D'Arcy McGee: East Side Road Closure makes for a prelude for potential housing plans

Friday, August 28, 2020

East Side Road Closure makes for a prelude for potential housing plans

City of Prince Rupert Operations Director Richard Pucci
speaking to a road closure request at Monday's Council session

Monday night's Prince Rupert City Council session offered up a little civic housekeeping, with the City's Operations Director Richard Pucci appearing late into the two and half hour session to request a designation for a lane closure on the east side of the city.

It's one of those civic requirements that not normally doesn't generate much interest, but in this case seemingly will make for the first step towards what will be a somewhat larger talking point later at some time in the future.

In his presentation, Mr. Pucci updated Council on the nature of the lane closure for Edward Street/Albert Avenue, located off of 11th Avenue East, a roadway which for the most part provides for back lane access for some homes in the area.

"We have a proponent that we are working with to do a housing development in the area, that will become a little bit more public later on. The first part of it is to close the road and subdivide into three large parcels and that's what we're looking to do during this process ... It is a completely wooded area and the development would be on 11th Avenue sort of in the dip area there. So we're just looking right now to close the road in anticipation of consolidation of lots for future development " -- City of Prince Rupert Director of Operations Richard Pucci

As for discussion on the road closure, Mayor Brain observed that the majority of the road in question is actually wooded area and not road, just technically designated as a road, Mr. Pucci noted that it is basically a road on paper.

Councillors Cunningham and Niesh did raise some concerns over the impact on the existing five or six residents that currently use the lane as back access to their homes and property.

"I think it would be important to maintain that, cause I know there is people that actually have I believe carports behind there. So I do feel that for the five houses or so that are there it would be nice to at least allow them access to their properties. I don't want to get into devaluing of someone's property because we've cut off their access to whether it be a carport or garage" -- Councillor Wade Niesh

To resolve those concerns, Mr. Pucci suggested an amendment on the road closure bylaw to allow for that access for the existing residents. He also advised Council that the City of Prince Rupert owns the remaining property that has been consolidated in the area designated for closure.

Councillor Mirau made an enquiry related to the consolidation of the property into three lots, and the reasoning behind that approach.

The Operations Director noted for Council that it offers the potential for additional development at a later time.

"The contemplated development is only big enough for one of the lots and there was an option to possibly do two other developments on either side in the future. So in this case, we looked at this time to close all the road and make the property available for future consideration at another time if Council wishes to do that later on" -- Operations Director Richard Pucci

With council giving first reading to the motion and setting the process of notification forward, Mr. Brain observed how the road closure would be generating some interest in the future plans and how more information would be coming in the future.

Towards that, Mr. Pucci outlined how the process would move forward.

"When we come back the drawings will be adjusted so that you see the final product"

Neither the Operations Director or the City Council members offered up any kind of timeline towards when the larger housing proposal would be outlined for the public, nor any further information as to what it may look like.

The location, along 11th Avenue East does however offer some hints as to what may be in the works for the future.

Back in December 2019 during the Rupert 2030 vision presentation at the Lester Centre hosted by Mayor Brain, the somewhat delayed but much anticipated housing development proposed by the Lax Kw'alaams Band was once again given some attention, with Harvey Campbell at the time noting that the Band was exploring options along 11th Avenue East.

In November of last year, the Band Council observed that they were working with the city to identify a potential site for their proposed 60 unit affordable housing project.

Since that event however, there has been little heard from either the City or the Lax Kw'alaams Band on the progress of that consultation and the timeline for development of the additional housing stock in the community.

Monday's road closure planning, could perhaps be the first step towards that project finally moving forward, or maybe it heralds some other interest in the wide swath of undeveloped land along 11th at the foot of Edwards Avenue.

With the road closure mechanism now in motion, residents of the area will as the mayor notes no doubt be curious as to what may be ahead for development in their neighbourhood.