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Nanaimo says it has followed procedure in rezoning process for project opposed by First Nation

Snuneymuxw First Nation is concerned about what will happen to site of ancestral village
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Proposed development on the Millstone River in Nanaimo. D'Ambrosio architecture + urbanism

The City of Nanaimo maintains it followed proper process for a partly completed rezoning application but is tight-lipped in response to a warning from the Snuneymuxw First Nation that it could cause delays for a large mixed-use development along the Millstone River.

“As this is an active rezoning application that is currently before council, there is little we can say with respect to the specifics of the proposal,” a Nanaimo statement said.

The privately owned property includes an ancestral village site for the nation, the city said.

“For that reason, we shared the rezoning proposal with SFN (Snuneymuxw First Nation) at our staff-to-staff technical working group in March 2022, before our formal application referral to the nation in April 2022.”

A Victoria-based company is seeking to rezone the site to allow the project to proceed. It would include a hotel, more than 700 homes, commercial space and waterfront path.

A majority of council approved third reading of the bylaws governing a rezoning. Fourth and final reading is still required.

But Snuneymuxw Nation officials said that despite a protocol agreement with the City of Nanaimo around land use, they have been shut out of discussions.

Nanaimo said it understands that the developer and nation are having discussions involving the site and encourages those conversations to continue.

The city said it has followed the rezoning process, as set out by the province.

cjwilson@timescolonist.com

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