Nanaimo city council approved a development permit Monday that will allow for a 55-slip marina, seven-metre wide waterfront walkway, kayak dock, and a piling structure for a future restaurant and marine shop at 1000 Newcastle Ave., as part of redevelopment at Waterfront Suites and Marina.
The lone variance requested on the permit was to reduce the watercourse setback from 15 metres to zero metres to allow for the restaurant and marine shop to be built over the water at a later date, which was also approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The federal department, however, requires that the blackberry bushes to be removed will need to be replaced with high value plant material within the riparian area.
The Newcastle Neighbourhood Association also endorses the development, calling it “a welcome addition to our neighbourhood”.
The marina portion of the development is expected to be complete this summer.