Downtown Land Purchase Finalized

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Downtown land purchase finalized
SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS Sanderson@nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255
Nanaimo Daily News
Mar 30 2013

The city has finalized its purchase of the 26.7-acre Wellcox Railway lands, opening the door to a potential partnership with the Regional District of Nanaimo to develop a future transportation hub. The $3.4-million purchase from Canadian Pacific Rail…read more…

Tech Tags: Nanaimo Daily News newspaper NANAIMOREGION

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South End Neighbourhood Plan

Whereas it is now eighteen months since the Community Plan was accepted by Council,

And

Whereas there has been very little in the way of implementation by either the City or SECA

Move that South End Neighbourhood Association asks Chris Sholberg calls the annual meeting of the Community Plan Steering Committee within the next four weeks.

 

 

 

South End Neighbourhood Plan – Implementation Actions (2011-Dec-05)

Implementation Action	Plan Reference	Timing	Status
Land Use and Development
1.Amend Map 1: Future Land Use of the OCP to match Map 1:  Neighbourhood Land Use contained in South End Neighbourhood Plan.	Section 5.1.(1)	Immediate	Done
2.Amend the Development Permit Area 9 guidelines contained in Section 7.4. of the OCP to include the South End Urban Design Guidelines.	Section 6.2.	Immediate	Done
Open Space and Connectivity
3.Evaluate the need for additional bike racks at Deverill Square and Knowles Park.	Section 5.2.(5)	Immediate	City Parks Dept.  will evaluate
4.Work with the Nanaimo Port Authority and Snuneymuxw First Nation to explore the feasibility of establishing pedestrian access points from the neighbourhood to the waterfront along Milton, Farquhar, Sabiston, Needham, Robins and Woodhouse streets.	Section 5.2.(12)	Short term	No action yet
5.Initiate discussion to jointly design a new waterfront park, waterfront walkway, and public boat launch area with both the Nanaimo Port Authority and the Snuneymuxw First Nation as part of a plan for the future Assembly Wharf / CP Lands.	Section 5.2.(13)	Short term	No action yet
6.Initiate discussion with waterfront stakeholders to explore feasibility of extending a waterfront walk along the entire length of the neighbourhood.	Section 5.2.(14)	Short term	No action yet
7.Develop a promotional program which publicly recognizes home gardens and food self-sufficiency efforts in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.2.(15)	Short term	SECA will work on this idea.  Also Fall Fair concept.
8.Explore feasibility of amending the City’s Animal Control Bylaw to allow resident-based bee keeping and limited livestock husbandry in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.2.(15)	Short Term	No action yet.  Likely a city wide initiative.
9.Consider adding parkland and open space identified on Map 1: Neighbourhood Land Use as acquisition priorities in the Parks Master Plan.	Section 5.2.(1)	Medium Term	City Parks Dept. will evaluate
10.Add a basketball/multi-use court, public art piece, and a small special event/performance space at Deverill Square Park in accordance with the Deverill Square Park Improvement Plan.	Section 5.2.(6)	Medium term	No action yet
11.Construct an observation and interpretive site on Esplanade or Crace street cul-de-sac which provides information on local history and information on local geographic and environmental features (e.g. Protection Island and Nanaimo River Estuary).	Section 5.2.(8)	Medium term	No action yet
12.Work with the Provincial Government to add a public viewpoint at Petroglyph Park.  Also, encourage the Provincial Government to add signage noting the view point’s existence at the park’s highway access.	Section 5.2.(8)	Medium term	No action yet
13.Create and implement a comprehensive Pedestrian Connectivity Plan for the neighbourhood based on Map 2: Pedestrian Connectivity and Road Classification.	Section 5.2.(10)	Medium term	No action yet
14.Prepare an urban agriculture strategy for the neighbourhood that identifies food security, constraints, opportunities and an action plan.	Section 5.2.(15)	Medium term	No action yet – likely will complete as part of City wide food security strategy
15.Work with the Island Corridor Foundation to plan and construct an extension of the E&N Trail through the neighbourhood.	Section 5.2.(16)	Medium term	City Parks currently working on design plan
16.Construct view point at the northern end of View Street.	Section 5.2.(9)	Long term	Subject to view street park development concept – interest shown by City Parks Dept.
