To the Editor,
Re: City policy requires sidewalks in urban industrial areas, July 31.
I see where the City of Nanaimo is once again increasing the cost of doing business in Nanaimo and encouraging business not to be in Nanaimo.
Does it have any idea how much it will cost to totally sidewalk an industrial area like Boxwood or Boban drive? This extra cost of these sidewalks increases the rents needed to charge the tenants and the ability to run a profitable business.
I would guess at least 40 per cent of residential areas do not have sidewalks, with no immediate plans for the city to provide them. The municipality says it builds sidewalks based on potential use and public risk and industrial areas tend to generate lower volumes of traffic and pedestrians.
So why did it adopt this new sidewalk policy? Does it want to chase business away, or is it that deep-seeded need to see money spent?
Terry WagstaffNanaimo
