By Ian Holmes

Opponents to Ladysmith’s Waterfront Area Plan want a referendum

Jul 6, 2018 | 4:50 PM

LADYSMITH — People opposed to the recently approved Waterfront Area Plan in Ladysmith are calling on the Town to have the vision decided in a referendum, however the mayor said that won’t happen.

The plan was formed following a 15-month community consultation process which could see upwards of 350 multi-family units brought to Ladysmith’s waterfront.

Concerned citizen Russell Barling said such a profound decision to potentially vastly alter the waterfront should be a community decision. He also called the consultation process to form the plan was not adequate.

“We’re just asking them to do a wider public consultation on this and we think the best way to go about that is to go through a referendum,” Barling told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Barling said more than 1,000 signatures signed a petition opposed to the plan, while he said it’s unclear how many of those who signed are Ladysmith citizens. Barling stressed he’s not anti-development, but rather wants a more accurate gauge of the community’s feelings reflected, which a referendum would do.

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“Give us an opportunity to show us that you have a public mandate for this, we don’t think they do,” Barling said.

Ladysmith mayor Aaron Stone said an overwhelming amount of citizens supported the Watefront Area Plan during the consultation period. He said the plan, formed in partnership with Stz’uminus First Nation, included community engagement sessions and online surveys.

Stone said while council accepted the petition, a motion was not put forward to have a referendum.

“Putting it out to a referendum I think is not appropriate in this case case and I think it would undermine the wonderful consultation process we had with the community.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes