Council gives initial readings for potential apartments on Redwood Street

Prince George City Council got the ball rolling on a rezoning which could bring more apartment units to the city, but they won’t be built right away.

At this week’s meeting, Prince George City Council gave first three readings for a zoning amendment bylaw for 1794 Redwood Street.

The applicant, M’akola Development Services for Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George, is proposing a 45-unit, six-storey development at the location.

According to a staff report to Council, the subject property is a consolidation of several previous single-family lots, and is currently developed with a single-family dwelling that will be demolished to accommodate the proposed apartment use.

Additionally, a servicing brief prepared by L&M Engineering identifies the property will require a watermain upgrade, a new fire hydrant, and new sanitary service.

“As there is not sufficient servicing for the proposed development, the applicant has agreed to enter into a Development Agreement to ensure that no building permit is granted prior to the required services being completed,” said Director of Planning and Development Deanna Wasnik.

Wasnik added a Section 219 is usually used for this purpose rather than the Development Agreement, but the applicant has requested the alternative method in order to facilitate their ability to obtain financing for the proposed development.

This Development Agreement would also contain a clause for the reverting of the zone if the requirements are unfulfilled.

Wasnik said the applicant has also offered to register a Section 219 covenant to limit the principal development to no more than six storeys.

“The Development Agreement is not a typical process, but why the 219 is preferred is because it goes on title, so should the property sell, a future buyer would have that flag, where the Development Agreement would be an agreement between the City and the applicant,” Wasnik explained.

Final reading and adoption of the rezoning would also be withheld until the Development Agreement and Section 219 have been submitted to the satisfaction of administration.