“After a lot of work by us on Royop’s behalf, they have decided they will not proceed with the development,”—Mayor Pond outlining the decision of Royop to discontinue with its plans to develop a shopping centre on the old BC Hydro lands.
The long path towards commercial development on Highway 16 has come to an end and with it the zoning requirements for the once highly touted Shopping Village have been abandoned (though hope may spring eternal we guess as, it's still listed on the Royop website as under development).
Last week City Council began the process of returning the land back to what is described as an amenity use, after the three year project was finally cancelled by the Calgary based developer Royop, which cited the high cost of developing the old BC Hydro site and adjoining lands for its decision.
The long path towards commercial development on Highway 16 has come to an end and with it the zoning requirements for the once highly touted Shopping Village have been abandoned (though hope may spring eternal we guess as, it's still listed on the Royop website as under development).
Last week City Council began the process of returning the land back to what is described as an amenity use, after the three year project was finally cancelled by the Calgary based developer Royop, which cited the high cost of developing the old BC Hydro site and adjoining lands for its decision.
.
According to the City zoning regulations found on line, Amenity 1 (A1) Zone allows for a number of interesting activities to be permitted for land zoned in that fashion. Though truth be told, not many seem practical at this point, though we guess there's a chance we could take all of our old tires out there some day for a giant smog inducing bonfire...
.
Among our choices for development are:
(a) Drive-in theatre.
(b) Shooting range.
(c) Marina.
(d) Ski course.
(e) Golf Course.
(f) Log booming and sorting grounds.
(g) Logging operations.
(h) Quarrying.
(a) Drive-in theatre.
(b) Shooting range.
(c) Marina.
(d) Ski course.
(e) Golf Course.
(f) Log booming and sorting grounds.
(g) Logging operations.
(h) Quarrying.
Bylaw 2813
(i) Tire Marshalling Yards.
.
Council advised that by changing the zoning back to its original design, they will be allowing future councils the opportunity to explore other developments, part of the Royop process involved specific accommodations to the company in order to further their plans of development, with the project now dead, those accommodations may not make much sense for any future use of the property.
The cancellation brings to an end three years of debate over the arrival of the Big Box emporiums to the north coast, and for the foreseeable future will continue to cede the shopping dollars to Terrace, making the Saturday drive down Highway 16 one of the busiest days for the northwest highway system.
The Daily News, (curiously more than a week behind the curve on this one we’re afraid, see Podunkian archives here ) featured details of council’s ruminations on the subject in Wednesday’s paper.
ROYOP ENDS ITS PLANS FOR SHOPPING CENTRE
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Pages one and five
After three years of debating whether to develop the land out at the old B. C. Hydro site, Royop has pulled out.
The issue arose at Prince Rupert city council last week when council was asked to give the re-zoning report two readings ahead of a scheduled public meeting set for May 26 at 7 p. m.
In essence, the zoning bylaw would revert the land earmarked for the development back to what it was prior to Royop coming on board in 2005.
“After a lot of work by us on Royop’s behalf, they have decided they will not proceed with the development,” said Mayor Herb Pond. “Unfortunately it’s the cost of getting out of the land, like anything else... as we know, it’s difficult.
“So we’re rezoning this property back to the way it was.”
The mood inside council chambers regarding this announcement was understandably muted as Pond then asked City Manager Gord Howie to explain the report to council.
“The reason for the recommendation… it was zoned for special development,” he said. “But with this re-zoning, it gives (a) future council, or this one the opportunity to look at other development.”
In an effort to try and make the development happen, the city had been working with Royop since 2005, and had made many changes to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaw to specifically accommodate the project that called for a large ‘village style” shopping complex.
But according to the report, “the recent announcement by the developer that their economic model cannot sustain the proposed development brings to question all of the work done to date because the Comprehensive Development Zone, land use and land regulations were tailored to that specific development as it evolved and changed from conceptual to preliminary plans.”
That said, the city believes that the time and effort spent on developing regulations and amending the OCP and Zoning Bylaw can be used as future references when another developer decides to move into that area.
Howie said council would be best suited to revert back to the original Zoning Bylaw to speed up that process and try to find other potential developers.
“And these things are well underway in that regard,” he said.
Council approved the first two readings, and the public hearing will take place Monday night prior to the next scheduled council meeting, also set for that evening. See upcoming editions of the Daily News for more on the issue
Council advised that by changing the zoning back to its original design, they will be allowing future councils the opportunity to explore other developments, part of the Royop process involved specific accommodations to the company in order to further their plans of development, with the project now dead, those accommodations may not make much sense for any future use of the property.
The cancellation brings to an end three years of debate over the arrival of the Big Box emporiums to the north coast, and for the foreseeable future will continue to cede the shopping dollars to Terrace, making the Saturday drive down Highway 16 one of the busiest days for the northwest highway system.
The Daily News, (curiously more than a week behind the curve on this one we’re afraid, see Podunkian archives here ) featured details of council’s ruminations on the subject in Wednesday’s paper.
ROYOP ENDS ITS PLANS FOR SHOPPING CENTRE
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Pages one and five
After three years of debating whether to develop the land out at the old B. C. Hydro site, Royop has pulled out.
The issue arose at Prince Rupert city council last week when council was asked to give the re-zoning report two readings ahead of a scheduled public meeting set for May 26 at 7 p. m.
In essence, the zoning bylaw would revert the land earmarked for the development back to what it was prior to Royop coming on board in 2005.
“After a lot of work by us on Royop’s behalf, they have decided they will not proceed with the development,” said Mayor Herb Pond. “Unfortunately it’s the cost of getting out of the land, like anything else... as we know, it’s difficult.
“So we’re rezoning this property back to the way it was.”
The mood inside council chambers regarding this announcement was understandably muted as Pond then asked City Manager Gord Howie to explain the report to council.
“The reason for the recommendation… it was zoned for special development,” he said. “But with this re-zoning, it gives (a) future council, or this one the opportunity to look at other development.”
In an effort to try and make the development happen, the city had been working with Royop since 2005, and had made many changes to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaw to specifically accommodate the project that called for a large ‘village style” shopping complex.
But according to the report, “the recent announcement by the developer that their economic model cannot sustain the proposed development brings to question all of the work done to date because the Comprehensive Development Zone, land use and land regulations were tailored to that specific development as it evolved and changed from conceptual to preliminary plans.”
That said, the city believes that the time and effort spent on developing regulations and amending the OCP and Zoning Bylaw can be used as future references when another developer decides to move into that area.
Howie said council would be best suited to revert back to the original Zoning Bylaw to speed up that process and try to find other potential developers.
“And these things are well underway in that regard,” he said.
Council approved the first two readings, and the public hearing will take place Monday night prior to the next scheduled council meeting, also set for that evening. See upcoming editions of the Daily News for more on the issue
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