Fort St. John’s 10-year Downtown Action Plan retired

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Having fulfilled almost all its objectives, the City of Fort St. John has removed its downtown action plan as a guiding document for “current city initiatives” after 10 years. 

During the November 24th regular and committee of the whole council meetings, staff presented a report on the Downtown Action Plan first implemented in 2015.

Staff explained only eight per cent of the plan’s objectives remain incomplete, with more than 90 per cent of the outlined objectives having been “meaningfully advanced.”

Approximately 53 per cent of the objectives have been completed, and 39 per cent are considered “ongoing” by staff. 

Completed projects include introducing public art into bike racks and utility box wrappings, finishing construction of Festival Plaza, improving sidewalk safety and slowing traffic through 100th Street upgrades and updating zoning bylaws for downtown parking. 

Those programs considered ongoing include supporting downtown events, redeveloping the old hospital site, encouraging mixed-use development, the facade grant program and maintaining downtown lanes and sidewalks throughout the year. 

Staff noted there were some items within the plan the city has yet to achieve, but stated the priorities had “shifted with time.”

“For example, a market plaza was originally proposed on 100th and 100th, which was moved to now be Festival Plaza,” the report stated. 

“There was also a proposed ‘restaurant row’ on 100th Avenue; the city could restrict the zoning to only restaurants on 100th Avenue but that is highly restrictive compared to our current intent of downtown as a vibrant commercial area.” 

The report also explained “market forces” had influenced changing priorities including encouraging large retail as a part of mixed-use development, explaining this had shifted to be a market-driven goal rather than city-driven. 

Council also voted that the document “no longer guides current city initiatives” due to it being enacted in 2015, and the municipality having successfully completed a majority of the plan. 

“It is now time to recognize the historical value of this document and seek guidance from other, more current documents moving forward,” staff stated.