17.Promote community gardens on park and open spaces lands under the City’s Volunteer in Parks (VIP) Program as well as an interim use on privately owned, vacant lots, with particular focus on Nicol and Haliburton Streets.	Section 5.2.(15)	Ongoing	SECA will evaluate – started with YPN project on Irwin Street.
18.Create more opportunities to sit in parks and along pedestrian walkways using environmentally friendly alternative designs and materials.	Section 5.2.(4)	Ongoing	No action yet.
Transportation and Infrastructure
19.Use mobile Speed Reader Board on Victoria/Old Victoria, Nicol and Haliburton Streets, and in proximity to Bayview School to slow traffic speeds.	Section 5.3.(9)	Immediate	No action yet.
20.Focus enforcement of the 50 km/h vehicle speed limit on Victoria/Old Victoria, Nicol and Haliburton Streets, and 30 km/h in proximity to Bayview School.	Section 5.3.(9)	Immediate	No action yet.
21.Consider removal of Victoria Road, north of South Street, from the truck route designation.	Section 5.3.(9)	Immediate	No action yet.
22.Update the City’s Manual of Engineering Standards and Specifications for street construction in the neighbourhood to reflect street design concepts contained within this plan.	Section 5.3.(2-5)	Short term	No action yet.
23.Work with the Provincial Government to evaluate possible pedestrian safety road design techniques for Nicol Street, including crosswalk points at key intersections.	Section 5.3.(9)	Short term	No action yet.
24.Work with the Provincial Government to evaluate possible installation of bike triggered intersection lights along Nicol Street.	Section 5.3.(9)	Short term	No action yet.
25.Work with the Provincial Government to evaluate feasibility of installing a pedestrian controlled flasher light at the intersection of Nicol Street and Farquhar Street, and pedestrian activated crosswalk buttons at the other intersections.	Section 5.3.(9)	Short term	No action yet.
26.Evaluate vehicle traffic speeds and traffic intensity on Victoria Road to determine whether traffic calming solutions would be warranted.	Section 5.3.(9)	Short Term	No action yet.
27.Work with the Provincial Government to evaluate feasibility of installing a traffic light and directional signage for cycle routes through the neighbourhood at the intersection of Haliburton Road and the Island Highway.	Section 5.3.(10)	Short term	Provincial Government has evaluated and noted support for implementation in near term – subject to budget approval – Province would like to cost share with City.
28.Evaluate road and lane conditions in the plan area and adjust Five-Year Capital Plan where warranted.	Section 5.3.(13)	Short term	No action yet.
29.Develop a long-term, phased lighting improvement plan for Haliburton Street and Victoria Road.	Section 5.3.(18)	Short term	No action yet.
30.Work with RDN Transit Authority to evaluate feasibility of using smaller buses and more frequent bus service through neighbourhood.	Section 5.3.(20)	Short term	No action yet.
Place neighbourhood gateway signage at the following locations: east side of Island Highway, near the intersection of the Island Highway, Haliburton Street, and Old Victoria Road; and near the intersection of Esplanade/Victoria Crescent with the Island Highway.	Section 5.3.(21)	Short term	No action yet.
31.Construct a flag stop at the intersection of the rail line and Fifth Street.	Section 5.3.(6)	Medium term	No action yet.
32.Evaluate the feasibility of constructing a cul-de-sac on View Street, between Rainer and South Streets, or limiting traffic movement at the intersection of View and South Streets.	Section 5.3.(11)	Medium term	No action yet.
33.Evaluate feasibility of closing section of Old Victoria Road intersecting with Needham Street to vehicle traffic to create a linear park, or into a one way heading northeast and reversing one-way on View Street in front of Bayview School.	Section 5.3.(12)	Medium term	No action yet.
34.Develop alternate streetscape design standards which encourage use of non-standard surfacing materials, pervious pavements and on-site storm water retention.	Section 5.3.(16)	Medium term	No action yet.  Likely will need City-wide initiative.
35.Work with BC Hydro to evaluate where candidates for power line burial may exist in neighbourhood and how they can be completed.	Section 5.3.(17)	Medium term	No action yet.
36.Evaluate lane lighting levels and upgrade where necessary.	Section 5.3.(19)	Medium term	No action yet.
37.Consider locating new bus shelters at Milton Street (between Nicol and Haliburton), Haliburton (between Finlayson and Milton), Victoria Road (between Milton and Kennedy), Haliburton (near the intersections with Sabiston and Needham Streets), and Victoria Road (near the intersection with Rainer).	Section 5.3.(20)	Medium term	No action yet.
