A recent report in the Star offers the first graspable view of things to come at the - according to City Hall - "only direct access to the lake from downtown."
Also called Stores to Shores.
Go have a look!
There are steps in rows of varying heights - some dangerously high and indistinguishable as such from above: until you step down, way down.
Those in charge of designing the whole Hall thing love what they picked-up somewhere as "social steps". Somebody immediately fell off them right after the I.O.D.E Park's completion - so the City dumped some haphazard rocks there at the time, but they eventually were removed. And now you can freely fall-off again - while being social with/on whatever.
Anyway - once you make it down safely at the lake: you see to your right the wharf above and dock below, to your left boat-houses - and in between a bay - sheltered and usually placid - defined by them.
Immediately to your left of the here "foreshore steps" is a concrete structure - a "storm sewer outfall" - for discharging waste-water, collected far and wide during wet weather, emptied into the bay at your feet.
While expanding the discharge-system is a good idea in itself - see past flooding of Front/Hall - the outfall-location is stunningly brainless. Or else the step set-up's.
It is anticipated that enormous amounts of discharge can/will freely drain into the lake now/here - even more expected in the future, what with climate change and all.
Possibly flushing out all kinds of critters living comfortably in these commodious, safe and often dryish pipes - never totally dry, thus also a breeding-ground for problem-carriers - paddling for their lives or drowned in sudden flooding.
Can't you just see it: water - with whatever carried along in it - comes rushing out close to where you sit, and because it's waste-water it is dirty, and because it's probably much dirtier than lake-water it will form a clearly visible plume, spreading into the baylet, to be initially held within its confines.
Undoubtedly there will be stuff floating on the surface and settling on the bottom.
There will be basic sedimentation.
All bound to change the environmental interplay of this part of the lake and possibly beyond, depending on the amount of precipitation. Dispersal of any matter introduced to the bay here will be very slow.
The higher the lake-level - the less you'll see the very bumpy bottom! Best not step into this flush-murk: broken glass, dead rats, used condoms, somebody's oil-change - you name it! All exposed when the outfall is relatively dry.
Possibly smelly, too.
Just don't bring the kids!
While environmental data surely were provided to regulatory agencies: their criteria are anybody's guess. As in: how could this outfall be approved in such close proximity to anticipated recreational activities?!
City Hall has been in a theoretical compartmentalized computer-model-swoon with Hall St all along - there's no actual-human component in any of it.
While possible visuals presented here may seem somewhat over-the-top - nonetheless they are plausible. Stuff dropped, swept, poured, flushed by rain down storm-drains - plus whatever lives down there - will ultimately enter - and pollute - the lake through this outfall without a "scrubber" yet.
Rats? We have rats: I passed a freshly run-over one at the Front/Poplar (electronic mall-sign) crosswalk a few days ago. In daylight.
"The only direct access to the lake from downtown" for one hell of a lot - literally - more than tourists.
Image Credits:
Bill Metcalfe
tumblr_n860hymdxp1rfp1lho1_540
Colin Innes, Public Works
cinnes@nelson.ca
Kevin Cormack, CAO
kcormack@nelson.ca
Pam Mierau, Development Services
pmierau@nelson.ca
Natalie Andrijancic, Planner
aandrijancic@nelson.ca
Deb Kozak, Mayor
dkozak@nelson.ca
City Council
nelsoncouncil@nelson.ca
do we really know what Phase 1 cost, what I see is something around $3.8M and I believe there was a dispute and a contractor looking for extras, a large over budget amount. Phase 2 sign states $6.8M how much over budget might it become? Total over $10M for less than 1000 meters or over $1M per meter! Yes I know grant money is involved, it appears this city takes grant money as free money. Nelson taxes are the highest of surrounding communities, could this project have been done for what was ONLY necessary. This is what the CORE movement wants this city to do, make business decisions, grants are one thing, but they don't make unaffordable projects affordable, they just change whose pocket pays.
ReplyDeleteAnd, now... this just in! Notification of a public meeting in the newspaper, with less than 48 hrs notice! For the rezoning of the old lower rec center parking lot to be turned into a clone of the "Commons" building project (i.e.: another Kelowna castle!). Less than 48 hrs notice to submit concerns via email as well. Jeez.... what kind of way of dealing with the public is this? They decided long ago to sell of that land (to have any shred of reserve funds left, most likely), and they're pushing it through. Real contempt for citizenry, if you ask me.
ReplyDeletePublic meeting is at dinner time, with only one hour to learn about and discuss this 4 story condo project right downtown! What the heck?? Meeting is at 6pm, tomorrow at city hall on Tues, Sep 4th, 2018.
There was actually a notice in the paper a week (or ten days) prior to the meeting on rezoning the land at Hall and Front St.
ReplyDeleteI heard that no one spoke out against this development, no concerns from residents at all.... looks like a done deal. However, it was likely a plan from years ago, when they stopped people parking on that lower lot.