It has been over a month since Nanaimo Council has had a regular council meeting. But, a ‘special’ council meeting will be held Monday, June 12th at 7pm open at the VICC. What is a Special Council meeting? Is it a Committee of the Whole meeting or a regular council meeting or something else? Read on.
Coming up Monday’s agenda are some hot topics such as garbage collection, rails to trails, and a town hall pilot program! Some large developments up for approval include a 14-unit building at 1015 Park Avenue, a 72-unit building at 6025 Linley Drive, and a 7-unit mixed use building at 253 Victoria Road. A small lot development is proposed for 5030 Hammond Bay Road, where 1 lot will be divided into 5.
Speakers lined up for Monday night include the Canada 150 committee, Nanaimo Clippers, Nanaimo Gymnastics, and Women Watching Nanaimo will present a petition.
Town Hall Pilot Program
The City of Nanaimo is going to start a ‘Town Hall Pilot Program’ this fall. What do people want to talk about? Hmmm…are we getting ready to burn garbage again? What mega project does the City have in mind this time? The City will first put together a group of people from Council and the community. Then they will hold two town hall meetings and an on-line survey to find out what people want out of this new ‘Town Hall Pilot Program’.
Are you confused yet?
New Garbage Collection – new user fees
Council has approved a new automated garbage collection system. This will require an increase in user fees for garbage over the next five years.
residential rate: $102.75 current / new $118.04
commerical rate: $137.83 current / new $158.34
Also, each resident must purchase a new green bin for $25 (old green bins don’t work with the new trucks). What are people going to do with their old garbage and green bins? Will the City collect them and sell them to another community to use? Or will 45,000 households have to drive down to the dump and pay another fee just to dispose them?
1015 Park Avenue
There is a proposed 14-unit, three storey development at 1015 Park Avenue – currently a forested ridge on a steep slope.
This area is currently being used by neighbourhood residents. The owner has indicated that they are open to dedicating part of the area as a park if the development gets approved.
6025 Linley Valley Drive
There are plans for a 72-unit, five storey rental development with 19 underground parking spaces at 6025 Linley Valley Drive. The builder has made a request to reduce parking by 22 spaces for a total of 97 rather than 119.
253 Victoria Road
The original proposal for this lot was for an 18-unit development. The project has been scaled back to a 7-unit, 3 storey mix use live and work building.
5030 Hammond Bay Road
The new owner wants to divide a single family lot into five. No lane is proposed, and the new homes are to be accessed from Williamson Road. The new homes will each have secondary suites.
Boxwood Road
Boxwood Road has really changed over the years. More industrial lots are planned in the red squares.
5264 Sherbourne Drive
31 people signed a petition against a development at 5264 Sherbourne Drive – Council approved the project at 3rd reading. Councillor Fuller was absent for the May 4th public hearing.
Old City Quarter
Old City Quarter Business Improvement Area was created and approved by Council on May 8th. The purpose is to collect taxes to make improvements to the Old City Quarter.
Rails to Trails
On Monday night Councillor Bestwick will bring forward a motion regarding Rails to Trails Vancouver Island to convert the rail system from Parksville to Courtenay with a trail; and,
complete a pedestrian trail from Parksville to Coombs because no money has come to repair the existing railway.
If you look at Europe and China, they are developing their rail systems, not ripping them out. When the population of Nanaimo reaches half a million in the next 20 years, how will people get around? The Island Highway and the Parkway will be gridlocked.