38.Work with RDN Transit Authority to evaluate feasibility of establishing a looped, express bus connection between the neighbourhood, Downtown and Harewood, with specific stops at John Barsby Secondary School, Nanaimo District Secondary School and Vancouver Island University.	Section 5.3.(20)	Medium term	No action yet.
39.Work with RDN Transit Authority to evaluate feasibility of constructing a looped street car or electric bus line along Victoria Road and Haliburton Street connecting to the Downtown.	Section 5.3.(20)	Medium term	No action yet.
40.Work with RDN Transit Authority to evaluate feasibility of consolidating Victoria Road/Haliburton Street transit routes onto Nicol Street in order to improve user experience and system efficiency.	Section 5.3.(20)	Medium term	No action yet.
41.Work with the Island Corridor Foundation to install neighbourhood gateway signage near intersection of rail line with Fifth Street.	Section 5.3.(21)	Medium term	No action yet.
42.Consider sidewalk and curb upgrades at the locations identified in Map 3:  Transportation and Infrastructure.	Section 5.3.(14)	Long term	No action yet.
43.Support neighbourhood efforts to clean up and beautify neighbourhood lanes.	Section 5.3.(15)	Ongoing	Already in process through SECA annual cleanup efforts.  City will continue to support at SECA request.
Social Enrichment and Culture
44.Encourage local residents to participate in the City’s graffiti removal program.	Section 5.4.(1)	Immediate	SECA will circulate program brochure and look for members to take this on.
45.Create and distribute information brochure on City’s nuisance and unsightly properties regulations to neighbourhood residents.	Section 5.4.(1)	Immediate	Brochure will be developed by SECA with City assistance and then distributed.
46.Create and implement a Neighbourhood Cleanup Program that may include the following: publicly recognizes well maintained properties and encourages pride of ownership; targets derelict or unkempt properties for community cleanup efforts; and creates voluntary external repaint initiative for residences and businesses located along the eastern side of Nicol Street, with priority given to the section between Milton and Farquhar Streets.	Section 5.4.(1)	Immediate	SECA will pursue through beautification initiative with support of City.
47.Install way finding signage along Nicol Street for key points of interest or locations in and around the neighbourhood.	Section 5.4.(4)	Immediate	No action yet.
48.Repair or replace landscaping and fencing along the eastern edge of Nicol Street.	Section 5.4.(1)	Short term	No action yet.
49.Expand the street banner program along Nicol Street.	Section 5.4.(1)	Short term	No action yet.  Consider banners designed by local South End artists.
50.Create a strategy  for stabilizing and revitalizing vacant properties that may include the following: a property monitoring system; a comprehensive approach to nuisance enforcement and property maintenance requirements such as found in the International Property Maintenance Code; and/or a mechanism for the City to facilitate property acquisition and use.	Section 5.4.(1)	Short term	No action yet.
51.Work with the South End Community Association to assign names to lanes in plan area.	Section 5.4.(5)	Short term	SECA will identify possible lane names for City consideration.
52.Work with South End Community Association and local pub owners to develop Good Neighbour Agreements to lessen negative impacts on surrounding residential areas.	Section 5.4.(8)	Short term	Good Neighbour Agreements currently required for all pubs/lounges/night clubs.  Will look at agreement format that requires ongoing relationship between business operator and SECA.
53.The South End Community Association will work with the Provincial Government and local child care providers to evaluate the supply and demand for child care services within the neighbourhood and determine the need for additional resources.	Section 5.4.(11)	Short term	No action yet.
54.Setup formal liaison between South End Community Association, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, School District #68 and the City for purposes of communication and partnership on servicing, security, community building, planning and arts/culture initiatives in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.4.(12)	Short Term	No action yet.
55.Erect community notice boards at Deverill Square and Knowles Park.	Section 5.4.(13)	Short term	No action yet.  SECA has proposed custom designed notice board at Irwin Street cul-de-sac near Gino Sedola memorial tree.
