter of fact tires seemed high on his mind as well as other current councilors as all agreed that the current zoning could result in a tire marshalling yard being allowed to set up shop on the site, a prospect that all promised to remain vigilant over.
Kennedy’s re-introduction to the process at City Hall as a private citizen, will of course start rumours anew that perhaps with a three year rest away from civic duty the local veterinarian may have designs on another run for council, or perhaps even as a potential candidate for Mayor in the fall.
While those possibilities bounce around the city, the actual topic at hand, that of the shopping village on the highway will seemingly get even more exposure as we get closer to municipal election time.
The Daily News follows the trail of bread crumbs that may one day yet lead to all of our favourite big boxes popping up on Highway 16.
City turns attention to its post Royop mall plan
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Monday, June 02, 2008
Pages one and three
Even though Royop decided not to follow through with their commercial mall development on the outskirts of town, the city of Prince Rupert would still like to see that area (the old B.C. Hydro site) redeveloped in the near future.
So that meant a public hearing needed to be held to zone the land away from the Royop plan, and Monday night, city council did just that prior to the regular council meeting to see if anyone from the general public had a problem with the land reverting back to the original A-1 (Amenities-one) zoning that existed prior to Royop's interest.
Zena Krekic, the city's planning consultant, explained that the reasoning for going back to the original zoning, as opposed to the special C13 (Business and Commercial zone) and M2 (Light Industrial zone) that was in effect during the time of period that Royop was looking at developing the land.
“Staff continued working with (them), said Krekic.
“But due to their economic model, (they said) the project would not be sustainable.
“All the work that has been done is not lost, and we can keep it on file. We (revert) to the initial zoning… but can retain our OCP (Official Community Plan).”
Krekic added that he hadn’t received any correspondence following the filing of his report, but had responded to six phone calls.
However, Paul Kennedy, a Rupert resident, was on-hand, and voiced his concerns regarding the proposed new Zoning Bylaw.
“I think it should be left the way it is,” he said.
“If we’re looking at long-term, (we could have) an import car dealership or maybe a Boston Pizza… but a tire-marshalling yard could *go in there)… it’s zoned if you change to amenity.”
Mayor Herb Pond suggested though, that the only reason to set it back to the way it used to be would simply be to make it easier for council to change the zoning again should another business come calling.
Reverting it back to the way it is *zoned) is to have a tool to control what it is.” Pond said.
But Kennedy said council would be wise to leave it in the current zoning if the hope is to attract further potential business suitors to Prince Rupert.
“I don’t see much point in changing it,” he said. “I would like to see some light commercial development. It seemed to make sense to us when we re-zoned it.
Under the A-1 zoning, the land would be left open to potential industrial development, such as a tire-marshalling yard, log-booming area, an arena, or even a golf course- but the majority of council didn’t seem that concerned when the topic came up once again during the regular council meeting.
“Generally, (A-1) is for low-intensive uses,” said Krekic. “But the chance that this zoning could take place is not imminent.”
Coun. Joy Thorkelson asked if there was another type of zoning that would ensure no tire marshalling company would ever move in there; after all, having that type of business on the outskirts of town certainly wouldn’t do Rupert any justice.
“If somebody wanted to come and do it, we’d have to let it go,” she said.
But Krekic said it wouldn’t be that easy.
“If somebody wanted to do such a big project, they would have to talk to us,” he said. “And I’d have to say we’d suggest they go into the industrial park… or somewhere else.
Pond said that at the end of the day, reverting back to the initial zone was the way to go, and council could change the zone again at a later date if another business showed interest.
“It’s less than a perfect tool that we’re left with,” he said. “But we want some ability with what happens with the entrance to our community.
“The deal was never completed… so we’re reverting back to the way it was.”
Coun. Ken Cote said that only reason council was even worried about it was the fear that tire-marshalling company would step right in and develop the vacant site.
“Let’s not make this too complicated,” he said. “Let’s make it back the way it was, and if it comes to that, we’ll deal with it.”
Council passed the final reading 4-1, with Coun. Nelson Kinney the only member voting against the motion. Coun. Kathy Bedard was absent.
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