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Wednesday, April 9 • 2014
Vol. 6 • Issue 81
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Leafs ready to host Hospital provincial tourney plan on hold Pages 16-17 Page 4
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Council approves re-zoning
Granite Pointe development moves forward
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SAM VAN SCHIE Nelson Star Reporter
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Elliot Robins is organizing a scavenger hunt on April 27 inspired by Nelson’s underground. 524 Railway St Nelson (250) 352-5375
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Scavenger hunt explores what lies beneath Nelson
More than just a farmers store
Underground secrets GREG NESTEROFF Nelson Star Reporter
An unusual scavenger hunt this month will lead participants in pursuit of the secrets of Nelson’s underground. Elliot Robins, who is organizing the Sunday, April 27 event, says he can’t give away too many details without spoiling the game, but promises “a series of clues, challenges and riddles that will lead you on an adventure throughout Nelson that features history, culture, colourful characters and local folklore.” “I wanted to host a really fun Nelson experience,”
he says. “But I didn’t want it to be just a scavenger hunt where you collect random items on a list and earn points or be too much like a walking tour. I wanted to somehow tie those elements together.” The theme comes from the city’s so-called catacombs — a cribbed area beneath Ward Street between Baker and Vernon that has been elevated to urban legend status. While participants won’t actually get to visit that space, it inspired Robins to create a narrative mixing fact and fiction. Continued on Page 3
Nelson City Council approved a re-zoning application to allow medium density residential development at 2000 Choquette Avenue, clearing the way for three townhome condo buildings to be built on what was previously undeveloped golf course land. About 30 residents who felt they’d be negatively affected by the change attended a public hearing and about a third of them used the opportunity to voice their concern to council. The project proponent — Nelson’s Patrick Davis of West Creek Developments — spoke in favour of the rezoning, as did Barry Auliffe, vice president of Granite Pointe golf club, and Hollie Wallace, a local realtor. The main concerns for neighbours was that a condo development on the site wouldn’t fit with the neighbourhood and lead to increased vehicle traffic in what is already a busy area with narrow roads and inadequate sidewalks. But Auliffe said it would be a good opportunity for the golf course, which needs to sell land in order to pay down its debt and ensure the long term viability of the greens. Wallace added that there’s local demand for the type of compact condo units West Creek builds at an entry-level price range. And Davis stressed that his project was specifically designed to mitigate the impact on neighbours. “To have good flow with the neighbourhood, it was our intention when we designed the site to have everything pushed back, as far away from the neighbouring properties as possible,” said Davis, noting that the closest structure to the property line would be a row of car ports and storage lockers, which would be more than 15 metres from existing homes. He also cited a traffic study that his company commissioned at the request of city council, which verified that the development would not have a significant impact on the area. But councillor Robin Cherbo thought the traffic study was misleading because it was carried out in December. He was the only councillor to vote against the rezoning, saying the roads and intersections in Continued on Page 3
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