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Nanoose strata fighting RDN’s plans to build trail leading to Moorecroft Park

Property owners sign petition to express their opposition to the regional district’s proposal
9111604_web1_171027-PQN-M-LaSelva

Residents at La Selva Place in Nanoose Bay have launched a petition against regional district plans to build a trail in their strata community that would link to other trails at Moorecroft Regional Park.

The Regional District of Nanaimo has been surveying the site, according to the president of Strata VIS 5826, Doug Podetz, and has yet to consult the residents about this plan.

In his letter to Electoral Area E Director Bob Rogers, Podetz indicated that the RDN is looking at establishing a trail going through the Common Property VIS Strata 4626 at the La Selva cul-de-sac to join the trailhead at Moorecroft Park. He added that residents were shocked to learn that the RDN is negotiating with Strata VIS 4626.

Podetz said it would be a major disruption to their neighbourhood if the RDN goes ahead with this plan. He related that an unmarked trail leading to Moorecroft Park, which is used by lot owners, has attracted people from the Beachcomber area and other neighbourhoods. He pointed out these visitors park at La Selva then walk through a trail via the community’s septic disposal field to acccess other trails in Moorecroft Park.

“This unfortunately has, from time to time, caused parking issues resulting in an increase of people leaving garbage, cigarette butts, and dog excrement on the grounds,” Podetz wrote in his letter to Rogers. “The septic area also has long grass in the summer months, which can become an extreme fire hazard.”

Podetz explained the strata owners all bought homes in the area to maintain their privacy. Creating a trail, he added, would increase traffic and parking issues in La Selva that could cause potential problems with property owners.

Adding signage on the roads, Podetz said, would reduce the current beauty of the street and make the location look junky. As well, there is also the potential for drinking parties in the septic fields during the evenings.

Podetz also pointed out there are existing restrictions and easements on how the Common Property VIS Strata 4626 should be used. It is intended for septic disposal and any alterations to the property have to be agreed to by both the strata and the RDN. The residents in the area and RDN staff had an opportunity to meet at a neighbourhood street meeting held last May. But to date, Podetz said, there are still no details to the exact location of the proposed trail, potential start dates, timeline to finish the trails, and what is being agreed to between the RDN and Strata VIS 4626.

The residents, Podetz said, are hoping their concerns would be taken into consideration and that discussions will be held in the future with the surrounding neighbourhoods.

For story tips: michael.briones@pqbnews.com



Michael Briones

About the Author: Michael Briones

I rejoined the PQB News team in April 2017 from the Comox Valley Echo, having previously covered sports for The NEWS in 1997.
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