Council green lights plans for workers residence on Watson Island for Pembina construction

Placement of the worker's residence camp on Watson Island, a self contained
project that will be located just off of Skeena Drive near Port Edward

The City of Prince Rupert has moved forward with a development permit for plans from Horizon North to operate a workers camp residence on the Watson Island site, with the 150 bed unit to be located adjacent to Skeena Drive on the Watson site.

The camp will be in support of the construction phase of the Pembina LPG Terminal that will be put in place on Watson Island.

In a late addition to Tuesday's agenda, City Planner Zeno Krekic outlined the scope of the project which will be a self contained proposal complete with water, sewer and its own power supply all located on site.

The scope of the workers camp at Watson Island with space for 150 beds and
parking availability for 75 vehicles

As a condition of occupancy the city is still awaiting some of its external reviews with provincial officials and  while those comments have not bee received as of yet, Mr. Krekic noted for Council that indications to staff are that there will be positive responses delivered to the city shortly.

He observed that as the workers camp is not located near the city's urban area there should be no issues of concern.

"The  location of the proposed project is substantially removed from the city built area and will have no effect on form and shape. Costs are covered by the application fee and the proposed project complies ... with the Industrial Development Permit Area Design guidelines"

When it came to questions related to the proposed development, Councillor Cunningham noted that with 150 beds planned for the housing project, asking whether the 75 parking spots indicated would be enough.

Mr Krekic noted that he was addressing the issue in the form of a boarding house and noted that a majority of those working at the site would be flying in and bussed into the facility as opposed to driving their own vehicles.

Councillor Randhawa asked if a traffic study would be required for the site and he was advised that would not be a requirement as part of the housing unit proposal, with those volumes to be addressed through an access permit.

No timeline for the construction of the workers camp residence was outlined as part of Tuesday's report.

You can review the full presentation to Council from the City's Video Archive starting at the six minute point.




More items of interest related to Tuesday's City council session can be reviewed from our Council Timeline Feature, along with our archive of the Tuesday session here.

A wider overview of City Council Discussion themes can be found on our Council Discussion archive here.

Past notes of interest related to Watson Island can be found here.


Cross posted from the North Coast Review