I’m a stuck record on the Port Place Mall redevelopment plans
Frank Murphy, June 17, 2010
I’m a stuck record on the Port Place Mall redevelopment plans but I continue to think it’s the most pressing issue getting the broadest attention in our town at the moment.
First, some catch-up. On Apr 29 Planner Tucker informed me in an email — and I posted it here — that, “There are currently three applications in stream for the Port Place Mall and the adjacent property located at 9 Nicol Street. The details of all three applications are available on the City’s website using NanaimoMap under the Development theme.”
The rezoning detail read then as it had for some time and continues to today “Information Coming Soon”. I’ve been unable to unearth any detail on it and I notice that the drawings of the revised redevelopment plans curiously don’t show the proposed tower which is to sit tight to Cameron Island on Front. Can this be that it’s recognized by Planning and Council that if the “towers on the waterfront” controversy is allowed to flare up again, this town might finally express itself in no uncertain terms that there is widespread unhappiness with the way our city is being developed. Big dreams and schemes with big talk of big money (but interestingly none apparently actually placed up-front)?
______________________________
Email thread with Planning Department requesting up to date information on the Redevelopment and Rezoning applicatons –
Subject: Re: Port Place Mall
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:30:21 -0700
From: Frank Murphy <frankmurphy@shaw.ca>
To: Heidi Davidson <Heidi.Davidson@nanaimo.ca>
CC: Gary Noble <Gary.Noble@nanaimo.ca>, Sheila Herrera <Sheila.Herrera@nanaimo.ca>, Jeremy Holm <Jeremy.Holm@nanaimo.ca>
Thanks for this Heidi and Gary –
You won’t be surprised that I don’t find this answer to be entirely satisfactory. I accept it must be a huge task to keep the public fully informed of projects applying for rezoning and redevelopment permits — especially large ones like this — but there is such an impact here on so many that it’s simply imperative that we find a way… Is there information available in digital form? I know detailed colour renderings and a flythrough video were presented to the Design Advisory Panel recently.
Frank
On 17/06/2010 3:12 PM, Heidi Davidson wrote:
Hi Frank,
The development permit plans shown on NanaimoMap are the plans that were originally submitted June, 2009 (please see the disclaimer page on NanaimoMap). The original plans will remain on NanaimoMap until the development permit has been approved and issued. Unfortunately, with a large project such as the mall, it is impossible to update the plans each time we receive a revision. You are welcome; however, to view the plans at our office during regular office hours.
Regards,
Heidi Davidson
Planning Clerk
Current Planning Section
Community Safety & Development Division
CITY OF NANAIMO
From: Gary Noble
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 2:38 PM
To: Heidi Davidson; Sheila Herrera
Subject: FW: Port Place Mall
Are some updates required????
From: Frank Murphy [mailto:frankmurphy@shaw.ca]
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 10:48 AM
To: Gary Noble
Subject: Port Place Mall
Hi Gary –
I’m trying to find detail for both the revised redevelopment applications and the rezoning applications for Port Place Mall. They aren’t on NanaimoMap. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks –
Frank
Posts and Comments on Nanaimo Governance 
Take another look Frank, it’s there alright but it’s rendered in such away that it is confused with the Cameron Island tower!
The mission of any planning department in any community is always to protect the public realm. It is not to promote designer tricks that illustrate towers disappearing behind each other as if there is not more than one anyway. We don’t see buildings from a thousand feet up in the sky; we see things from the ground. It’s not just a number in the sky, 285 feet somewhere up there that you can slip by an unsuspecting public hoping for approval, its going to be one monstrous pile of concrete if the height limit is relaxed.
As I indicated yesterday, the Port Place Mall high density, high-rise proposal is one shady deal.
Does anyone realize that this very fat and tall building if allowed to be constructed would permanently shadow Front Street. In addition Piper Park, the Miners Cabin, the Museum Building, the Protection Island ferry berth and many boat slips in the inner harbour would be in shadow during the course of the day for much of the year. In the winter when sunlight is scarce and most appreciated it would cast a shadow entirely over Cameron Island and the good folks living there, over the harbour as far north as the fuel wharf, over Diana Krall Plaza, and as far west as Commercial Street, Nanaimo’s High Street.
The current height limit for the Port Place Mall lands is 65 feet. Because the water surface is another 30 feet lower the effective height is closer to 95 or even 100 feet and already oppressive enough when turned into a building wall as seen from the public docks.
Inquiring minds want to know why the planning department would even accept or contemplate such a submission much less take it to design panel for a ceremonial blessing! City Staff may wish to keep the public in the dark by not posting this proposal on the City website, but the rest of us I am sure prefer the daylight, the sunshine, and timely, full and complete information!
Where is the urban design rationale that would support this shady proposition? Where is the shadow analysis? Where are the street level views that illustrate impacts? How about a view from the Fingerwarf Office? How about a view from our public park? How about a view from Cameron Island? How about a little enlightenment for public consumption?
There is no public benefit evident in this high-rise proposal that would warrant public support, planning support, or Council support. The 65 foot height limit should not be relaxed under any circumstances.