Proposed parkland for a subdivision application for Nootka Street will not be proceeding.
At the qathet Regional District monthly board meeting on May 27, directors considered the application, in which the proponent had proposed that part of the property be dedicated parkland. The subdivision proposal triggered the requirement for parkland or payment for park purposes under the Local Government Act, according to a staff report on the subdivision application.
At the board meeting, Jill Ehgoetz, from the Rotary Club of Powell River, said she was appearing before the regional board because one of the projects the club would love to undertake in the community is to set up an allotment garden. She said the club was looking for a location somewhere close enough to the city where people would be able to take advantage of renting land, a small plot, somewhere around 30 square metres, and have it dedicated to their own gardening, such as vegetables and food security.
“We have talked with the city and have not secured any property,” said Ehgoetz. “When I found out the property on Nootka Street had an opportunity to parcel off a bit of parkland, because that property is fairly close to the city, it’s something I wanted to explore with the regional district as a possibility for having an allotment garden.
“For those who aren’t sure, an allotment garden is different from a community garden. A community garden means everybody can come and everybody does what they want. An allotment garden means you grow your own fruit and vegetables and whatever you want to do.”
Rotary shows long-term interest
Ehgoetz said that was the crux of why she wanted to bring the matter to the attention of the regional board. She said the proposed parkland has many different uses.
“If in fact it was appropriate property, and if you would allow us to use that land, we would expect to use it for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years,” said Ehgoetz. “The Rotary club would manage it in a nonprofit way. It would be a benefit to regional district residents as well as city residents.”
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said he was familiar with allotment gardens, having had one. He asked what size of property would be required for Rotary’s plans.
Ehgoetz said ideally it would be property at least an acre in size and it would be great if there was adjacent land for expansion.
Electoral Area C director Clay Brander said he’d been up to the Nootka location to check out the area and it’s bordered on two sides by private land and two sides by private roads. He said he was curious about how people would access the area.
Ehgoetz said this property might not be ideal but the city hasn’t come up with a reasonable piece of property within city boundaries. She was looking on behalf of Rotary at properties outside of city limits.
“I’m assuming people would access it by road, park at the side of the road, do their thing and leave,” said Ehgoetz.
Brander said there was signage that states: end of public road and local traffic only.
“That kind of makes me think it wouldn’t be accessible to everybody,” said Brander. “It would only be accessible to people living on that lot in the manufactured home park. I’m just a little confused by that aspect or it.”
Ehgoetz said perhaps owners of the property would not allow access, and if it’s going over private property, maybe it is not appropriate.
She said Rotary would like to manage the allotment garden in a nonprofit way, so rent would be charged for each lot and the money would be put back into amenities for the lot and any excess money would be used for community projects.
Ehgoetz said she has not talked to the owner of the property but there is a potential for parkland to come up and she wanted the regional district to know there are good uses for parkland.
Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said if a park was created on the land in question, it should be enjoyed by the community, not be a few people.
Directors respond to allotment idea
“I’m a big fan of allotment gardens and community gardens,” said McCormick. “They are wonderful but I am concerned about creating a public space that then cannot be used by the public.”
City director George Doubt said what was on the agenda at the regional board meeting was a subdivision application where the proponent is offering a portion of land as parkland. He said it was good to hear from Ehgoetz and it was a good idea for the regional district staff when it creates a parkland policy to think about allotment gardens.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne, who was unable to attend the regional board meeting, wrote correspondence to the board recommending the land be committed to parkland.
A staff report as part of the subdivision application for the property at 7520 Nootka Street said that based on staff’s review, the area of the proposed park dedication has little recreational value. Staff recommended the applicant pay funds in lieu of park dedication to qathet Regional District as a condition of final subdivision approval.
The regional board voted that it was advising the ministry of transportation and infrastructure that it has no objection to the proposed five lot subdivision application with four conditions, including that the applicant pay funds to the regional district in lieu of park dedication.
