The Nelson Downtown has been a remarkable success story for the last twenty years. Many factors have contributed to this success, and the commitment of our city council and community members to the vision of a thriving downtown is one of them. That’s why we are so concerned to learn that the City of Nelson will hold a public hearing on very important changes to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw on Monday March 19 at 4:30 p.m. Although the city has given notice to property owners in the Railtown, there is no specific mention of the meeting on the City’s website or calendar.
The proposed changes would allow commercial and residential buildings up to four stories tall in the Railtown area, occupying 80-90% of each lot. Yet the Railtown Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan calls for light industrial uses and live-work townhouses in an “ecologically rich and sustainable neighbourhood”. The Plan goes on to state that “protecting Nelson’s vibrant downtown should continue to be paramount in the planning of the Waterfront neighbourhoods and Railtown.”
This proposed change in the vision for Railtown deserves more public review and comment, including the participation of the many businesses who have invested heavily in our vibrant downtown, not just landowners in Railtown. A public hearing with limited notification during the first Monday of Spring Break does not do justice to the potential impact of these proposed changes to our community and to the vibrancy of our historic downtown. The City of Nelson’s broad engagement campaign on marijuana legalization was laudable – does a dramatic step in the development of our city not deserve at least as much public debate?
Abra Brynne,
Board President, Kootenay Co-op