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City of Nanaimo seeks public input on waterfront plan

Master plan expected to go to an open house for public feedback before summer
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The City of Nanaimo is drafting a master plan for its share of the south industrial waterfront downtown. Tamara Cunningham/News Bulletin

The City of Nanaimo plans to get public input this year as it draws up a master plan for its share of the south downtown waterfront.

The city launched work on a master plan for 1 Port Dr. in 2015 with a $100,000 budget and a draft plan anticipated by January last year.

Bruce Anderson, city manager of community and cultural planning, said the city has looked at issues and opportunities with workshops with stakeholders, but had to hold off on the plan for a good part of last year —the proposed multiplex being a primary reason.

“Now we are sort of back on with it, ” he said, adding they will look at options and probably hold an open house for the public to provide feedback before summer.

The plan will detail proposed land use to transportation, servicing, open space, trails and environmental protection, as well as the phasing of development, a terms of reference shows.

Anderson said a range of issues are being looked at in the planning process, like what to do with a transit centre and how to gain access through this portion of the waterfront. He said the plan is based on the south downtown waterfront initiative principles.