56.Work with the Provincial Government and Snuneymuxw First Nation to develop a co-management agreement for Petroglyph Park.	Section 5.4.(17)	Short term	No action yet.  City Parks Department interested in this idea.
57.Explore feasibility of adapting an existing School District #68 owned building to be used as a recreational, educational and social gathering place in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.2.(18)	Short term	No action yet.
58.Prepare a comprehensive CPTED evaluation of the neighbourhood for use by both the City and local property owners.	Section 5.4.(8)	Medium term	No action yet.
59.Create comprehensive social planning, education and public health strategy in the neighbourhood, focused on poverty, drug use and prostitution reduction.	Section 5.4.(9)	Medium term	No action yet.  Consider partnership with VIU students as Public Health project.
60.Evaluate and add neighbourhood buildings and sites as listed in Appendix C to the City’s Official Heritage Register, subject to owner support.	Section 5.4. (14)	Medium term	No action yet.
61.Work with the South End Community Association to identify opportunities for heritage interpretation and heritage themed public art in the neighbourhood, specifically along the South End Heritage Walk route.	Section 5.4.(15)	Medium term	No action yet.
62.Work with Vancouver Island Regional Library to explore feasibility of locating a library in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.2.(19)	Medium term	No action yet.
63.Plant boulevard trees along Nicol Street, Haliburton Street, and Victoria Road, as well as along Crace Street, Esplanade, Irwin Street, Milton Street, Needham Street and View Street.	Section 5.4.(1)	Ongoing	SECA, with City support, will continue to initiate periodic boulevard tree planting events.
64.Place public art in neighbourhood parks and open spaces in cooperation with the South End Community Association and Snuneymuxw First Nation.	Section 5.4.(3)	Ongoing	SECA, with City support, will identify ideas and opportunities for projects.
65.The South End Community Association, with City of Nanaimo support, will conduct a resident survey every three years to gauge resident satisfaction and to aid in issue and solution identification.	Section 5.4.(13)	Ongoing	SECA will look to carry out survey in 2013, and every 3 years thereafter.
Environmental Protection and Enhancement
66.Expand “Green Box” Kitchen Waste Recycling Program to the neighbourhood.	Section 5.5.(1)	Immediate	Done, as part of City-wide initiative.
67.Work with the South End Community Association to map the neighbourhood’s environmental features and the status of any monitoring/restoration programs by means of the City’s online Environmental atlas.	Section 5.5.(11)	Short term	SECA, with City support, will look at initiating a neighbourhood based mapping process.
68.Create a Neighbourhood Air Quality Strategy with local business and residents to minimize the neighbourhood’s contributions to air pollution.	Section 5.5.(5)	Medium term	No action yet.  Data is being collected by the Ministry of Environment with respect to air quality city wide.  Various city-wide initiatives to lessen air pollution currently underway (e.g. wood stove change out and Burn It Smart) .
69.Create a Neighbourhood Water Management Plan with the objective to reduce potable water consumption, retaining more surface and grey water runoff on site, and better managing neighbourhood water demand.	Section 5.5.(5)	Medium term	No action yet.  Some city wide initiatives currently addressing this issue (Low Flow Toilet Rebate, alternative development standards for storm water retention adopted, etc.)
70.Work with local utility companies to complete an energy audit of the neighbourhood.	Section 5.5.(4)	Medium term	No action yet.
71.Work with BC Hydro through its “PowerSmart Sustainable Communities” program to explore the feasibility of introducing a district energy system in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.5.(4)	Medium Term	No action yet.
72.Work with South End Community Association and other stakeholders to create a greenhouse gas emissions baseline inventory for the neighbourhood and set neighbourhood based performance goals under the Sustainability Action Plan.	Section 5.5.(5)	Medium Term	No action yet.  Sustainability Action Plan likely to be adopted by City Council in 2012.
73.Explore the feasibility of using alternative energy sources in VIHA and School District buildings located in the plan area.	Section 5.5.(9)	Medium term	No action yet.
74.Consider providing complimentary garbage tags annually for use under the South End Community Association’s Art Bin program.	Section 5.5.(1)	Ongoing	Not an issue at this time.
