City Council decides to approve the Otway rezoning

  The city of Prince Geoge City Council decided to approve CIF Construction and West Timber application to rezone property on Otway Rd. This was a very heated discussion but in the end the city decided to side with CIF Construction and Timber West.

The debate on this issue was highly contested by both sides. On one side the residents of North Nechako who felt that more industrialization in the area across the river from their homes would lead to lower quality of life. The arguments tended to focus on the air, light, water, and noise pollution that would come from the business that would move to the newly zoned property.

People who live in North Nechako are tired of attending meetings to fight to protect their neighbourhood. On May 12 some residents will go to a meeting to hear Pitman Asphalt plans to expand their operations that is also in the same area of the applicant.

One the other side the owners, employees and supporters of the companies Timber West and CIF Construction. They argued that by not approving this they would not be able to grow their business. The two companies had been in existence for a number of years and claim they had been in the area long before many of the residents who live in North Nechako.

After a long speakers list and 11-12 hours of council hearings the formal part of the hearing was closed and the city council began their debate on the issue. Like a parliamentary hearing the proponents for the project sat on one side of the aisle and the opponents on the other. People waited on baited breaths to see what their arguments would yield.

Murry Kraus sees this issue as very heated and knows though out his time in politics this was bound to happen. He did not support the application and knows it will make some very unhappy.

Terri McConnachie sees this as a collision on land use. She feels there is a need for a neighbourhood planning process. This application does not mean new industry is moving in to the area and people have still bought houses in the neighbourhood. CIF Construction and Timber West have "put their best foot forward." She supported the application.

Brain Skakun said when people made their presentations he really cut them slack for using a lot of time because many people were not accustomed to presenting. There is industry in the area but that does not mean more needs more is okay. The BCR industrial site is the proper place for light industrial and he does not want to see a piece meal application process in other areas. This is about a long term vision. Skakun did not support the application

Jillian Merrick felt that CIF and Timber West is an impressive company for helping grow the local economy. Merrick was very torn, the business has been there for a long time however she felt that the cumulative effect of pollution in the area would be problematic for the residents of North Nechako. Merrick voted against the application .

Albert Koehler some of the hearing became tense and not appropriate due to the presenters way of showing their opposition or support. The business in the old saw mill is extremely noisy especially if you live directly across from it according to Kohler, however business are more aware of neighbourhood impacts than ever before. We want our city to grow and be a city of growth and must accommodate business when possible, the point of a hearing is to decide whether that is the case with the current application. The berm should stop any noise that CIF or Timber West would make and the only noise left would be the already existing noise. However based on the information in front of him, he voted in favour of the application for the greater good of Prince George.

Susan Scott she does not see why this is was the "flash point it was." She did vote in favour of the application.

Garth Frizzell feels that we need to plan the river valley and should be something the city looks at for the future due to all the changes happening along the river. The information the city looked at was property values, pollution, OCP, industrial creep and so much more. After all the information was heard he was in favour of the application.

Lyn Hall says that planning along the river is needed and needs to happen for the future. He also voted in favour of the application.

So in the end some people walked away unhappy and some very grateful. One thing is sure planning along the river needs to happen for the future. As for CIF Construction and Timber West they will be moving to their new home and to expand their operations. No word yet if the residents of North Nechako will challenge the decision.

Things heating up on Otway rezoning Debate

Photo from City of Prince George Website

Things got a bit heated at city council on Monday when proponents and opponents spoke to L&M Engineering's application to have 6161 Otway Rd rezoned. The application would have the property rezoned to light industrial use, which is to the dismay of many residents of North Nechako. Last night's meeting was the second hearing about this application and it will go on to Wednesday May 11 at 6pm for a third session.

According to the residents of North Nechako the change would result in an increase of noise, water, air and light pollution. The residents kept reminding city council that the property sits above a delicate aquifer and having the property rezoned would increase the risk of contamination. Opponents made many presentations to city council ranging from the professional to the offensive. Mayor Lyn Hall had to reign in a couple presenters for use of antagonizing, or offensive language.

