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THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015
City streets could host food trucks
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Anchorage proposal angers Gabriolans BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
POLICY BEING developed to allow entrepreneurs to set up shop at areas across Nanaimo. BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM THE NEWS BULLETIN
Food-truck fare could soon be dished out on city streets. The City of Nanaimo is crafting a new policy to open select city streets to food trucks for the first time. It’s still in early days, but is expected to make parking lot locations and parks available, such as Brechin Boat Ramp and Harewood Centennial, as well as offer food-truck operators a streamlined application process and flexibility in where they set up any given day. Even an app could be created to help entrepreneurs find places to set up for the day, and for customers to know where to find them. It’s a document that’s been more than a year in the making. While food trucks can set up at special events and in parks with a licence-use agreement, they currently aren’t allowed to serve cuisine on city streets. There is also only one food truck vendor permitted in Nanaimo’s most popular waterfront park – an issue that’s currently under review in the Maffeo Sutton Park Improvement Plan. Tamera Rogers, city planning assistant, said the policy aims to make it easier for food truck entrepreneurs to operate in the city. The new policy, informed by the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce and food-truck operators, will offer first-come, first-served street spots and flexibility in shifting locations. The city is considering locations at Front, Church and Wallace streets and allow for a 25-metre buffer zone from restaurants. See ‘POLICY’ /4
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VOL. 27, NO. 28
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Fresh fountain
Sandra Larocque expresses her feelings about the first phase of refurbishment to the Italian Fountain that was recently completed near Port Place Shopping Centre. Larocque’s father, Peter Zuccolini, helped build the fountain, which was given to the city by Nanaimo’s Italian community in 1961.
Residents of Gabriola Island are voicing opposition to a proposal that could see freighters anchoring in island waters. Gabriola Anchor Rage, a grassroots movement, has sprung up in response to a Pacific Pilotage Authority of Canada plan that aims to establish anchorage sites for five capesize vessels, 300 metres long, off the northeastern shore of the island. Heather Nicholas, Gabriola trustee and Anchor Rage liaison for Islands Trust, said she has numerous concerns, including potential for serious environmental impact. “There’s the impact on the seabed, because these are not small anchors or small chains and so anything that’s put down is going to be devastating. Having these chains scraping along the sea floor and so on is going to be devastating to habitat, to anything living down there. “There’s a lot of species that rely on our marine floor and our marine waters and they’ll be all be put at risk,” said Nicholas. Kevin Obermeyer, pilotage authority CEO, pointed out that this is still a proposal. The process has taken about three years and areas in Delta and Galiano Island were examined. “For the most part, this coast of ours is not conducive to anchoring ships. It’s got a rock bottom or it’s very, very steep. So if you anchored the ship, you’re going to be so close to the land that it would be unsafe, so we don’t have a lot of options. “Believe me, we went through this until the only one that made sense, unfortunately, was Gabriola,” said Obermeyer. The authority is conducting an environmental review and anticipates holding public consultation in early 2016. reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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