75.Lessen the impacts of industry on surrounding residential areas by means of “good neighbour agreements”, bylaw enforcement, improved buildings and landscape design, and improved property maintenance.	Section 5.5.(3)	Ongoing	Will employ when issues arise regarding a specific property.
76.Complete periodic measurement of neighbourhood’s percent of permeable surface and tree canopy areas to monitor change in these rates.	Section 5.5.(5)	Ongoing	Baseline inventory and mapping has not yet been done.
77.Continue to promote “Woodstove Change Out” and “Burn It Smart” programs to lessen woodstove emissions in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.5.(5)	Ongoing	City continues to offer programs – looking at accelerating use of programs in South End.
78.Work with the Provincial Government to measure neighbourhood air quality and evaluate the results.	Section 5.5.(5)	Ongoing	City working in partnership with Ministry of Environment on City-wide air quality analysis.
79.Target neighbourhood for energy efficiency retrofit and green technology incentive programs for homes and businesses.	Section 5.5.(6)	Ongoing	No action yet.
80.Work with South End Community Association to promote Low Flow Toilet Rebate Program in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.5.(6)	Ongoing	City will promote program in area with SECA help.
81.Hold periodic lectures and educational sessions promoting environmental and climate change awareness, and practical actions that can be taken to improve the neighbourhood’s “green” profile.	Section 5.5.(10)	Ongoing	City will work with SECA to bring opportunities for lectures/sessions to neighbourhood.
Economic Development
82.Review the feasibility of establishing a Development Incentive Program that encourages mixed use commercial/residential development on land designated Mixed-Use Corridor, Urban Node, and Neighbourhood Commercial on Map 1: Neighbourhood Land Use.  The program may include the following incentives: expansion of Downtown Development Cost Charges exemption area south of Pine Street; creation of a Revitalization Tax Exemption Area as permitted under Section 226 of the Community Charter; residential density bonusing; pre-zoning of subject lands.	Section 5.6.(1)	Immediate	Partial action.  Residential density bonusing allowed under new Zoning Bylaw, and a number of areas in the South End were up zoned to encourage higher intensity of commercial/residential development.  Still need to look at DCC expansion and Revitalization Tax Exemption area ideas.
83.Review the feasibility of establishing a Brownfield Redevelopment Program that encourages mixed-use redevelopment of old gas station sites on Nicol Street.  The program may include the following: Development Cost Charge exemption; revitalization property tax exemption under Section 226 of the Community Charter; Residential density bonusing; Development/building permit fee waivers; Cash grant per residential unit created on the site.	Section 5.6.(3)	Immediate	Partial action.  City currently working with Province on policy and actions which would encourage Brownfield redevelopment.  Design workshop recently held to test barriers to redevelopment of gas station sties – two gas station sites on Nicol Street examined in this process.  Province would like to help Cities in B.C. development local redevelopment incentives to supplement Provincial incentives.
84.Consider amending the City’s Development Parking Regulations Bylaw by lowering the multiple family residential on-site parking requirements for properties identified as Mixed-Use Corridor on Map 1: Neighbourhood Land Use to match the requirements for Schedule C, Area #3 found in the downtown core.	Section 5.6.(2)	Short term	No action yet.
85.Initiate business education campaign to promote creation of home based businesses in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.6.(5)	Short term	No action yet.
86.Increase the City’s Heritage Home Grant Program budget specifically targeting heritage building rehabilitation in the South End.	Section 5.6.(6)	Short term	No action yet.
87.Initiate media promotion campaign for South End.	Section 5.6.(7)	Short term	No action yet.
88.Work with the South End Community Association and local businesses, food producers, and community garden groups to encourage the establishment of a farmer’s market within the neighbourhood.	Section 5.6.(4)	Medium term	SECA will consider initiating – need champion – someone who will instigate and manage.
89.Work with the Provincial Government to promote community economic development, employment and skill training efforts in the neighbourhood.	Section 5.6.(5)	Ongoing	No action yet.

