The City of Prince Rupert has been sending a bit of advanced notice towards their next Public Hearing that is planned for Tuesday, February 21 at 6 PM.
The topic of note for that evening will be the proposed amendment is to allow Council additional discretion to permit building heights that are higher than contemplated in the original ‘heights framework’ of the Official Community Plan, IF the proposed building height is considered low impact in terms of view obstruction.
City Council hasn't had a lot of luck in attracting an interested crowd towards their recent public hearings of late.
A session in mid January related to proposed changes to some parking regulations in the downtown core attracted only two participants.
Though that consultation may get a second chance outside of the public hearing process.
While last week's Public Hearing on the city's revisions towards Container use in the city attracted No participants.
The City Council members last addressed the topic of building height in the downtown area in December of this year, when they received a report from City Manager Robert Buchan with no discussion to the theme at the time.
The City has some reading material available for those who may wish to participate in next week's hearing, among the notes:
Notes on Previous Public Hearings this year can be examined here.
Themes related to Planning in the city can be reviewed here.
More notes on City Council themes can be reviewed through our archive page.
Hoping to see some fellow members of the peanut gallery there!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the point of the peanut gallery attending. As a member there is no point anymore. The OCP with great fan fair was finalized voted on then they change it. All the time and effort for a long-term document, the ink is barely dry, then they change it.
ReplyDeleteAn OCP is a living document. Change is a good thing because it responds to opportunities.
ReplyDeleteEveryone complains they want this City to be more open to development, yet once they actually do something (reduce parking requirements, increase height allowances, expand housing densities, etc.) there’s inevitable complaints. What an ironic yawn.
Democracy is about showing up. And you’re clearly too much of a downer to want to participate.
PS it’s spelled fanfare, not fan fair.
Apparently 69.1% of residents/eligible voters are downers too. That is the amount that did not show up on October 15th to participate in democracy.
DeleteAs for the OCP, zoning heights were limited to one C6 property in the downtown core. (C6 max is 35 metres)
More density is needed, but council needs to be focused and not get caught up in how comprehensive that density needs to be.
Comprehensive density themes include building location, size, height, colour, lighting, orientation of signs, landscaping, fences and retaining walls.
Is everyone in these buildings riding bicycles or will parking be a component of the building height change
DeleteA living document doesn’t make sense when the changes being made are to the detriment of some to satisfy the developer. Create new parking then let the developer have some.
ReplyDeletePray tell, who is at detriment from higher building heights in some of the downtown? The odd homeowner on 4th W may lose their view of the old DQ site. But beyond that?
DeleteMakes total sense to me to increase economies of scale with allowing taller buildings since the cost of just getting out of the ground here is so darn high.