A fair bit of feedback expected for City Council's review of PRPA's temporary use plans for Park Avenue

A temporary use for land on Park is scheduled to be up
for consideration at Monday's City Council session

See update at bottom of page

The City of Prince Rupert's Corporate Administrator Rosa Miller may have some extensive reading material to deliver to City Council by the time the only Council session for the month opens for business at 7 PM on Monday night.

Monday is the deadline for comment related to a request from the Prince Rupert Port Authority towards making temporary use of land along Park Avenue for storage purposes for the Fairview Container Terminal; that plan put forward as the expansion plans for Fairview begin to move forward on the waterfront.

The parcel of land that is the subject of the land request

As we outlined earlier this month, City Council received the request as a late addition to their July 20th Council session, followed by the placement of notices in the local paper seeking comment from those affected, with a deadline of August 24th for those who may wish to contribute to the process.

And while the city didn't exactly go out of their way to widely share that call for feedback through their own communication measures and social media options, word it seems did get out. 

And all indications are that there does appear to have been some interest into the plans, with reports of residents of nearby areas collecting names on petitions and urging their neighbours to ensure that their voice is heard on the topic.

The issue has become a Social Media theme as well, noted by many in recent days, including the Prince Rupert Environmental Society which shared word of the call for participation through their own social media portal.

For its part, the Prince Rupert Port Authority has put forward its own information campaign, delivering letters to residents in nearby areas that highlight the temporary nature of their plans for the proposed land use.

Observing how COVID has limited the in person presentation options, the letter from the PRPA recounts how a portion of the land in question had been rezoned for residential use a few years ago, but that the planned residential development never moved forward.

Towards the temporary use plans, the Port highlights how the use of the area would reduce the congestion in the area as Fairview Terminal balances its operational needs with the requirements for expansion.

The PRPA also outlines how they at the moment have a conditional two year lease on the property and that they may at some point look to purchase the land, something we first took note of in July. 

With their letter to the area residents, the PRPA is offering up a land use mix that would provide for a buffer between light industrial use and the neighbouring residential areas, as well as the prospect of a network of trails and recreational green space use for a significant portion of the land.

The Port also notes how the industrial portion of their plans could involve development of light industrial use and as a training area for longshore workers.

Monday's Council session will also provide an opportunity for a limited amount of residents in attendance in the Council Chamber to offer comment; though the city has not provided for much guidance through their information streams as to how residents with an interest in this particular session may participate in person, or how any overflow may be handled.

The Monday gathering may also offer up some guidance from City Manager Robert Long, who has taken on the planning duties at City Hall following the retirement of City Planner Zeno Krekic. 

City Manager Robert Long

Council has apparently chosen to let that position remain unfilled for now, curiously it seems, just as some major land use themes have arrived on the local scene.

Mr. Long was not available for the only Council session of July, so the Monday session will make for his first opportunity to share some thoughts with the public and assist the Council members as they consider the topic.

The Park Avenue land use may be just the first of upcoming land issues and themes that City Council gains some significant feedback on; this month has also seen a consultation process get underway in the Kootenay/McKay area for a proposed expansion of housing options in the area, a topic which is also generating some significant conversation it seems

Update: Friday Afternoon the City posted its Agenda for Monday's Council session, which includes the Report to Council from the City Manager. Among his notes is an advisory that the City has received significant negative comment to date related to the Land Use request.  Mr. Long's report is available on page 78 of the Information package for the night.

For more notes on City Council Discussion themes see our archive page here.