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TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014
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VOL. 25, NO. 87
Fireworks display in jeopardy due to lack of funding By KarL yu ThE NEwS BULLETiN
CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
Lantzville Mayor Jack de Jong looks over wetlands at the entrance to the Lanztville Foothills Estates property where owners are resurrecting plans to proceed with residential development.
B.C. company reviving Foothills project
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LonE trEE Properties is now the sole owner of 730-hectare property. By TaMara CunninghaM ThE NEwS BULLETiN
A B.C.-based company is reviving a multimillion-dollar housing project in upper Lantzville. North Vancouver’s Lone Tree Properties says it’s ready to dust off plans for the 730-hectare Lantzville Foothills Estates, once called the largest housing development conceived on Vancouver Island. The company became the sole owner of the Foothills property in December after spending more than a year in the courts trying to acquire the front-end parcel from the fore-
closed Lantzville Foothills Estates Inc. The success means an obstacle removed for Lone Tree, which wasn’t previously able to comes to terms with the other developer over issues like density-sharing and latecomer agreements, said chief executive officer Allard Ockeloen, adding the change makes the process of negotiating with Lantzville possible. The company now plans to spend the next year planning the subdivision, speaking with community members and engaging Lantzville officials in development agreement talks. It also still has the task of finding adequate water, which remains a requirement. Ockeloen told the News Bulletin the company has been doing “quite a bit of work” expanding on its water assets and is confident a resolution
will be found. Lone Tree aims to have the Foothills on the real estate market in 2015.“Lantzville is our flagship. It’s the largest of [our] six projects and for us, it’s a very exiting opportunity,” Ockeloen said. “We are bullish about the whole Nanaimo area, we are bullish about the region [and] we love Lantzville and the fact this property sits where it sits, the views ... everything is exciting about this land.” The Lantzville Foothills project was proposed in 2004 and slated to become a mega mixed-housing development with rural lots and multi-family homes but it’s run into obstacles that has kept it on ice, from the struggle to find adequate water supply to foreclosure and divided ownership. u See ‘SUPPLYING’ /10
The Nanaimo’s Empire Days celebration fireworks display is in jeopardy due to a shortfall of $15,000. The Nanaimo Empire Days Society says money is in place for the Victoria Day long weekend event’s May Queen crowning ceremony and downtown parade, but there isn’t enough in its coffers for night-time pyrotechnics. “We only have enough funds to pay for our insurance for the weekend. The trucks, the liability, the plaza – there’s insurance for everything,” said society president Nettley Mark. In the past, the non-profit society has received support via grants from provincial gaming and the City of Nanaimo, donations and fundraising but it says some of the financial assistance is “drying up” and new sponsors and donors are needed. The city’s annual budget has not been finalized yet and even if there is money earmarked for the event, it will likely only be a fraction of what is needed. “Everybody’s got cutbacks,” Mark said. “There are more organizations in town.” The society is hoping for donations from individuals or businesses and while it is seeking denominations of $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000, Mark says any contribution will be appreciated. “Ten dollar, $100, $1,000, $10,000 donations are greatly welcome,” says Mark, adding that the society has heard from the public that the fireworks display would be missed. This year’s celebration will be the 147th consecutive Empire Days event and should money raised exceed $15,000, it will be used toward 2015 celebrations. There is no cost to the public for Empire Days celebration events. People wishing to donate can contact Mark at nettleymark@hotmail.com or 250-751-8567 or Roy Linder at 250-758-2620 or relinder@telus. net.
Repair&Wea reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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