The third time’s the charm for The Hub Collection as Prince George City Council has replaced their Section 219 covenant, allowing them to build seniors housing at 4500 Ospika Boulevard instead of student housing.
Prince George City Council voted on the matter at tonight’s (Monday) meeting.
The developer is planning to build a 118-unit congregate living facility intended for seniors housing.
This was the third time the developer had come back to council requesting the switch.
City Council first approved rezoning of the property back in August 2021, with the applicant initially applying to build 256 units of student housing.
They then came back to Council twice in February and April 2023, requesting their Section 219 Covenant be changed to allow for the development of seniors housing instead, but were unsuccessful both times.
“To the credit to the developer, they’ve revamped this design and they did some consultation,” said Councillor Ron Polillo.
“They reached out to local key organizations like the Prince George Council of Seniors, the Elder Citizens Recreation Association, Ginter’s Green, the open house saw 11 attendees, six phone, and feedback was overwhelmingly supportive. I think we tasked them to be more engaged with the community, and I think they’ve done that.”
Councillor Cori Ramsay said alumni correspondence from UNBC said the University is working on bringing more housing on campus.
“Previously I think considering this to be student housing, we had wanted more student housing to be available,” she said.
“Given that UNBC is working on a student housing project in close proximity, I think, realistically, supporting this as seniors housing would be appropriate.”
“The only thing I’ll continue to say and I’ve said it from the very first presentation from this developer, I’m disappointed in the road access, I would still like to see greater access, although more important for the student development to get up to UNBC, I still think it extremely important for our seniors as well to have access in and out that is more versatile from this site,” added Councillor Kyle Sampson.
“Wish the property also maybe had some consideration for even a small portion of commercial, or perhaps a small access for seniors who are a little less mobile, it is up a hill from some of the retail. I think that would have been a benefit as well, but overall I do think this is a nice facility.”
Council unanimously approved the switch.
Mayor Simon Yu had left prior to this item to attend an event as part of the ongoing Future Fuels Forum.
Other items discussed at tonight’s meeting included the Select Committee on the Citizen Recognition Program, and a year-in-review presentation from Prince George RCMP Superintendent Darin Rappel.
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