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Volume 61 No. 02
Riverbrook gets zoning
Sentinel
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Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
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47 townhomes allowed in new zoning Cameron Orr It may have been a slimmed down version of what the proponents were originally looking for but the Riverbrook Estates project received its zoning changes approved last week. Kerkhoff Construction was originally seeking to build a 217 living units area, at the back end of Liard Street, but based on community concern about density reduced their proposal to 199 units. Even so, that wasn’t quite enough to make people happy and the proponent eventually cut their rezoning application in half, which will allow for a first wave of townhouse construction, along with single family homes which the property is already zoned for. The new rezoning allows for 47 townhouses, or ‘multi-family’ developments. Leonard Kerkhoff had maintained throughout the lengthy rezoning process, which began last summer, that the buildings would be built only when there was proof of a market. Basically, if no one was going to buy them, they wouldn’t build them. Still, reducing the scope of their zoning application will give council more control on how that property develops in the future. A proposal for two apartment buildings, one operated by BC Housing, is still in the air at the moment. With the application reduced so much there was not much further opposition to the project ahead of final adoption, although there was comments from retired firefighter Rick Thompson regarding a fire hydrant which, with the new development, could become inaccessible or be removed entirely, which may limit the fire department in that area. Fire Chief Trent Bossence later explained to the Sentinel that his own understanding is that the fire hydrant in that area was already deemed, by past fire chiefs, to not be needed and was already slated for removal, although the work has not yet been done. As for fire access, Bossence said he and the District of Kitimat building department will be evaluating the need for that hydrant, and fire department access in general will also be reviewed, and any recommendations will be forwarded to the developers. Other Kerkhoff developments in Kitimat includes the proposal for the Haisla Town Centre at the former hospital site on Haisla Boulevard.
Kitimat’s New Year baby arrived on January 4. Julia Reay Hales was welcomed at 1:24 a.m., to parents Martin Hales and Amy Slanina. Julia will certainly be looked out for by big brother Caleb as well. The family emphasized their thanks to Dr. Huang and to the maternity nurses.
Winterfest back, even if Rail Jam isn’t As of Friday, organizers for the Rail Jam event, which was scheduled for January 23, have cancelled it, due to lack of snow. “It’s only two weeks away and looking at the forecast they’re calling for way more rain,” said Rail Jam committee member Trish Parsons. “We just don’t have enough snow to do a decent snow pile.” Even so, the Winterfest celebration, which had been organized in tandem with Rail Jam, will go on. For the second year
of Winterfest’s return, Kitimatians will again get a taste of the francophone culture, with a traditional brunch and live music. A F F N O ’ s (L’Association des Francophones et Francophiles du NordOuest) Executive Director Patrick Witwicki, based in Prince Rupert, has been working with volunteers and organizers in Kitimat to make this year’s event an even greater step above last year’s. The Winterfest will begin with a ‘kick-
off social’ at Rosario’s Restaurant on January 22 at 7 p.m. This free event will essentially be an introduction to Winterfest activities, a chance for people to learn about what it is, and a chance to enjoy some acoustic music. A Winterfest Brunch is set to take place at noon at the Riverlodge on January 24, which will include traditional Quebec foods. “Anyone who hasn’t gone [to the brunch] is truly missing out. The food is ridiculous,” Witwicki
said, meaning of course in a good way. They use real maple syrup in their recipes and the food is made from scratch, and that includes meat pies and sugar pies, and beans in maple syrup, he said. Witwicki adds it will be a nice family event with activity stations for kids, and they’ll offer the toffee on the snow as well, which is a kid favourite. Even with Rail Jam cancelled, there will be an ‘after party’ at the Legion on January 23.
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A cover charge for that event will be required, and will feature the Hazelton band Axes of Ego. Witwicki said he is extremely thankful for the Kitimat-based people who have helped develop activities this year for Winterfest. “We are confident that’s going to just be one reason of many why this year is going to be better attended and better in general than last year.” Last year’s events was the first Winterfest following a multi-year hiatus in Kitimat.