Pave Paradise?

James Bay Neighbourhood Association

An on-going feature on land use & planning - to alert, inform, and prompt community action - and to celebrate success!

Attendees at the June 2013 James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) meeting were presented with two visions of planning: the focused plan by City Parks Planning to identify and create Special Places on the Harbour Pathway (recently named David Foster Way), and the current goals and objectives of the Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) with its major holdings of heritage and industrial properties and green spaces.

Provincial Capital Commission

Rick Crosby, acting CEO of the PCC, presented a broad overview of the history and programming of this self-sustaining provincial crown agency.

The original concept for a Capital Improvement District Commission was a proposal of Premier W.A.C. Bennett in 1956. In 1977, renamed the PCC, it concentrated on the acquisition of heritage properties and greenways within the region. In 2003 the PCC accepted a province-wide focus "to connect and celebrate the Capital with all British Columbians". A programming budget of $1 million supports youth travel (to the Capital from other areas of the province), federal, provincial and local celebrations, heritage fairs, and youth parliament. The PCC facilitates the hosting of community events at their properties within the harbour.

The PCC maintains an inventory of approximately one hundred properties, many of which are greenspace, but also including Victoria's Crystal Gardens, the Tourism Information Centre at 812 Wharf Street, St. Ann's Academy and various important sites on the Inner Harbour.

Sites on the harbour of importance to James Bay include the Steamship Terminal Building, the ferry terminals along the harbour's southern shoreline, accommodation for the Black Ball Ferry's MV Coho and the Victoria Clipper, and the waterlot leased to the Pacific Undersea Gardens. 

The Steamship Terminal Building, recently renovated with seismic and mechanical upgrades, is managed and operated by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authourity (GVHA). The Bateman Foundation, with a public gallery housing the work of Robert Bateman, is the marquee tenant.

The Belleville Ferry Terminals (with leases due in 2014) require $25 - 40 million in upgrades and renovation infrastructure project costs.

During a subsequent question and answer session, it was noted that the Coho ferry was responsible for $65 million in revenue generation per year, versus the $40 million/year generated by the 210 cruise ships docking at Ogden Point. Another resident suggested that a renovated terminal should make allowance for smaller 'pocket' cruise ships to access the Inner Harbour.

Although two City Councillors (Gudgeon and Issit) represent Victoria, most of the current PCC board members are not Victoria residents.

Special Places

Doug Demarzo, Manager, Park Planning presented the concept for the creation of eleven special places in association with the David Foster Way along the Inner Harbour. It is anticipated that 97 adjacent or nearby properties will be affected by the project. Although the city website states that extensive public consultation occurred in 2008, DeMarzo faced stiff opposition to a proposal for a performance/paved play area at Laurel Point, where the existing non-paved green space is highly valued by local residents and visitors to the area. It was also noted as a chilly area for performance.

In Other News:

The JBNA request for funding for an Independent Risk Management Process Assessment: Harbour Airport from the City of Victoria Special Projects Grant program was rejected.

Community Consultation:

The Royal BC Museum held a community consultation event to discuss their plans on June 22^nd. Please visit the Museum web site for additional details.  http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/events/community-consultation-event/

Ogden Point MasterPlan:   

GVHA reports that the work is proceeding.  No community consultation has occurred in the past 2 years.

Environmental Issues:  

Cruise-Junkie: Ross Klein, Canada's foremost authority on the cruise ship industry, visited Victoria early in June.  Klein, a Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, is the author of two books on the cruise ship industry and he maintains the website cruisejunkie.com.   Klein discussed cruise ship air and water pollution on both CFAX and CBC radio.  The CFAX interview podcast is linked on the home page of the JBNA web-site in the news Bulletin box.  Meetings included politicians and press.

Potential Grey-water Regulations: JBNA was informed of pending grey-water regulations which focus on cruise-ship discharges.  Canada's current regulatory framework is deficient and no regularity enforcement program is in place.  The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates a typical cruise ship produces 67 U.S. gallons or 254 litres of greywater/passenger/day, meaning that a cruise ship may dump up to 127,000 litres/day.

GVHA Bus Contracts: GVHA has announced a contract with BC Transit and Wilsons for the cruise-shuttle this year.  Transit workers of CAW Local 333 have been demonstrating at Ogden Point protesting the rental/lease of Transit buses for private sector use.  

Summer meetings at JBNA:

Capital Regional District (CRD) Harbours Review

The CRD is consulting with residents on a community vision for Victoria and Esquimalt Harbours.  Jody Watson, Harbours and Watersheds Coordinator for the CRD, will present the program at the July 10th JBNA General Meeting. She will be seeking feedback on resident use of the harbour and resident visioning of the harbour.  All James Bay residents are urged to complete the very important survey associated with the review.   An on-line version of the survey will be available soon.

Also at the July meeting, Janis Ringuette will be presenting on an initiative to assist the hard-of-hearing.  Join your neighbours, learn more about your community. 

The agenda for the August meeting has not yet been set. Please check the JBNA web-site to see the Agenda for the August 14th agenda. JBNA Meetings are held of the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7-9 p.m. At 234 Menzies (New Horizons) in James Bay.