Not only can you fight City Hall, you can also win. That's what happened last night when a ton of people ranging from builders and developers to ordinary citizens argued successfully for having Nanaimo's residential building height restrictions lifted from 8.25 - 9 metres (about 2.5 feet).
I like to think that I had some small part in this - although very small I'm sure. I spent a good part of the day interviewing people, listening and writing about the issue. I think this is a very good thing for the city - and I realize that some people are worried about their "views." I suspect view issues will be very few and far between.
What is important is that this will go some way toward building up and not out - to helping prevent urban sprawl. We must stop bulldozing our farmland and invading more and more of our green spaces. We have so much infill space in the city that is eminently useable. The more people that live in town, the less commuting and pollution. Smaller lots, smaller setbacks, higher homes - it all makes very very good sense. Give people enough space for suites or for extended families. Goodness knows, with the cost of houses and huge mortgages these days, you need a suite to pay the costs.
City Council made the right choice. Nanaimo will also be more competitive now with cities of similar size and characteristics - a boon to our economy. I'm betting the building industry is going to perk up.
Most importantly, after all the work that went into this new zoning bylaw, it was the right thing to do.
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