 

Note on time frames:

 

Immediate – within 1  year

Short Term – within 1–5 years

Medium Term – within 5-10 years

Long Term – 10+ years

 

Shaded items imply completed or inactive action.

 

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In the News in October

The seduction of the new Nanaimo

Kerry Gold, The Globe and Mail, Published Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010

Low-barrier housing can work in any community

Douglas Hardie, The Daily News. Published: Monday, October 25, 2010

South end plan primed to be included in OCP

By Toby Gorman – Nanaimo News Bulletin. Published: October 07, 2010 5:00 PM

City council finally adopts plan to spruce up Nanaimo’s south end

City approves neighbourhood plan that calls for increased density, historical character

Derek Spalding, Daily News.Published: Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Not so far away Nanaimo

Richmond to Nanaimo Harbour in 15 minutes

By Caralyn Campbell, Vancouver Sun October 2, 2010

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Draft Neighbourhood Plan – Give Your Feedback!!

It’s coming together!  We held a great evening to check out the  Draft South End Neighbourhood Plan on June 19.

And an article from the Nanaimo Daily News about the plan:

South-end community plan nearly ready

The Daily News,Published: Friday, June 25, 2010

There is still a small window of time for you to give your feedback on the plan  (which would be truly valued and appreciated.  Here’s how.

1.  Go to the  City website by clicking here.

2.  Read through the documents under Phase 4.

3.  Click on the “comment sheet” link to offer your comments on line.

4.  If you would prefer to answer the questions on paper, you can download the form by clicking below. Please bring your completed comments to the SECA meeting on Wed July 7.

NP Comments Sheet

Deadline is Wed July 7.  This is your final chance to be heard!  Thanks for your feedback.

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Concepts and Options Feedback

About 120 people showed up Tuesday March 2 to check out some of the ideas that sprang from the Neighbourhood Planning Charette in early January.  There were a variety of maps and options, all extremely detailed and well capturing of much of the input that has been received so far.

Can you imagine a vibrant village centre at Haliburton and Needham?  Small park areas in view and open spaces?  A Granville Island type of scenario near the Wharflands?  All pretty creative ideas, and all mapped out in living colour for discussion and feedback.

If you want to review those display boards and provide your input, you can do that on-line.

Click here to access the  display boards on the City of Nanaimo website.  Look under Step 3: Concepts and Options.  You’ll see 4 boards you can review.  There are 2 options for providing feedback:  1)  on-line  or 2) a downloaded option that you can hand write in responses.

Deadline for feedback is March 15.

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South End Plan Open House set for March 2

If you haven’t been involved in the Neighbourhood Plan yet, but you’re interested, then this Open House will be a real eye opener for you.

City staff have been busy collating and working through all the amazing ideas that came up at the Neighbourhood Plan Charette on January 8-9.

You are invited to attend the Open House to review the Concepts and Options for the Neighbourhood Plan and comment on our progress to date. This is a great opportunity to see how public input is helping to shape the South End Neighbourhood Plan.

Tuesday, 2010-MAR-02
4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Days Inn Harbourview, Wicker Room
809 Island Highway South

This event will be publicized in local newspapers, and flyers will be distributed in the mail.  In case you don’t get one, you can check it out here.

To see the overall process that is being used, click here.

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What’s Up at SECA?

IPI Moves Glass Operations to Duke Point

We received an e-mail from Mayor John Ruttan on Dec 24, stating that IPI have chosen to move their glass-crushing operations from their South End location to Duke Point.

This is blissful news to the residents around the area.  We are grateful to both Mayor and Council, and to Randy Churchill, city and RDN staff for listening to and coming to the assistance of our neighbourhood

Developers to make Presentations at January SECA meeting

SECA has received notices about planned condo and apartment construction at:

• 275 Nicol Street (40 unit apartment building)
• The site of the MGM Restaurant  (4 storey condo)
• 13 Haliburton Street (6-plex)

Developers are being asked to present their plans to the South End Community for input and feedback.  The bulk of the meeting will be focused on presentations and in discussion about these projects.  City staff will attend as well.

Next SECA Meeting Wed Jan 6 @ 7 PM

at Princess Royal Centre

corner of Milton and Farquhar

We’ll start on time, and plan to end the meeting around 8:30.

