Mega Sandstone development passes public hearing stage

“It will bring additional needed housing, additional new retail businesses and industrial opportunities. I am really confident that it will hasten a new school and a new rec centre for the south end.”

Thorpe noted much needed infrastructure for all modes of transportation will be important moving forward.

Councillors Geselbracht and Brown had a far different view, with Geselbracht flagging a less than desired amount of residential density, pollution emissions concerns and further straining City resources among his concerns.

Coun. Brown used stronger language, calling the project, endorsed by City staff, as an example of poor urban planning.

“The proposal does not solve existing issues in the area and will continue to negatively make these issues worse that are already being experienced by people in the area, especially transportation,” Brown said.

The 45-minute long hearing heard from several speakers who appeared in person at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre and those who phoned in their submissions live to councillors.

Most members of the public supported the project, pointing to benefits of additional housing, local economic and shopping opportunities and recreational enhancements.

Impacts on the environment and worsening traffic bottlenecks were among the concerns from people opposed who voiced their views.

Mike Parker, chair of the Chase River Community Assn. spoke about the positive impacts the Sandstone project would have on amenity-starved south Nanaimo.

He said it’s their turn to benefit from the growth Nanaimo is experiencing.

“As a resident of Cinnabar Valley, this will mean our family will no longer have to drive to north Nanaimo to access many services that will finally be in the south end,” Parker said.

The Sandstone project requires a fourth and final vote, which is essentially a formality given the level of support from councillors.

In November, City councillors unanimously approved the first two readings of an official community plan amendment for the 726 acre site.

The revamped Sandstone Master Plan features notable changes compared to a plan approved in 2009 under a different developer. Less housing and commercial spaces are pitched this time around, including removing large format retail businesses and adding more industrial land by the landfill.

A neighbourhood with commercial and medium-density residential housing is pegged for the now scrapped urban node concept on the Trans-Canada Hwy. at Cedar Rd.

The 2,200 residential units planned for the development are 200 fewer than the previous plan.

The new Fielding neighbourhood (shaded in red below) is planned to involve 1,000 of the residential units, with Cedar and Cinnabar evenly splitting the remaining 1,200.

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

Cedar and Cinnabar would continue to favour single family housing and ground-oriented multi-family developments compatibitle with existing neighbourhoods.

Land usage plan for the Sandstone development in south Nanaimo. (City of Nanaimo)

An originally planned overpass spanning the Trans Canada Hwy. connecting Cinnabar residents between Chase River to the Cedar side of the Sandstone development was scrapped, since proponent Seacliff Properties noted the infrastructure would have been cost prohibitive.

The project does include various planned improvements to intersections, traffic flow.

Dedications for a community centre, site for a new school and land transfer for Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN) are pledged as part of the developer’s plans.

SFN and the Chase River Community Assn. are among the agencies in favour of the development.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

Mega Sandstone development passes public hearing stage

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