Having housing, shopping, recreation and more in a finite area is the main vision behind complete communities and new planning from the City of Nanaimo. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

community convenience

Planning underway for envisioned ‘complete communities’ in north Nanaimo

Jan 27, 2025 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — The long-term vision of a self-sustaining urban node around Woodgrove Centre is taking another step forward.

An extended planning project recently began to investigate the viability and potential pathways to evolving the Woodgrove Secondary Urban Centre, encompassing the mall and land around, and develop it over time into a mobility hub for the city’s north end.

City community planner Kasia Biegun told Council on Monday, Jan. 20 a high-level vision was established over recent years and involves taking common aspects of life and ensuring they’re easily accessible for all in a finite area.

“What they envisioned is for the area to become a mixed-use centre with an integrated mix of residential, commercial, recreation and cultural components – what we planners like to call complete communities but what everybody else likes to call a really great place to live and enjoy.”

The work would affect areas to the north, east and south of Woodgrove Centre between the Nanaimo Parkway and Calinda St.

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The overarching idea is to create an area of the community where daily needs are met without necessarily needing to travel an extended distance.

Referred to as “15-minute cities” by some who believe it’s a plot to forcibly confine residents to different areas of the city, the concept simply aims to have a person’s home, work, shopping and recreation options easily accessible through zoning and planning practices.

The area in red is what the City is taking a closer look at, in a bid to provide a more complete community in Nanaimo’s north end. (City of Nanaimo)

Over the coming months, City staff will conduct a baseline needs assessment by looking at the supply of housing, office space and employment figures, as well as the capacity of transportation and City utilities.

An inventory of park and recreation options for local residents will also be done.

They’ll then match the data collected to project growth in the area and demand for housing, then chart a path forward to meet the desired results.

By the first quarter of 2026, the City aims to have a Woodgrove Area Plan substantially completed which would outline policy direction on land use, transportation and infrastructure needs, form and character guidelines and more to shape the neighbourhood in the decades to come.

Several rounds of community engagement are planned throughout, including engaging with staff and students at both Dover Bay Secondary and McGirr Elementary schools.

Staff from the Regional District of Nanaimo are working in conjunction with the City on the project, which is being funded through funding via the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the provincial government.

Other urban centres being considered by the City include the downtown, South Gate, NRGH, VIU and Country Club Centre.

Areas around Woodgrove Centre will be more closely studied over the coming months, with the goal of laying out the framework for a complete community in the north end. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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