The proponents have stated that concerns to the project have been blown out of proportion. The area already has industrial business, and a CN rail line, that cause noise, air, and light pollution already. This according to the opponents existed in the area for years and in the residents don't like it they should not of bought in the area. Jack Fomenoff who is one of the applicants, stated that he "tired of the attacks" and made an off the cuff comment about possibly pursuing legal action.

By Grant Bachand (Twitter) @grantbachand

POLS 320 Students Present to City Council

Photo by Jason Morris @JPols

Students from UNBC POLS 320 class presented the results of their class project at Monday's city council meeting. POLS 320 is a political science class at UNBC which focuses on teaching students how to conduct university level research in an applied fashion.  Over the years the class has done various projects, this year they focused on voter apathy amongst youth 18-35. They concluded that youth are voting and are "politically engaged."

The results  showed that over 80% of respondents participated in the most recent federal election. It also showed that most youth are not in favour of lowering the voting age but looking to more digital ways of voting for the future. This spurred city councillors to talk about the possible return of the debate of electronic voting

However the results do show a bit of a bias according to the students that presented stating that most of the surveys came from UNBC and not enough came from the community.  Garth Frizzell was impressed by the students and happy to see students are engaged in the political process, he asked if their was ways to improve those numbers even more. One of the students stated that more engagement with young people will continue to encourage those numbers to improve.

By Grant Bachand @grantbachand

BC First Nations takes species-at-risk recovery into new territory

It took 2 years of preparation but the Upper Nicola Band, the Burrowing Owl conservation society, local species-at-risk biologists, and the federal interdepartmental Recovery Fund are excited to implement the reintroduction of Burrowing Owls back into Nicola territory! Owls are deeply woven into the culture of the Upper Nicola and Interior Salish peoples. They are considered the guardian spirits for hunters and warriors and are spirit carriers and guides to other worlds

Chief Harvey McLeod, from Upper Nicola had some inspiring words on the subject, stating:

 "the culture that has always given us strength and supported us is based on coexistence with the land that has always sustained us. We must give it support in turn. It means we have the responsibility to be stewards of the world around us, and to reclaim, where we can what we have lost, and to rebuild what we are losing."

In preparation for the release of the first set of owls, upper Nicola field techs and cultural advisors helped to survey the band's eight reserves and identify suitable habitat. Community members helped with the construction of nestboxes and creating artificial burrows. These burrows will be home to the first three breeding pairs of Owls, which were hatched and raised by volunteers of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC.

The goal of both the Upper Nicola Band and the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society is to reserve the continuing decline of the Burrowing owl populations within Canada. This can be accomplished from the efforts this project aims to establish by maintaining a self-perpetual, well-distributed population of owls in British Colombia. Upper Nicola Band species at risk program is also committed to building capacity, increase knowledge of culturally and ecologically important wildlife and encourage community-based, hands on conservation.

This is exciting news as this will be the first ever release of Burrowing Owls on land that is controlled by First Nations. We look forward to hearing how these animals do after their release. To learn more about the topic you can check out the Upper Nicola website or the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC.

Upper Nicola: www.uppernicola.com Burrowing Owl Conservation Society: www.burrowingowlbc.org

Patrick Lane and Dr. Leroy Little Bear to receive honorary degrees

The University of Northern British Columbia is issuing honorary degrees to Patrick Lane and Dr Leroy Little Bear. Patrick Lane is a well-known writer who has received the Governors General Award for Poetry, the B.C Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence, the B.C National Award for Canadian Non-Fictionm the 2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award, Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa from UBC-Okanagan, and the Order of Canada. He is a strong supporter of BC emerging writers.

Dr. Leroy Little Bear is a lawyer who was born and raised on the Blood Indian Reserve in Southern Alberta. The unfair education he received has motivated him to help improve education for aboriginal youth. He has served on various committees, commissions, tasks forces to do with Criminal justice and its relation to First Nations. The Supreme Court of Canada has even cited Little Bear's "A Concept of Native Title".

The two will be receiving their honorary degrees at UNBC convocation on May 27.