Building boom wave defined 2019 as city’s annual report delivered
By Timothy Schafer
Momentum in the city was building in 2019.
Building and development fueled the municipal engine in Nelson last year, it was noted in the city’s annual report, released earlier this month.
In the report it revealed that 2019 cradled an increase in development construction values in Nelson, going from $29.3 million in 2018 to $45.7 million — a major jump in cash in a pre-pandemic world.
This “strong increase” in construction values was due mainly to the start of three large, multi-family developments in the city, a roster comprised of 514 Victoria Street (44 units), 205 Hall Street (43 units) and 520 Falls Street (39 units).
Overall, the majority of development was multi-family units — totaling 145 units compared to 63 in 2018 — followed by single family and secondary suites, both at
23 units each, compared to 22 and 30 units respectively, in 2018.
However, laneway housing starts dropped from six in 2018 to five in 2019, building permit activity dipped slightly by five permits to 183 but development permits rose to 94 from 71 in 2018.
There certainly has been a lot of building in the city in the last year, and into 2020, noted city chief financial officer Colin McClure when he introduced the annual report to council.
“It’s hard not to see what is happening on Hall Street … and just the infill lot (activity) that is going on, it’s significant because it is drawing a lot of building permit revenue,” he said.
In addition to the three multi-family development projects noted, other key development projects included the LVR Tennis Courts, the Wholesale Club interior renovations, interior and exterior renovations of the Baldface office, interior renovations to the Legion and the Sterling Hotel, and the new Nelson Home Hardware Building Centre storage shed on Lakeside Drive, it was noted in the annual report.
Although the release of the report was delayed due to the effects of the covid-19 pandemic — normally it comes out in June — the year of 2019 was virus free, somewhat idyllic and a simpler time, compared to the complicated world we have now been dealt.
McClure said the annual report painted a picture of those times in Nelson through a compendium of its accomplishments.
“Its really important for the community to see what was accomplished in 2019 because I think we move at such a break neck speed that sometimes we don’t tend to stop and say, ‘We do a lot of good work here. We do a lot as compared to any small city,’” he said.
“There really isn’t another one that compares to one of our size.”
City manager Kevin Cormack agreed. He said progress was made in many key areas of municipal work, including the formation of the city’s own emergency operations centre (EOC), a move that laid the foundation for the work done to transition through the corona virus pandemic in 2020.
“The new EOC proved invaluable when the covid‐19 pandemic struck,” he said in the annual report.
The city had negotiated a withdrawal from the regional district service and adopted a new emergency plan bylaw for the city, with grant funding secured to develop the emergency operations centre. A new emergency management coordinator position was established.
Cormack also explained that a consultant had been engaged to complete the environmental review to secure a secondary water source. As well, the project that is bringing all three of the city’s water sources to the Mountain Station Reservoir and UV treatment facility is under construction.
“ICI metering and other water conservation programs are being implemented, which continues to drive down water usage despite the growth the city is experiencing,” Cormack said.
Notable notes on municipal accomplishments
- The city received $500,000 in grant funding to support the renewal of the Hall Street pier. This project is in the detailed design phase.
- The Nelson Innovation Centre was completed in early 2020 and is being operated by KAST.
- Nelson Fibre: rates were dropped and 28 new customers were added; revenues have recovered.
- A new stage was added to Cottonwood Park.
- Funding was received from the RDCK to support Nelson parks.
- The NAEDP led a number of successful projects including the Cannabis Business Transition Initiative and the development of a Community Economic Resilience Plan.
- The city procured its first fully electric vehicle for the public works department.
- The District Energy Business Plan is being updated; Nelson Hydro is working with a private company on a regional RNG projects; flow data is being collected on potential run-of-river projects; Nelson Hydro is also working with the Village of Slocan on a potential run‐of‐river projects.
- The BC Energy Step Code is the province’s new building energy code, involving a series of “Steps” representing improving energy performance levels. Ahead of provincial compliance, the city moved forward with a requirement for all new residential developments to meet Step Code 1.
- Replaced or relined almost four kilometres of water and sewer main in 2019.
- The city continues to work with BC Housing and a local non‐profit to secure housing on top of the Nelson and District Youth Centre.
- A successful laneway housing competition was held and three pre‐approved designs were selected.
- The Downtown Urban Design Strategy continues to be implemented including laneway beautification and planning for a new downtown transit exchange.
- The city worked with Interior Health, Columbia Basin Trust and BC Housing to secure new long‐term care beds and a health campus at the Mount St. Francis site.
- The city worked with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on a new intersection design at the bottom of Baker Street and Railtown.
- The city renewed its financial services contracts with Slocan, Silverton, and Salmo. In addition, New Denver was added as a new client.
- The city maintained a zero per cent tax increase for 2019, with inflationary increases for water and sewer rates at two per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively.
- Strengthened alternative sources of financing city services, with only 50 per cent of the $23 million general operating budget being funded by taxation.
— Source: City of Nelson annual report
Keeping the beat
When the current city council was sworn in two years ago they decided they would not make any significant changes to the core work and service levels of the city.
Several new priorities were developed:
- implementing an emergency management plan;
- locating and securing a secondary water source;
- exploring clean business opportunities through Nelson Hydro;
- closing the landfill at 70 Lakeside Drive;
- further developing city succession planning;
- improving energy and GHG reduction of City-owned facilities, vehicles and equipment; and
- reviewing and recommending next steps for Active Transportation Plan.
— Source: City of Nelson annual report
