Nanaimo will hold an Alternate Approval Process (AAP) to potentially remove a section of parkland dedication from Elaine Hamilton Park.
The change would allow for construction of a road to access a section of a large-scale mixed-use development.
The Sandstone development by Seacliff Properties is reimagining Nanaimo’s southern entrance with a 294-hectare community with commercial, industry and residential spaces.
The section of parkland, according to city staff, offers the most sensible entrance to a section of the development on Rajeena Way.
Council first voted against doing the AAP at its June 10 meeting, before reconsidering only minutes later. City staff warned the only other options would be an expensive referendum or routing traffic through residential roads not designed for the volume.
Councillor Paul Manly was concerned the road would go through a creek and harm wetlands.
“There will be some impacts to the wetted perimeter within the high-water marks of those water bodies and for that, there’s going to be offsetting and the of setting means it’s going to be rebuilt in another area that’s contributing to the existing watershed. It’s two times the size for the riparian area, as well as we are adding an additional wetland,” said Julie Budgen, an environmental planner working with Seacliff Development on the project.
Georgia Desjardins, vice president, development with Seacliff Properties told council the section of the project accessed by the road would include about 90 acres of park and public space. She also added the washroom facility in the park would be removed for road construction and a new one will be added.
Council adopted a Sandstone Master plan in 2022 and rezoned areas for the development last year.
Electors in Nanaimo who are opposed to the parkland change can submit a form to the city until July 21. Everyone else will be assumed to be in favour.
If fewer than 7,672 electors respond to the AAP, the city will have approval from the electors to make the change.
