“This is a critical year.”
Those are the words of Prince George Mayor Simon Yu stating the 2023 Official Community Plan is the most important one to date and he wants residents to speak up and have their say.
Two major issues likely to be pondered are the future of the downtown core as well as the current parking situation in that area.
“We have to present the downtown core as a comprehensive vision. We cannot look at just one specific property. The DBIA needs to coordinate all the businesses and all of the empty places together with this year’s OCP and we need to look where the parking will be.”
“Parking is a big issue too. When you have so few businesses already in a certain area – when people park there should we give them some incentive like free parking or should be not be parking there because people need that for business? So, we need to look at the parking issue, we need to look at the development issue, we need to look at the taxation issue but most importantly, we need a vision for downtown.”
“Not 10 years from now but 50 or 100 years from now. What should it look like, what is the densification that is going to take place – these are the stories we have to write together as a people in this OCP exercise.”
Yu estimates the official adoption of the plan won’t commence until early next year. He added planning for the downtown core has already reached the halfway point but admitted more engagement is needed with the public.
Yu hinted there are groups in the city that want to see a new performance arts centre along with a new convention centre at the site of the old Four Seasons Pool. Other high-ticket items up for discussion include a new arena for the Prince George Spruce Kings as well as a new home for Studio 2880.
Our mayor also has his sights set on cleaning up the area that houses residents in the Lombardy Mobile Home Park on Norwood Street.
While it is classified as private property, Yu believes increased dialogue with the owner could go a long way.
“We need to take a closer look at Lombardi Park and we need to look out for the safety of the people there. We need to make sure it is an area not full of crimes and people getting hurt. We need to send bylaw and the RCMP down to the area more often to see what is taking place.”
“We also need to talk to the owner. We need to know what is the financial state of this area. Maybe they need cooperation from the tenants and the city to say, hey look, what can we do to make the trailer park a better living condition for everybody.”
“We cannot bylaw a city into a better place. Bylaw is there as a last resort. I think we need to provide a proper environment for investment and people wanting to do more,” added Yu.
Fundamentally, Yu admitted it is also a financing issue as well. He added if no banks want to invest in certain areas of PG, the city then has to ask why they are stumbling into this roadblock.
However, one potential solution would be to rezone the area.
“Perhaps we need to change the zoning for certain areas. Maybe it shouldn’t be a trailer park, maybe we should have townhouses going in there or at least some other building.”
“Without dialogue, people will sit around, and it will continue to look the way it is. Things don’t have to remain the way they currently are but first and foremost we must talk and gain some understanding,” added Yu.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
