After multiple delegations, a rally and petition, Nanaimo city council has voted to re-consider the previously passed $10.8-million boathouse design for Loudon Park.
Council members, in a 6-3 vote on Monday, May 6, voted to move back on the process before they decide on boathouse options for the park on Long Lake.
The $10.8-million design was previously passed in a 5-4 vote by council on April 7, forgoing a scaled-down design that would have cost $6.5 million.
That decision, now obsolete, would have funded a planned boathouse with a gross floor area of 10,500 square feet and architectural features such as mass timber, a curved roof, washrooms, boat storage and a community space for meetings and events.
At this week's meeting, Coun. Tyler Brown requested the motion be reconsidered, and he and Coun. Sheryl Armstrong changed their votes.
"I'm still quite in favour of this proposal, I think there was a lot of runaway prior to the decision for the budget increase around the project and obviously there is a very passionate community and I appreciate people being passionate for their community," Brown said. "I think it's very unfortunate that it's this late stage in the project."
He added while he felt there were lots of great comments from the community, he also felt there were some "unfair and vicious comments toward council members that voted in favour of the proposal."
"I think the plan as presented is a good one, however, upon review I think there is an option for a much better one that would mitigate concerns and also provide community amenity space that's not just for this park or this neighbourhood. We are a growing community."
Brown suggested staff could look into using the footprint of the existing facility for a community amenity space that will result in minimal impact, and Armstrong agreed.
"One thing that was never put to us in the past was the fact we could build this separately where the washrooms are now, and one of the reasons was there was some concerns about being close to the water," Armstrong said. "I think that is a valid concern, but based on what we're hearing from the community I think there is an option to look at this and serve both the needs."
Mayor Krog was against re-consideration, comparing the rowing and kayaking clubs to the community's other recreation groups, which utilize city facilities.
"We have heard criticism that this is elite organizations. It's $180 a year for a family of four, two adults and [two] children, goodness has anyone looked at the cost of hockey equipment lately or other costs? We have spent tens of millions of dollars of fields for kids to play soccer on, for pools for them to swim in, for ice areas for people to skate on without any trouble."
Krog continued that he feels the the rowing and kayaking community is part of the Nanaimo community "and they deserve an opportunity to recreate appropriately."
Ahead of the vote, several delegations presented, including Chris Brown from the Rock City Neighbourhood Association. The objections centred around how the build would impact community-use green space, including 29 trees that would have needed to be cut down.
"I became involved because Loudon Park's central green space is vital to our community, my family, including my young daughters use the park year-round," Chris Brown said. "It is where we connect with nature and the waterfront, it has become part of our lives. Many others feel the same and are deeply concerned about losing this cherished space. This waterfront green space and its mature trees are central to this park's identity and everyday use."
Council will discuss at a future meeting how to proceed on the project.
Krog, Hemmens and Thorpe all spoke to the perceived division created by this project, both in council and in the broader community, with Thorpe saying he was "dismayed" by it.
"It has just been awful," Hemmens said. "The amount of direct personal attacks via e-mail to those who voted in support, I don't even have words for it. I'm mad."
