Landscaping and structures – If you need to do any landscaping or move accessory buildings currently located on the City road right-of-way, please make sure this work is completed by mid-May to prepare for the upcoming construction phase.

Construction disruption – You may experience some noise and general disruption as work progresses to connect Cottonwood and Davies Streets. We understand this may be inconvenient and will do our best to minimize impacts. 

Gate installations – A temporary gate will be installed at the end of Davies Street during construction. A second gate, at the end of the new subdivision, will be added after final subdivision approval—anticipated later this summer or fall.

The temporary road will be gated at both ends but will remain accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and strollers. It may also serve as an emergency egress route. The roadway can be completed in stages, with the gates being relocated as work progresses.

Unfortunately, Cottonwood Street has a steep 19% + grade and doesn’t meet current standards for roads. While some older streets in Nelson are quite steep, new roads should meet the fire underwriter standards to ensure emergency vehicles and residents can get in and out safely year-round. Cottonwood is sometimes closed in winter, making it unreliable in an emergency. Because it isn’t always accessible, it’s not a suitable option for emergency egress. Instead, connecting to Davies Street – a designated collector road with reliable year-round access – will provide the safest and most functional route for emergency response. Once the development is complete, this will also provide the best route for local traffic and essential services like snow clearing and waste collection. 

The land swap properties have been zoned for residential use since at least the 1980s. Since there is no rezoning involved, a public meeting is not required. However, residents are welcome to reach out to Development Services & Climate Leadership with any questions about the land swap at development@nelson.ca or by calling 250-352-8260.

The land swap improves fire safety by creating a new secondary access road, which enhances emergency response and evacuation options for the area. Additionally, it allows the City to conduct fuel treatment on the steep lands in the swap area, further reducing wildfire risk.

Any new development at 1502 Trevor Street and 1014 Cottonwood Street must also comply with BC FireSmart standards, as these properties fall within the City’s Wildfire Development Permit Area (DPA 3). Before construction begins, City Planners and the Building Official will review all development applications and building permits to ensure wildfire mitigation requirements are met.

For more information about Development Permit Area 3 – Wildfire, see our Wildfire Design Guidelines.

The City of Nelson is committed to wildfire resilience and emergency preparedness. You can find more details on our wildfire mitigation efforts through the following links:

• Wildfire Resiliency
• Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan
• Fire Smart in Nelson 
• Wildfire Mitigation  

The proposed park space is currently zoned residential but will be designated as parkland and left in a natural state. A multi-use trail will be provided between the Great Northern Rail Trail and the new road. Due to the area's steep terrain, the trail may not meet accessibility standards for grade, but its route will be chosen to achieve the best possible slope. Other than the trail and fuel treatment work, the area will remain natural.

The City Engineer will be reviewing all documentation related to the road construction, which will follow the Hillside Road Standards outlined in the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw. While the City oversees compliance, professional engineers are responsible for ensuring their work meets the standards set by Engineers & Geoscientists BC. They must follow these guidelines and uphold their code of ethics. Failure to do so could result in a complaint being filed, potentially leading to disciplinary action, including the loss of their license. Additionally, in many cases, their work undergoes peer review, providing an added layer of due diligence.

This new road will provide a critical secondary access point for Trevor Street residents, improving emergency egress in the event of a wildfire or other emergencies. This road is designed for local traffic only and will meet the City's hillside standards, which allow narrower widths for hillside areas. There are no plans to widen Trevor Street to create a high-volume traffic corridor. 

The new roadway will provide pedestrians and cyclists with a connection from Davies Street to Trevor Street via a public road, replacing the existing pathway that currently crosses private property. Additionally, the developer will establish a formal pedestrian connection to the Great Northern Rail Trail.