Land exchange plan signals success for City's quest for site for new RCMP detachment

City residents may hear word of some success tonight 
when it comes to the search for a new location for a 
new RCMP detachment in Prince Rupert

Some notes to be reviewed at tonight's Prince Rupert City Council session, seem to suggest that the long exhaustive search for a new RCMP detachment site has come to an end, with an item from the amendment bylaw to be reviewed tonight providing a few hints for those looking to explore the role of potential land use detective.

A passage from tonight's Five Year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw
to be considered by Prince Rupert City Council

The advisory of the role of an exchange of land would seem to be the possible tell, as to where we may one day find the city's Mounties hard at work, with the first indication that things were in motion coming from a rather under the radar land sale notice last month.

The City is looking to sell this patch of land adjacent to 
the Civic Centre to the Jehovah Witness congregation

As we noted on September 25th, the city recently put forward notice of a plan to sell land adjacent to the Civic Centre to the Trustees of Prince Rupert congregation of Jehovah Witness, which could be our best indication yet as to a potential relocation for the RCMP; possibly finally confirming the frequent rumours around the city of a shift for the Mounties to the downtown area may be on the way.

Further notes on the assembly of land and architectural themes

The moving parts of the long desired new detachment seem to be pointing us all towards Third Avenue East and McBride, where the current Jehovah Witness property sits, a location that it appears jumps to the top of the list of proposed relocation sites.

The property hosting the Jehovah Witness building on 
Third Ave East has long been rumoured as a potential site 
for a new RCMP detachment

City Council members will also be considering a land related issue in a closed session tonight, discussing  the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that such disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality.

All of which could make for some interesting commentary from Council members tonight, who haven't had much to say about the long sought after RCMP detachment replacement plans, a stop and go process which dates back to the days of Mayor Jack Mussallem and even Mayor Herb Pond before him.

Hopefully current Prince Rupert Mayor Brain and the city's six council members can share some good news tonight towards the end of the long odyssey when it comes to the potential replacement as part of this evening's council session.

The need for the replacement detachment was noted as part of the Budget process of April this year,

We took note of the past planning and the long road towards a decision for the new home for the RCMP back in March, complete with an archive of some of the many past civic mentions for the long delayed project.

You can review those notes here.

For more background on tonight's Prince Rupert City Council session see our Council Preview here.

A wider overview of past City Council Discussion themes is available here.