Neighbourhood Planning Charette Jan 8&9

We’re really excited about this event, which focuses on what we need to be/have/do to create the South End that we want.  It’s highly interactive…if you’ve got ideas, this is the place to bring them.

There’s a whole separate article that outlines the event below.  Seating is limited, so please book early if you want to attend.

Board Finalized for 2010

A few fresh new faces have joined the SECA board.  Paula Beltgens has lived in the South End for a little over a year; she has a background in facilitation and learning design and has worked with both local and international clients.  Rebecca Chan has joined to add a voice for youth in the community, she is also on the Neighbourhood Planning team.

Chair: Douglas Hardie

Vice-Chair: Gord Fuller

Treasurer: Sandra Zuccolini

Secretary: Sydney Robertson

Communications, Publicity, Marketing: Barbara Densmore

Members-at-Large:

Charles Torhjelm

Pat Portsmoth

Larry Gambone

Paula Beltgens

Rebecca Chan

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Neighbourhood Plan Update

About 44 South Enders came to the Issue and Opportunities Workshop on Thursday, Nov. 12.  It was an interactive event, with the intent of getting residents’ thoughts out of their heads and down on paper, and also to share and discuss those ideas with their neighbours.

We worked with big maps in the centre of each table…it’s quite amazing to look down on a huge aerial photo of the neighbourhood.   The urban design consultants – Urban Forum Associates and Ramsay Worden Architects used the aerial maps to walk us through the topography of the South End, explaining key points that will influence any future changes

Then we did some round-table discussions focused on 3 areas:

1. Land use: basically, that’s about what type of buildings we want to see. About what the mix looks like (i.e. stores, parks, retail, community facilities etc.) And about what’s now working right now.
2. Making a safe and friendly neighbourhood.  We talked about how to build a better sense of community, what would provide more safety and security, and what could be added to make the South End more liveable.
3. Environment and getting around.  We talked about what needs protecting, about parks and open spaces.  And about how people get around the neighbourhood and how that could be improved.

Right now, Community Planning Department staff are currently collating and analyzing the information collected at the workshop. The input will be used in the next steps of the planning process.

If you couldn’t make it to the workshop, you can still give your input, but you need to hurry…deadline is December 1.   You can give your feedback using the on-line form by clicking here.

If you think better with a pen in your hand, you can call Chris @ 755.4472 and he will get one for you.

The next step in the neighbourhood plan process is an urban design workshop planned for mid-January.  “Urban design” basically means working with the architects to look 20 years into the future to create some different visions of how the neighbourhood will look.  More on that coming up in the next newsletter.

~ Thanks to Chris Sholberg, City Planner

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What’s Coming Up?

Sunday Morning Soccer

The FIRST and LAST Sundays of the month.

So Sunday October 4.

10:00 am @ Deverill Park

Everyone welcome!  You don’t need to be talented…just enthusiastic……..!  Call Ed at 753.1584 for more info.

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Neighbourhood Plan Open House Tuesday Oct 6

Come and find out more about the Neighbourhood Plan for our South End community! An introductory Open House will provide residents with information on the plan process, an opportunity to ask questions and offer input into the neighbourhood plan.

The Open House will be held at the Bayview School, 140 View St., from 4:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday October 6th.

Invitation have been distributed to every household in the South End.  If you are on a “no junk mail” list, you will NOT have received one.

In that case, click here to see the invitation.

For the Neighbourhood Planning page on the city website , click here or contact the City of Nanaimo Community Planning Department, Phone 250-755-4472 or 250-755-4483.

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NEXT SECA Meeting

Wednesday  October 7 @  7 PM

Princess Royal Centre

Irwin at Farquhar

Mark off these dates on your calendar so you don’t miss any meetings!

• Wed Nov 4
• Wed Dec 2 (AGM)
• Wed Jan 6, 2010

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Mini-Litter Pickup – Saturday October 10

Think of it as a way to burn advance calories before digging into the Thanksgiving feed-o-rama.

We’ll meet at McDonald’s any time after 8:30.  Then at 9:30, we’ll fan out and start collecting for about 30 minutes.

