Diver Lake, Taxes, Nanaimo Council highlights

The next City of Nanaimo Council meeting is on Monday February 15th at 7pm. Some topics of interest are: Snowbirds, youth services, AICC convention, 2015-2019 Financial Plan, water rates, and a cell tower at 3575 Shenton Road.

Other items up for council’s approval are:

  • sale of lane adjacent to 867 Bruce Avenue & 538 Eighth Street to Kelland Foods
    to make way for a 27 unit multi-family residential building
  • $20,000 heritage façade grant for 426 Fitzwilliam Street
  • 937, 941 and 945 Haliburton Street to reduce front yard setback from 6m to 2m
  • Millstone Trunk and Buttertubs Drive Sanitary Sewer upgrades for $250,000
  • Northfield/Boundary/HWY 19A Intersection Upgrade – seeking Council’s approval for a sole source purchase of rail materials and services

From the previous council meeting on January 18th:

No more fishing at Diver Lake?

Nanaimo Fish and Game Club spoke at the last council meeting opposing a bylaw that would close public access to Diver Lake adjacent to 3789 and 3801 Shenton Road Diver Road. They said that Diver Road is an important access corridor and is the only corridor where anglers can launch a small boat into Diver Lake.

The motion “highway closure and dedication removal of Shenton Road and Diver Road” passed with Councillors Bestwick and Yoachim opposed.

More small lot developments approved

If you purchase a home in Nanaimo be aware that your neighbour could request one of the following and would likely get approved:

  • reduce rear yard setback
  • reduce minimum flanking yard setback requirements
  • reduce watercourse setback

Small lot developments are being approved everywhere in Nanaimo.  Congestion, traffic, storm sewer runoff, and lack of green space will be a problem.

238 Franklyn Street Nanaimo

Last week there was some breaking news on Nanaimo Info Blog regarding 238 Franklyn, the former City of Nanaimo annex building.

Just two years ago, the land value at 238 Franklyn Street was assessed at $3.4 million, not including the building. This year, BC Assessment valued the land at $1.  The building was also assessed at $1, for a total of $2.

Originally, the City of Nanaimo paid Tectonica $40,000 to sell the old annex or demolish it within two years. According to Nanaimo Info Blog, in October of last year, Nanaimo Council extended the time for a seismic upgrade for another 5 years.

Didn’t the principals of Tectonica recently go to China with our current mayor? Could they not find a buyer/investor?

Why are residential taxes going up every year? Maybe here is your answer.