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City buys land to add 50 acres to Linley Valley Park

May 29, 2018 | 12:08 PM

NANAIMO — After rejecting a development proposal for the area, the City of Nanaimo is buying a chunk of land to add to its Linley Valley Park.

The City will spend $3 million to buy 50 acres of land at the end of Tanya Dr. in the area known as Hidden Ridge. The acquisition increases the largest City-owned park to 455 acres.

In December 2017, Council denied a developer’s proposal to remove the land and two other parcels from the Urban Reserve to build a mix of single and multi-family homes.

The proposal was met with stiff opposition from the group Save Linley’s Hidden Ridge, who presented councillors with a petition signed by 2,700 people opposed to the development. It urged Council to protect the area as parkland.

The group’s Brent Hargreaves told NanaimoNewsNOW they were delighted to hear the news.

“I think we should all be proud of the decision this Council has made and then all the work that’s gone into securing that property. It’s a legacy for everyone…that hopefully our children will enjoy for generations to come.”

Hargreaves said the purchase “protects the biological and ecosystem integrity of the park,” adding he felt the proposed development would have had a significant negative impact.

He said the work isn’t done, with focus now shifting to creating a long term plan for the entirety of Linley Valley Park.

“We have a broad base (of park users) and I think all those people have somewhat different interests in it. I think the key will be to strike a balance where everyone can get maximum use out of that park.”

Bill Corsan, the City’s deputy director of community development, said the purchase effectively completes the City’s plans to buy land in the area. He said Council gave staff direction several years ago to work on buying large pieces of land in Linley Valley to designate it as parkland.

In 2014, the City bought nearly 200 acres in Linley Valley for $5.7 million with the intention of keeping it as a natural public space. Staff previously said the vision was to have a park system which would connect from Rutherford Rd. in the north to Hammond Bay Rd. in the south.

Corsan said they actually tried to buy the latest 50 acre parcel with the larger piece in 2014, but Broadview Developments bought it instead for $2 million. After their plans for housing were rejected, they began negotiating a deal with the City.

The $3 million price tag matched the recent appraised value, Corsan said.

He said the 50 acres will be rezoned as parkland and labeled with a dedication bylaw, meaning it would require a referendum to allow any other use.

As for the two other parcels of land Broadview intended to develop, 10 acres is for sale while another 12.5 acres is privately owned. It can not be developed without first being removed from the Urban Reserve.

You can learn more about the area and see pictures here.

 

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi