Neighbourhood plans taking shape
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Updated: October 14, 2009 4:41 PM
Two Nanaimo communities are closer to completing their respective neighbourhood plans after public consultations last week.
An open house to help develop the Newcastle Neighbourhood Plan attracted around 190 residents, while the South End Neighbourhood Plan meeting drew about 120 people.
Warren Jacques, president of the Newcastle Neighbourhood Association, said he was impressed with the interest level considering there are no immediate issues that need to be addressed in the area.
“We’re building relationships at this point for future interests,” said Jacques. “The entire Newcastle neighbourhood has been deemed a corridor, so the possibility of highrises along the waterfront in the future are real. Our goal at this point is to bring the community together and agree on a direction we want to take.”
Jacques added that keeping the area’s green spaces and walking paths are priorities, as are public transit issues. The waterfront section of the neighbourhood also needs to be represented as developers begin to eye the potential there.
“We’re already seeing changes,” he said. “And the Stewart Avenue [Stakeholders] will probably be affected the most. The waterfront is represented through neighbourhood groups at Departure Bay and in the south end so we need that here.”
The Brechin Hill Association and Stewart Avenue Stakeholders, along with the NNA, will all have three representatives during the neighbourhood plan process to talk to city staff.
Deborah Jensen, of the city’s community planning department, said neighbourhood plans address specific neighbourhood needs within the Official Community Plan guidelines.
“A neighbourhood plan is an amendment to the Official Community Plan, especially when confronting land use and the seven goals of the OCP,” she said. “It addresses social issues and other factors consistent with the direction and desires of a community within the city.”
Both neighbourhood plans will undergo further development before being considered by council, likely next June or early fall.
Chris Sholberg, the city’s liaison for the South End Neighbourhood Plan, said issues like population densification and waterfront access were issues for many residents.
“The south end is a seaside community without pedestrian access to the sea,” said Sholberg. “So naturally plans for areas like the Assembly Wharf were of interest. Transportation issues were also a topic of interest. Where we’re at right now is just getting an idea of what’s on people’s minds and where to go from there.”
The next round of public consultation, later this fall, will include a workshop to pinpoint and focus on issues deemed most important by each area’s respective residents.
reporter2@nanaimobulletin.com
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