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Lynne Bowen Speaks at

FRIENDS OF MORDEN MINE AGM

Thursday October 15, 7:00 pm

Join multi-award winning author Lynne Bowen at our 7^th AGM for her talk:

“Real Skookum Guys: the Volatile History of Italians in Vancouver Island Coal Mines”

Lynne Bowen, one of Vancouver Island’s best known author historians, has written five books: three on Island coal mining history. Her new work on B.C.’s Italian immigrants will be out in Spring 2011.

To access Cedar Heritage Centre, 1644 MacMillan Road, turn east from the Island Highway onto Cedar Road, drive 4 km to MacMillan then north 300 metres.

Members and non- members welcome.

Further information: 250-714-0377 or cchristo [at]     shaw.ca

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Wellington Action Group wins "Dirty Gertie"

Plant Out at Maffeo Sutton Park  Sat Oct 17 from 1 to 4 PM

Perhaps you remember when the city held a plant-out in June, asking the neighbourhood associations to come and help?  We cheekily challenged the rest of the city to beat the South End in a) numbers and b) sheer outputm offering an Art Bin to the #2 team.  We had a blast, it was great fun….even though it was the hottest day of the year.

Now, they’re planning another event…this time to plant spring bulbs.  Chris Sholberg says:

We are currently sitting on about 26,000 spring bulbs (16,600 daffodils and 10,000 crocus).  We would like to propose another community plant-out event on Saturday, Oct. 17, 1-4 p.m. at Maffeo-Sutton Park to put these bulbs in the ground.  Would your neighbourhood association/group be willing to participate in this event?

We will provide the plants and City gardeners to provide oversight.  Volunteers with their own shovels, garden tools would be welcome.  Kids are welcome too.

We can’t let our reputation as the hardest workers in the city be tarnished!!  If you can join in, please call Douglas at 754-0677.  Or send us an e-mail:  southendcommunityassociation      [at]     gmail.com.

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Memorial Tree Planting for Gino Sedola  Sunday October 25

It’s been a year now since we lost our good friend and mentor, Gino  Sedola.  We’ll plant a tree in his honour on Sunday October 25 at 11 AM.  Following that, a pot luck lunch and some time for storytelling.

At the corner of Milton and Irwin Streets.

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SECA LUCKY Beer & Burger Friday Nov 13

Who says Friday the 13th is an unlucky day?  It just might be your luckiest one yet if you come to our Annual SECA Beer & Burger night On Friday Nov 13, starting at 6 PM at  the Newport Bar & Grill. (the old Jolly Miner).

For only $13, you’ll get a great homemade burger and nachos and maybe even a little dessert.

You might win the 50/50 Draw or get your early Christmas shopping done at the Silent Auction.

By the way, we’re looking for donations….stuff, services, or support.

Phone Moni (250 753 1188) or Sandra (250 753 1394) for donations and ticket sales.

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Neighbourhood Plan Update

We did a second 2 hour walk on the evening of July 29 which took up where we left off on July 22 – which was from the Newport Pub site down Haliburton, by the IPI Facility and Snuneymuxw Reserve Site then across the highway and up Needham into the View Street area.

A number of issues were discussed including :

• The importance of Haliburton Street as a key pedestrian/vehicle link through the community and its importance as both a residential and commercial street.
• We also talked about the Coastlands mills site, including the impact of heavy industry on the area as well as its economic benefits.
• As John Horn, Social Planner for the City of Nanaimo, was along for the walk we also covered a number of housing and social issues in the area.
• We talked about the IPI issues and Nicol Street as both a barrier and an opportunity.

We also revisited a number of issues and discussion points raised in the first walkabout.

“The area of Victoria Rd. South of 7th St. is interesting in that some is zoned Industrial some residential but in some cases would make more sense to switch the zonings.  Also, west of Victoria Rd. to the Railway tracks is primarily single family zoning but could benefit with increased density through encouragement of Secondary Suites, Carriage House and some Multi Family zonings.” Gord Fuller

Having completed the two walks, City Staff are now looking at finishing up the research and data collection work started earlier this month and preparing the first Open House event planned for mid to late September. The next meeting of the Steering Committee will occur in early September and will be focused on reviewing the background information collected by staff and preparing for the Open House event.

Thanks to Heritage/Community Planner Chris Sholberg for this report.

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