A concept photo of the Sandstone Development in south Nanaimo east of the Island Hwy., rendered for a zoning density study. A number of rezoning applications for the expansive development passed first and second reading at the Oct. 16 council meeting. (City of Nanaimo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

sandstone

Traffic concerns remain amid strong support for expansive south Nanaimo development

Oct 20, 2023 | 3:54 PM

NANAIMO — The first two of many steps towards an expansion of the Cinnabar Valley and Chase River neighbourhoods were taken this week.

City Councillors voted 7-2 in favour of first and second reading for re-zoning properties on Cedar Rd., Fielding Rd. and Rajeena Way to accommodate the planned 2,200 residential unit Sandstone development.

Split into six different development areas, Sandstone would also comprise of considerable commercial and industrial space straddling either side of the Trans-Canada Hwy. south of Southgate Shopping Centre.

Georgia Desjardins from Keycorp Consulting Ltd., on behalf of Sandstone owner Seacliff Properties Ltd., presented at the Monday, Oct. 16 meeting, suggesting to Councillors should support continue and appropriate permits received for the massive project, development would be phased in.

“Seacliff is keenly aware of the strong demand and strong need for both housing and industrial. At this point in time we see a concurrent approach starting off with both residential development likely on the west side, which would also concurrently trigger significant offsite infrastructure upgrades to the transportation network in the Chase River neighbourhood.”

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Simultaneously, development of industrial lands in different areas would occur, according to Desjardins.

The overall vision of Sandstone is to infill residential and commercial opportunities to presently un-used land at the City’s southern edge.

Considerable residential growth would occur along both Cedar Rd. and into the Cinnabar Valley.

“Cedar Road Neighborhood and Cinnabar Valley Neighborhoods proposed zoning Steep Slope residential, allow up to 600 units total of one and two family houses and town houses,” Teunesha Evertse, also representing Keycorp, said Monday.

The newly created “Fielding neighbourhood centre” would be a mixture of commercial and higher-density residential with housing in townhouse, apartment and condo forms.

Traffic continues to be raised as a concern with the project, as a projected increase in vehicles in an already troubled Extension Rd. area in particular would occur.

A staff report on the project stated Sandstone’s location along Hwy. 1 presents some challenges.

“As Sandstone develops, it is expected to be a significant contributor to the growth in traffic in the area,” the report read. “It is forecast that Sandstone would comprise the majority of the increase in traffic on Extension Rd., Cedar Rd. and the Island Hwy. within the study area.”

A variety of solutions are still being considered, including upgrades to existing roadways in the area, additional routes in and out of Chase River and a road linking Maki and Fielding roads.

Regardless of mitigation measures vehicle volumes are projected to increase significantly, in part due to Sandstone, over the next 20 years.

Growth expected in south Nanaimo over the next two decades, including Sandstone, is forecast to see Extension Rd. near Chase River elementary potentially double to 20,000 cars per day, Cedar Rd. between Hwy. 1 and Fielding Rd. triple to 30,000 cars per day, and Hwy. 1 at Cranberry Rd. double to upwards of 50,000 daily vehicles.

City data shows Bowen Rd. at Beban Park sees 25,000 vehicles daily, while 27,000 travel along Aulds Rd. at Metral Dr.

Sandstone is earmarked to span roughly 700 acres and includes partnerships with both the City of Nanaimo and Snuneymuxw First Nation.

In addition to passing the first two of three required readings of a zoning bylaw prior to adoption, Councillors also directed City staff to secure three conditions under the plan should support continue at third reading, scheduled for a future Council meeting.

Conditions include securing community amenity contributions for the land, registration of a covenant on three of the development areas until time a road between Fielding Rd. and Maki Rd. can be completed, and a second covenant on lands related to the B.C. Energy Step Code.

Coun. Tyler Brown and Ben Geselbracht were the opposing votes at both first and second reading, following a pattern consistent with their objections to this development early on.

In May, Seacliff Properties transferred 102 acres of land back to SFN.

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