City Council Clears way towards creation of parking area for Digby Towers

Road Closure adjacent the Digby Tower for parking
 is close the finish line for City Council

Prince Rupert City Councillors provide final reading towards a Road Dedication and Bylaw requirement to allow access for the Digby Towers, part of the process of a land sale that will create parking spaces for the residential tower overlooking the Civic Centre and McClymont park are of the city.

The path towards that approval started with a few comments from Michael Shore, the owner of the building, who spoke towards the Agenda on the night at the beginning of the Monday session. 

For his contribution to the topic he noted of his ambition to purchase the property in question, as well at to observe of the need for housing in the community.

"I am the owner of 200 Sherbrooke, I've been negotiating with the Administration, to purchase the small lot across the road to comply with the parking regulations. Which is necessary for the opening of the building and I believe housing is much needed in this community"

Also part of the information review for Council members was the inclusion of a report from staff, that outlined more details related to the scope of the issue towards the area in question and answered a range of questions from the February 21st session.

Mayor Herb Pond made note of the report on the Agenda and recommended those with an interest to take a look at it.

"The other piece that I should draw your attention to,  again for members of the public that  are interested in it. 

In the Staff Reports there is a pretty comprehensive explanation of the Prince Rupert Boulevard Land Swap and Exchange. 

I think if any member of the public is interested in seeing what's going on there  it's well explained"

We provided a glimpse of that report on Monday and in comments at the Council session the Council members seems appreciative of the detail to the document they had received.

As for the Bylaw the Councillors quickly approved the road dedication elements, 

Councillor Cunningham noted of some of the elements of the maps included in the report and asked a few  questions related to the landscaping alongside the road, as well as to confirm the road access.

Councillor Adey spoke to the Report that Council had received and offered his appreciation towards it.

"I appreciate the clarification that arrived in the form of this package, it made the issues a lot more clearer to me, So I feel much more confident in rendering a decision."

It was a sentiment that Mayor Pond concurred with.

The full discussion on the topic can be reviewed from the City's Video Archive from two placements in the process, the first at the very beginning of the meeting the bylaw vote at just before the 19 minute mark.

More notes on Monday's Council session can be reviewed here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.