‘Imagine this as twinning Boxwood:’ support given for new Nanaimo light-industrial area

The 25-hectare property surrounds a proposed data centre on East Wellington Rd. on three sides, then proceeds northwest towards the Northfield Rd. intersection with the Parkway.

Current zoning is a mix of single-dwelling residential and light industrial, with a blanket light industrial designation requested to align with the project’s vision and the land’s expected long-term use established through Nanaimo’s City Plan.

Around 50 per cent of the existing trees on the property would be preserved, Holland said, with environmental studies already completed and more expected as properties are subdivided and developed.

While exact designs and makeup of commercial units are still to be finalized, it’s expected a number of one to three-storey buildings will make up the majority of the project.

“This preserves the integrity of your commitment to light industry here, that they’ll allow a higher level of office uses or food services or things on upper floors so as not to compromise the industrial foundation of the project, but in order to achieve your employment goals of higher intensity employment in the area.”

A map of the subject property, bordering East Wellington Rd. and the Nanaimo Parkway. (Image Credit: NanaimoNewsNOW Illustration/Google Maps)

Few residential units are envisioned, with those included likely limited to caretaker-style suites for businesses moving into the area.

A major component for the project is the establishment of a connector road from East Wellington Rd. to Northfield Rd.

This project would not complete the connection, however developers are hopeful of acquiring one final parcel of land to connect this work to the Northfield Rd. intersection in the future.

Considerable intersection, road, and frontage improvements on East Wellington Rd. are also being included by developers, while a 50-metre buffer along the Nanaimo Parkway, including the Parkway Trail, is being preserved.

Financial contributions from developers to the City are poised to handle two main areas of concern for residents, raised during early public consultation sessions, including environmental preservation and transportation mobility.

Holland said they’ll watch for additional feedback during the public hearing, noting the project is still very much in its infancy.

“If council, depending on community feedback and other things…supports the land use, we then need to go through a subdivision process, and that would be phased. Then we have to come back to the City for development permits for any individual building within any one of those parcels.”

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by Alex Rawnsley

‘Imagine this as twinning Boxwood:’ support given for new Nanaimo light-industrial area

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