- Target:
- Nanaimo City Council
- Region:
- Canada
A Victoria developer has applied to amend Nanaimo’s Official Community Plan, and remove 72 acres from the Urban Reserve along the north ridge of Linley Valley and border of the Linley Valley-Cottle Lake Park. The concept plan (1) includes 469 residential units on Tanya Drive (off Lost Lake Road). The properties to be rezoned include the forests, ridges and wetlands located at 5260, 5280 and 5300 Tanya Drive, Nanaimo, B.C.
If allowed to proceed, this development will:
- destroy an ecological gem and irreparably damage the ecosystem of the entire Linley Valley, which is home to many at-risk species
- devastate sensitive wetlands and downstream water systems, which are critical habitat for migrating birds, beavers and many other plants and animals
- severely diminish the cultural and recreational value of the forest that Nanaimo has assembled to create the Linley Valley-Cottle Lake Park
- massively increase the daily traffic on Lost Lake Road and add further pressure in the event of heavy snowfall, an earthquake or other natural disaster
- dangerously increase the fire risk in this urban/forest interface which is outside the six-minute fire response area
- require expensive and extensive utility installation and service upgrades
The City of Nanaimo has been visionary in protecting the 405 acres that currently make up Linley Valley-Cottle Lake Park. With the addition of the 72 acre Hidden Ridge land, the park would become Nanaimo’s version of Stanley Park. If this proposal is approved, the potential to add the Hidden Ridge to the park will disappear forever.
----------------------------------
(1) As posted on the City of Nanaimo "What’s Building Website" June 26, 2017. The developer’s concept plan may change; please check the website for the most up-to-date details.
Regarding the properties located at 5260, 5280 and 5300 Tanya Drive, Nanaimo, B.C., we, the undersigned, call on the Nanaimo City and Council to:
1. Reject the developer’s applications to a) amend the Official Community Plan; b) remove the land from the Urban Reserve; and, c) have it rezoned for a steep slope subdivision;
2. Work with the citizens of Nanaimo to develop a comprehensive plan for Linley Valley and the surrounding neighbourhoods;
3. Add the 72 Acre Hidden Ridge land to the existing Linley Valley-Cottle Lake Park.
The SAVE LINLEY VALLEY’S HIDDEN RIDGE petition to Nanaimo City Council was written by Save Linley's Hidden Ridge and is in the category Environment at GoPetition.