Mar
7
James Bay Neighbourhood Association
An on-going Beacon feature on land use & planning - to alert, inform, and prompt community action - and to celebrate success!
The February 2011 meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) witnessed lively exchanges regarding two exciting opportunities for our community.
Community Gardens
A "James Bay Parks & Greenspaces Garden Policy" was ratified. The policy recognizes four community values or principles to safeguard future initiatives concerning public greenspace in James Bay:
Parkland within James Bay is a precious public resource.
There must be no net loss of parkland within the community.
- Existing parks and green spaces must be kept open for all residents to enjoy.
- Additional green spaces should be acquired/re-claimed where possible.
This brief policy on community gardens in James Bay builds upon the earlier survey of Parks and Greenspace in the neighbourhood compiled by volunteers from the JBNA.
The policy also explores both allotment and collective community gardens, and links with existing City Policy. The existing City Policy (recognized by the city as being out-dated and unworkable) is in the queue for review. The JBNA report provides a basic framework for ongoing community land-use discussions with city Parks staff when greenspace becomes available within the community.
Prior to the February JBNA meeting, the Community Gardens Policy was distributed to 150 households, which are on the JBNA e-mail distribution lists, for comment.
Several months ago the JBNA recognized the need to examine James Bay and City policies with regard to public greenspaces,when City Parks gave away public parkland to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) without public consultation. (Didn't Joni Mitchell warn us about turning paradise into parking lots?)
Later the City Engineering department came to the community to discuss the realignment of St Lawrence Street between Simcoe and Ontario Streets. The JBNA Board recognized the St Lawrence initiative as an opportunity to transpose the asphalt into an area supportive of urban food use. The Board contacted representatives from the Michigan and Montreal Community Allotment Gardens to obtain advice and explore possibilities. A small sub-committee of James Bay community garden advocates was struck to propose initiatives and meet with City Parks representatives.
Although the reclaimed St Lawrence greenspace was ultimately too small to accommodate a new allotment garden, the city agreed to plant trees that would contribute to the urban food system (see June 2010 Beacon for Food System Circle submitted to the Official Community Plan Community Circle initiative). A garden sub-committee member was able to provide Parks staff with planting recommendations and names of suppliers of fruit and nut trees.
Although the JBNA does not intend to become actively involved in the area of community gardens as an organization, we recognize the importance of these opportunities to the community and to many individual members. We continue to support the non-profit societies sponsoring community gardens and to actively explore possible areas for the expansion of urban food system plantings in James Bay. We welcome your thoughts and ideas!
BC Transit in James Bay
In response to comments submitted by residents as part of the 2009 James Bay Residents Survey, the JBNA Board asked BC Transit to re-consider transit services within James Bay.
At the February 2011 JBNA meeting Darin Ramsay of BC Transit provided an overview of the two Open House events scheduled for James Bay later in February. Everything is "on the table".
BC Transit has two James Bay projects underway
- the redesign of BC Transit services within James Bay and from James Bay to points outside the neighbourhood, and
- a seniors or 'additional service' bus for those who are NOT in need of a handyDARTS-type service but who may require a more friendly tailored bus system.
Participants at the JBNA meeting offered a variety of suggestions and comments.
Looking at the current system
~ James Bay serves as a turn-around point for many BC Transit routes without the routes serving James Bay,
~ Residents who deliberately chose homes near bus-stops have been unable to access Transit since service has been decreased,
~ Large (non-transit) buses travelling through James Bay usually have few if any passengers,
~ There is insufficient route and frequency information at bus-stops.
Looking ahead
~ Smaller buses, with lower floors, will be used in James Bay.
~ Village connector buses, in keeping with the Official Community Plan emphasis, and calling at Five-Corners and downtown were recommended.
~ Better (clearer and larger) signage and frequency information needs to be present at bus-stops.
~ A looping transit service from Ogden Point, past Beacon Hill Park, to Fairfield was suggested.
~ A Seniors bus would permit bus drivers to deviate from defined routes to assist passengers by providing pick-up and drop-off services nearer to their homes/destinations.
~ More direct and efficient buses to both ferry and airport would be helpful.
~ Any Transit system should provide for bikes to be carried.
These comments, and comments from the February 19 and 23 Open Houses, will be used in the design proposal for new transit systems in James Bay. Comments can be forwarded via the BC Transit web-site at "http://www.bctransit.com" www.bctransit.com (click Transit Future and use the online survey).
BC transit will be conducting a design charrette in March. In April BC Transit will be providing residents with an opportunity to comment on the BC Transit proposals. Darin Ramsay is hopeful that the new systems will be in place by December of 2011.
JOIN US
The JBNA Annual General Meeting will be held in April. Board positions will be available. After several years service, some current Board members will not be standing for re-election. If you are interested in joining the Board, or just curious and want to know about Board work, please contact any current member of the Board.
The March 9th JBNA meeting will feature a development proposal for 68 Government Street. The lot currently contains a small house and Niagara Grocery.
A speaker from Scientific Victoria will make a presentation on their initiative which focuses on the connections between science and local and regional politics. Wi-Fi in schools? Minors in tanning salons? Perhaps we will hear about some of the new ideas presented at the recent inaugural conference, IdeaWave 2011.