Property in Cedar, Chase River and the Cinnabar Valley is part of an ambitious development to add new residential and commercial builds to south Nanaimo. Land on Frew Dr., pictured here, would be developed into a new Cedar precinct. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT

Expansive Sandstone development in south Nanaimo gets unanimous support

Nov 16, 2021 | 4:45 PM

NANAIMO — The long-term vision of a growing area south of the city is changing as the years roll on, with the public now getting their say.

The Sandstone development in Cedar, Chase River and Cinnabar Valley will head to public hearing in late January after an amended plan was given a unanimous thumbs up from Council on Monday, Nov. 15.

Coun. Sheryl Armstrong suggested edits made to the plan from its previous 2009 version to the one presented Monday night offered more incentive to the City.

“We actually gain much from this plan than we do from the original plan. There’s going to be a five acre school site, if we don’t approve [the revisions] then that’s out the window, the community centre is out the window.”

The new version of the Sandstone Master Plan, guiding development of 726 acres, would shift where housing would feature in the new and redeveloped neighbourhoods, as well as how many there are.

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It would establish four precincts to divide and organize the community around the Hwy. 1/Cedar Rd. intersection.

Cedar would take the north-east corner, Cinnabar to the south west while a new Fielding neighbourhood and the business centre of the region would encompass areas southeast of the exchange.

A new proposal for land use in Cedar, Chase River and Cinnabar pertaining to the long-term Sandstone development planned for the region. (Google Maps/Sandstone)

Approximately 2,200 residential units are part of the development, plus around 324,000 square metres of commercial building area.

The new Fielding neighbourhood would comprise of 1,000 of the residential units, with Cedar and Cinnabar evenly splitting the remaining 1,200.

Cedar and Cinnabar would continue to favour single family housing, or multi-family developments in the same fashion existing homes in the area are developed.

Density in the Fielding area would be increased to support multi-family and mixed-use properties.

Georgia Desjardins, senior asset manager with developer Seacliff Properties, told Council the 2009 plan had a strong focus on a balance between residential and industrial.

“The new plan has a focus on economic development and employment with the focus and emphasis…now on providing for more industrial growth while still more of a local, neighbourhood sized commercial centre to ensure we’re bringing the much needed commercial and retail opportunities to serve the south end.”

The new plan provides space for a new school in Cinnabar as well as 2.5 acres set aside for a community centre in the Fielding precinct.

Land for both projects would be given to the School District and City respectively as community amenities.

The subject of transportation was raised multiple times by developers, councillors and residents.

City staff are already looking at ways of improving access into the Cinnabar Valley and Extension neighbourhoods, a growing area of Nanaimo with one main access point to the surrounding area.

Several new roads and upgraded intersections are included in early drafts of the Sandstone master plan, designed to alleviate long-standing connection issues for residents in south Nanaimo. (Seacliff Properties)

“Transportation has been an enormous emphasis of our time in study spent to date,” Desjardins said. “We continue to work closely…to understand the prioritization, the sense of urgency, the need for action to be taken here to really start bringing some of those transportation improvement projects to the south end.”

A handful of new connectors and intersection upgrades on the Trans Canada Highway are part of early plans to make the development more accessible and easier for residents to come and go.

Cedar Rd. would also see upgrades from Hwy. 1 to the border with Snuneymuxw First Nation in order to accommodate increased traffic flows.

Bill Yoachim, councillor from Snuneymuxw First Nation, relayed SFN’s support for the development, citing an expansion in their land base as a key benefit.

Mike Parker of the Chase River Community Association also lent support on behalf of the neighbourhood group, again raising an immediate need for traffic changes.

He added development of business and commercial land in the area is a must have for any further growth.

“The residents of our area are no longer wanting to get into their vehicles to drive 20 kilometres to Woodgrove area to access the many stores and other services of our city. We want the same level of services in our area.”

Mayor Leonard Krog called the situation an “unusual presentation”, with a major development garnering near universal support from residents and other interest groups.

His vote joined eight councillors in providing unanimous support for the next steps.

“I believe matters should go to public hearing unless they are so completely out of touch with community needs or local desire or the consideration of the future of this city, existing plans and how this city is developed.”

The Sandstone property is the largest undeveloped holding property in Nanaimo.

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley