In a special meeting Wednesday, Council decided 5-3 in favour of rezoning 6161 Otway Road, thus letting CIF Construction and TimberWest move their businesses to the property.
It was a long decision process. The ten-and-a-half hour public consultation alone spanned three nights, in which Council heard everything from live power tools to conspiracy allegations. That was followed by a tense debate, where, one-by-one, Councillors unveiled their decision and reasoning.
Councillor Terri McConnachie was in favour of rezoning.
“When it came to the actual issue that was on the table in front of us, and that had to do with the applicants that were taking an existing business and moving right next door to continue the same business, there weren’t enough red flags for me not to support the application,” she says.
McConachie knew her choice would leave at least one group upset. She says she flipped back and forth before finally making a decision.
“A lot of the things that the neighbourhood was worried about, (those businesses have) already been there as long as 25 years, so I couldn’t rationalise why now, 25 years later, we would tell them to stop.”
Almost half the gallery flooded out as the final vote came in. CIF Construction Owner Jack Fomenoff knows it was an emotional topic for everyone.
“I’m happy, I guess, my point of view that it went that way but at the same time, I respect the decisions that Council made. I’m continuing to be a good neighbour, I want to be a good neighbour. I’m proud of Prince George.”
Moving forward, Council did promise to make a “neighbourhood plan” for the North Nechako area. It will talk to residents and shape the future of the riverbanks.
CIF and TimberWest gave Council 38 acres of the property to do with as it wishes.
Councillors Skakun, Krause, and Merrick were against the motion. Councillor Everitt was absent.