Budget watch B.C. Liberals unveil spending plans ahead of election. PAGE 10 Urban sprawl Most fertile farmland disappearing under development. PAGE 18 Good eats Television program returns to Nanaimo to feature barbecue. PAGE 3
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013
VOL. 24, NO. 126
P: 250.585.1648 3392 Norwell Drive
Eight-property land swap will take two years BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
In fligght Jenn Je nnyy Ko Koro rope peck c i pe ck p rrffor orms ms the ms e bir ird d po ose ed dur urin ing g an nA Acr crroY oYog og ga se essio on att OmT a Tow own n Yo oga S Sat a ur urd day. ay. Com Comom mbin bi niing ga acr cro cr robattics, yoga,, and n Tha hai mas ma ass ssag ge, Acro oYoga is perrfo form rmed rm ed d in pa air irss an and d can be a way way ay for for or peo eople eopl ple pl to get to e e ex xerc xerc xe cis ise an and d co connec conn nnec nn ect ct with wiith othe ot hers he rss. Fo F r th the e full story, please see se ee page page e 7. NIOMI PEARSON N THE NEWS BULLETIN IN
Smoking cited as cause of townhouse fire
I
THIRD TIME that smouldering cigarette linked to blaze. BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
A blaze that heavily damaged a townhouse block, left nine people temporarily homeless and sent one man to hospital for smoke inhalation, is the third
fire of 2013 caused by careless smoking. The fire broke out at about 6 a.m. Monday at Madrona Village townhouse complex at 25 Pryde Ave. Ennis Mond, Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer, said investigators inspected the building and conducted interviews Monday, and determined the fire was started by a cigarette smouldering in a living room couch the man who was taken to hospital had fallen asleep on.
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Mond said a couple who were guests staying in the townhouse next door were alerted when they heard banging noises. “He looked out the back sliding glass door and saw a big red glow,” Mond said. The couple managed to get everyone up and out of the townhouse and then alerted residents in other units. The man from the townhouse the fire started in was discovered standing disoriented in his front
doorway by his neighbours. “He walks out, turns around and stands in the smoke and looks back in the house,” Mond said. He was released from hospital Monday afternoon. Neither he or the owner of the townhouse had fire insurance. The owners of three of the townhouses had fire insurance, but two sets of tenants did not. Madrona Village strata is insured, Mond said. ◆ See ‘FIRE’ /4
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A major land exchange that will see eight properties swapped between the city and Nanaimo school district was approved in principle Monday night by city council. The school board has also agreed in principle to the deal, and both parties will now enter a public process to begin the exchange that could take just under two years to complete. Ted Swabey, director of community safety and development, said some properties are more complicated than others with respect to the official community plan, zoning, road designations and surveying. In at least one case, an alternate approval process will need to be exercised for public approval to dispose of designated park land. “We’ll be doing this in phases, beginning with the simpler properties that we expect to complete by Sept. 30, 2013, and the second more complicated phase should be done by Dec. 31, 2014,” said Swabey. “Keeping in mind that this is an all or nothing type of exchange.” The school board approached the city last year to discuss the idea of trading properties that would mutually benefit both parties after reviewing its asset management plan. Properties scheduled to go from city ownership to the school board include 421 Franklyn St. (Quennell Square), 260 Irwin St. (former Princess Royal school), 400 Campbell St. (Pauline Haarer school) and 140 View St. (Bayview elementary). ◆ See ‘DEAL’ /6
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