A proposal to build townhouses and a multi-family complex on forested land between Nelson Road and Linley Valley Drive can progress to the next stage of planning.
At a public hearing Thursday, Feb. 24, Nanaimo city council voted unanimously in favour of third reading of a bylaw to rezone 6033 and 6053 Nelson Rd. to low- and medium-density residential.
The applicant, Insight Holdings Ltd., has presented concepts to the city proposing 168 homes, with townhouses along Nelson Road and a six-storey residential complex along Linley Valley Drive.
At the public hearing, three neighbourhood residents spoke in opposition to the project, raising concerns including traffic on Nelson Road and perceived lack of consultation.
During council’s discussion, Coun. Sheryl Armstrong said it’s her opinion that Nelson Road can’t sustain the amount of traffic that the development would bring. However, she added that housing is “desperately” needed throughout the city and she thinks concerns about traffic have been heard and will be addressed during future stages of permitting.
Coun. Ian Thorpe expressed a similar view.
“[This] will result in more traffic, there’s no doubt of that, and that’s a challenge that we will have to deal with as a city through our transportation planning,” he said.
Thorpe noted that the property is already zoned for development and so that will happen in some form.
“Yes, it is an increase in density, but I don’t think it is too dense. I think it’s a good step up in density,” he said.
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Coun. Erin Hemmens asked about the proposal’s impact on a neighbouring wetland and city planner Caleb Horn said the concepts show that the buildings would be situated far enough from the wetland so as not to shadow them. A parkland dedication on that corner of the property will provide additional protection, he added.
“There is of course required setbacks from the wetland and in the proof-of-concept plan, they have shown that they would not be encroaching within that area,” Horn said.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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