Building permit boom
According to a staff report on the agenda during Monday's meeting of Council, the building boom in Prince George is continuing to gain steam. The value of building permits in the city to the end of June in 2021 were over $125M, far exceeding the $49M mark they hit at this time last year and significantly surpassing the year-to-date total in 2019, which was itself a record-setting year for permit values in the city. Remarkably, the permit value for new multi-family developments in Prince George is over $60M above its value over the same period last year. The City of Prince George maintains a dashboard featuring up-to-date statistics, including current building permit numbers and other key economic indicators.
City to participate in food policy roundtable
Earlier this year, Council directed Administration to return a report to Council recommending a committee structure and proposed terms of reference for a Food Policy Council. A Food Policy Council is a voluntary body comprising stakeholders that examine how a food system operates in order to provide ideas, actions, and policy recommendations on how to improve it.
During the July 12 meeting, Administration presented a report to Council that overviewed the urban food system, described the typical mandate of Food Policy Councils, and provided examples of those operating in other BC municipalities. Administration recommended that an independently led “Action Oriented Round Table” be created to meet this community need. Council approved the recommendation and requested a report come back to Council following consultation with local non-profit food security organizations.
Daycare projects added to 2021-2025 Financial Plan
During Monday’s Council meeting, Administration requested and received Council’s approval to add capital projects relating to new daycare construction projects on Dagg Road and Malaspina Avenue to the 2021 – 2025 Financial Plan. These projects are expected to provide much-needed childcare and early childhood education for local families.
The City will be receiving roughly $2.4M from the Province’s BC News Spaces Fund to develop a 60 space childcare centre operated by the Prince George Native Friendship Centre on City-owned land at 6776 Dagg Road. Funding of nearly $3M has also been approved to develop an 83 space childcare centre to be operated by Kool Cats Kid Care on City owned land at 8008 Malaspina Avenue. PGNFC will be proceeding with construction of the new daycare on Dagg Road. The City is working with an external project management team to confirm costing of the daycare construction project on Malaspina Avenue before it proceeds. Earlier this year, construction started on a new downtown childcare centre near City Hall, which is scheduled for completion by early next year.
Street name review
City Council directed administration to report back on the process and other factors for Council’s consideration in connection with a proposed renaming of O’Grady Road in College Heights. The direction was given in response to correspondence sent to Council by Chief Dolleen Logan of the Lheidli T’enneh requesting that O’Grady Road be renamed.
Zoning for New St. Lawrence Heights subdivision passes third reading
Following a public hearing, Council voted to pass third reading of Official Community Plan and Zoning bylaw amendments to facilitate the development of a 200-lot subdivision near the end of St. Lawrence Avenue. Century Group Lands Corp. is seeking to build a mix of single-family and multi-family homes on a 34-hectare area southwest of St. Lawrence Avenue. Final reading on the OCP and zoning bylaws are expected to be before Council later this summer.
Biodiesel facility moving forward
Council approved the first two readings for amendments to the Official Community Plan and Zoning bylaw to facilitate the development and operation of a renewable diesel facility, and expansion of the existing refinery operations, at the site of Tidewater Midstream’s oil refinery in Prince George. The proposed renewable diesel refinery would be one of the first commercial facilities in Canada that would produce renewable diesel from biomass sources, such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and used cooking oils.
Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Committee term extended
Council approved a recommendation from the Select Committee on a Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Community that extends the length of term and membership appointments on the Committee through the end of the year. The Committee was formed by Council in early 2020 to advise Council and City staff on priorities and strategies related to key issues and work required to be done to address social issues throughout Prince George, with a focus on the downtown core.
Information about City of Prince George committees is available at www.princegeorge.ca/committees.
All of the reports associated with the July 12, 2021 Council meeting are posted with the agenda on the City website.