Conceptual design for 30 residential units across six townhouses at 6074 Metral Dr. First and second reading of the rezoning application were approved during Nanaimo City Council's Monday, Oct. 16 meeting. (City of Nanaimo)

By Jordan Davidson

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Proposed Metral townhouses take next steps forward, despite traffic concern

Oct 17, 2023 | 12:49 PM

NANAIMO — A proposed residential development in the north end, along a busy transportation corridor has taken another step forward.

Rezoning 6074 Metral Dr. passed first and second reading at Nanaimo City Council on Monday, Oct. 16, paving the way for a conceptual 30-unit, six-building residential complex to proceed to future stages.

Councillors voted in favour 7-1 with coun. Sheryl Armstrong opposed, citing concerns about increased traffic congestion on Metral Dr.

Director of development approvals Jeremy Holm said the plan is to build the exits from the property onto Metral Dr. spaced apart to try and avoid backups.

Holm added the proposed plans also include space for future lane connections with the goal of limiting the number of connections to Metral Dr. while also improving development potential in the area.

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“There would be a driveway connection from Metral Dr., following through the future lane connection which would head to the north. Through another development application that Council is currently considering… there’s an outlet to that future lane connection that would take place on Metral Dr. near Dunbar Rd.”

(City of Nanaimo)

He said those plans would also require a connection through an adjacent property which has yet to be secured and will be looked at more intently during future development processes.

Armstrong said those issues with increased traffic on Metral Dr. are why she has also voted against previous applications in the area.

The application also comes with a Community Amenity Contribution of around $114,000 and is in line with Council’s BC energy step code rezoning policy which doesn’t allow natural gas to be used as a primary heating source.

The application must still pass several other steps including public hearing and permitting before shovels go into the ground.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow