October 10th, 2013
Dear Kirsten,
Congratulations on your new posting.
We are writing this letter to you, as you were District Manager of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Vancouver Island District, during the last Corcan Meadowood Residents’ Association and MOTI meeting in Nanaimo August 17, 2012. At this meeting we agreed on the following:
(1) that phasing of our new proposed Highway 19 Interchange at Corcan Rd./Nahmint was acceptable;
(2) that the next step was to hire an engineering firm to work with MOTI to complete this tasking;
(3) that an engineering and cost projection would comprise of a fully engineered plan for 50 percent of the interchange north side and 100 percent on the south side of the interchange at Corcan Road.
We have a quote from Newcastle engineering of Nanaimo BC and it is our understanding that MOTI will work with this firm.
As you know, the C.M.R.A. is a volunteer organization. Before we take on a project of this scope with the residents having to pay for construction of an interchange, we felt it was necessary to poll the residents. We requested a financial commitment from residents who own property from Baylis Rd. at Highway 19A to the top of Little Qualicum River Village to obtain the necessary support to continue.
Our key Questions to residents:
(a) “Would you support an annual property tax of approximately $250 per year for 10 to 12 years to pay for an interchange off Corcan and Nahmint onto Highway 19, with a ramps proceeding south towards Qualicum off Corcan Rd. and northbound from Qualicum onto or adjacent to Nahmint Rd.?”
(b) “If you support this project will you donate $100. towards the engineering and planning costs?”
We have had over 50 percent of the residents (Property owners) in the Corcan Meadowood corridor donate or sign a pledge to donate the 100 dollars. This has raised $36,000 dollars to date.
The C.M.R.A. will research a taxable service area or improvement district with development cost charges and grants for building the interchange. With the support of our residents we are willing to move forward to our next phase, which is corporate fundraising and grant applications, to assist us with paying for the engineering plans of the interchange.
We are requesting a letter of understanding from MOTI describing the agreements reached at our August, 2012 meeting, to be used in our fundraising and grant packages.
We discovered during our door to door poll and discussions with neighbors that one particular point was brought up multiple times. Many felt that the government would not be willing to permit this project to go forward. We explained in great detail about our meetings and progress made with staff at MOTI and yourself. Yet it was not enough to convince many residents that the building of an interchange to service our traffic requirements could be a reality. We verbally assured them that if conditions set forth from MOTI are adhered to and the Corcan Meadowood residents find financing for this interchange project, then this project indeed does have Ministerial and Provincial approval.
Thank you for the time, effort and positive participation you have contributed to this project to date. We will copy this letter to your successor, Renée Mounteney, the new District Manager for MOTI on Vancouver Island.
We wish you every success in your new position.
Regards,
David Jones
250 338 3877
Chairperson for Highway Access Project
Corcan Meadowood Residents’ Association
c.c. Renee Mounteney, District Manager, MOTI