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VOL. 27 NO. 13
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
City finalizes huge land deal By JOSH MASSEY WHAT SEEMED a long shot just several months ago has become reality as a Chinese investment firm has announced it is going ahead with the purchase of two large sections of land at the City of Terraceowned Skeena Industrial Development Park. Amid much speculation over which industry or industries would be set up on the site, the city has announced that the first will be an alfalfa protein extraction plant, the
first of possibly several different manufacturing plants. Taisheng International Investment Services, a Burnaby-based investment firm, is paying $11.8 million to the city for 480 hectares of the industrial park, located a couple kilometres south of the Northwest Regional Airport off Hwy 37 South. Taisheng is the investment arm of the Qinhuangdao Economic Development Zone located on the east coast of China, two hours from Beijing.
There’s a big demand for alfalfa in China. See story Page A9.
A group of delegates representing Taisheng, Qinhuangdao and the provincial government’s major investments office were in Terrace July 9 and 10 on a brief private trip
to meet with city council and staff. The delegation gathered at city hall July 9 for the official signing of the deal, and a catered lunch and dinner hosted by the city in the Rich McDaniel conference room at the Terrace Sportsplex. “They were comfortable with me being the spokesperson,” said Pernarowski, recounting the details of the visit that was closed to the public and media, which included taking the group on a helicopter tour of the Rio Tinto Alcan smelter in Kitimat.
“Today’s agreement marks a major milestone for the City and Kitselas. Diversifying our local economy is a priority for council, and this sale will pave the way for industrial development at the Skeena Industrial Development Park, create new employment opportunities and reduce our reliance on residential property and business taxes to fund services,” said Pernarowski in an emailed release July 10.
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Thornhill site of massive project plan By ANNA KILLEN
MARGARET SPEIRS PHOTO
■■ Market entertainment LATE NIGHT on Air performs at the Skeena Valley Farmers Market July 12 under the shade of the new band shell. From left, that’s Jordan Beblow, Ken Giesbrecht and Eric Nyhof. The farmers market runs every Saturday until October and features musical performances every week.
A SECOND proposal for major development in Thornhill has surfaced, this one detailing opportunities for a shopping mall or large box store complex amongst residential and community development. According to crown land application purchase documents filed with the provincial ministry of forests, lands and natural resources, Bear Creek Contracting is proposing to purchase three portions of land totalling nearly 30 hectares in the lower area of Thornhill in order to build close to 400 single detached homes and multi-family homes, which could house more than 1,000 people. A 10.7 hectare commercial development area and a 5.9 hectare expansion of the Bear Creek Contracting yard are also part of the application. “The size of the proposed commercial area could accommodate three developments of similar size as the existing major commercial developments, depending on the size of undeveloped area used for landscaping or buffering,” reads the application. The existing major developments mentioned are Canadian Tire, Safeway Mall, Skeena Mall, and Walmart in the City of Terrace. “Another alternative to development of this land is a comprehensive development, or in accordance with a development master plan as a mixed use area for commercial, offices, and residential uses,” reads the application. A map included in the application shows Bear Creek’s vision for the crown land, which is north of Century St., to Crescent St., and between Paquette Avenue, and Sharples Road in Thornhill. One parcel to the east is designated commercial, with parcels further north and to the west of Sharples proposed as multi-residential.
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Flocked
Once again
Terrace triumphs
Plastic flamingos appear and disappear on local lawns to help family \COMMUNITY A10
Debate over pipelines in the northwest is not a new topic \NEWS A5
Terrace’s U16 girls’ soccer team takes third at provincial championships \SPORTS A27