THURSDAYJUNE 25, 2015
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POETRY FOR A CAUSE
46 ARTISTS, ONE TREE
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Local men part of a movement to create art from a giant maple tree
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Clarion on the clock Permit for controversial development expires soon AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
The people behind the controversial Clarion development in downtown Qualicum Beach have just over two weeks to apply for a building permit before their second development permit runs out and they are back at square one. As recently as December, the project was on track. “We’re working with the town, we have construction drawings and the work is out to tender,” said Bill Katerenchuk, co-owner and developer of the empty lot behind town hall. Katerenchuk died on May 7, but according to councillor Bill Luchtmeijer, “his investment partner Wayne Strandlund has been in town and plans to go ahead with the existing plans,” for which they have all the engineering drawings complete. Strandlund, the Victoria-based chancellor of Royal Roads University and founder of Fisgard Capital, could not be reached for comment. Luchtmeijer estimated the owners have spent hundreds of thousands on the project and “the previous council changed the rules for them, changing building heights and putting in incentives,” he said, suggesting the current council may not approve a third development permit. Good for two years, council approved the second permit for a 53-unit, five-storey condo development in July, 2013. It expires July 13 unless the building permit application is filed. Before the composition changed in November’s municipal election, town council supported the project 3-2. The building permit is the final step required, which is reviewed by staff on technical grounds. The town’s director of planning could not be reached for comment.
BRENDA GOUGH PHOTO
CARNIVAL: A carnival with all kinds of family fun was held at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre on Saturday to celebrate the centre’s 15th anniversary. Two-and-a-half year-old Hunter Nikkel enjoyed a cupcake he decorated at the Parksville Lioness booth before adding his artistic strokes to the Forward House community canvas.
CELL TOWER IN THE FRENCH CREEK AREA
RDN puts a halt to Telus plans CARLI BERRY
news@pqbnews.com
The proposed location of a cell tower in French Creek is still causing concern for some local residents. Two of them voiced their opinions with Regional District of Nanaimo directors on Tuesday. They say they are not happy with plans to put the tower
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at 1421 Sunrise Dr. Kelly Olson asked the RDN’s Electoral Area Planning Committee to revoke the board’s approval of the location and asked for a hold of all tower sitings until a policy is prepared and other sites are considered. In March, the RDN passed a motion stating that the board was satis-
fied with the Telus consultation process, but Olson said the majority of the people who voted on the tower’s location live outside the area. Telus did not consider the impact on the residents in the direct vicinity of the tower, Olson said in a statement to the RDN. See COMPANIES, page A6
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