James Bay Neighbourhood Environment Association James Bay at Work An on-going Beacon feature on planning -- to alert, inform, prompt community action and celebrate success! Reports were the order of the day at the regular meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Environment Association (JBNEA) on February 14th – but there were also chocolates on hand to celebrate the day. REPORTS Victoria City Councilor Chris Coleman described himself as a conduit from James Bay to City Council when he gave a report on his activities as Councilor to the JBNEA at the February 2007 meeting. Chris attends most of the NEA meetings, to observe and to relay discussions and concerns raised at our meetings to Council. Councilor Coleman’s remarks will be more fully reported in the April edition of the Beacon. Coleman discussed the value of the Community School to James Bay, and the importance of the strategic planning which must be done now if the school is to be retained as a viable community asset. Although daycare has recently doubled, and enrolment has increased from 150 to 170 students, we are still short the 30+ additional students required to maintain the school into the future. Doug Craig of the Transportation Committee reported on recent developments concerning Ogden Point: Tourism Best Management Practices – Daryl Anderson, Manager of Business Development with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA), will be responsible for implementing a ‘best practices’ concept involving all of the usual stakeholders, and some new players such as Tourism Victoria. The document, to be modeled after a similar project in Juneau, Alaska, is to be ready prior to the summer cruise season. Shuttle Buses – the GVHA will assume responsibility for the operation of the shuttle bus service between Ogden Point and downtown Victoria this summer. The use of bio-diesel fuels, installation of a fueling depot at Ogden Point, and other on-site services are designed to decrease the number of trips that buses make to and from Ogden Point through the community. The GVHA is committed to moving passengers through James Bay as efficiently as possible. Pedestrian Access – Cruise ship passengers will also be encouraged to walk to downtown Victoria through James Bay with new signage and self-directed tour pamphlets for 2007. Prepare to be friendly! Air Quality Study - Craig verified that the study on “air quality” is waiting receipt of funding approval from the BC Ministry of the Environment. Confirmed funding is in place from the GVHA, the Capital Regional District and the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). The study, co-ordinated through the Geology Department at Uvic, will ‘characterize marine emissions in the CRD’ with particular attention to Ogden Point and the cruise ship industry. Tours – James Bay residents will be invited to tour a cruise boat once a month to get a first-hand view of environmental practices such as waste management, and fuel and engine efficiency on the ships. Watch for details in the Beacon. Presentations Representatives of the residents of Fisherman’s Wharf – the population of float home owners expressed their concerns regarding the planned expansion of Fisherman’s Wharf by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA). They are concerned that the current residents, the fish boats and float homes, will be marginalized, while the introduction of ‘gated’ docks for visiting luxury craft may adversely affect the atmosphere of the neighbourhood and tourism potential for the wharf. An estimated 40,000 passengers from the small Harbour Ferries visit the area annually, with a similar number by car and by foot. New Development Look for these and other development applications to be brought before upcoming JBNEA meetings: Spinnaker's liquor outlet in James Bay Square. Can we expect Council to respect the wishes of residents regarding closing hours? Crystal Court – This redevelopment application is expected to include a much sought after downtown venue for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Michigan and Oswego – The redevelopment proposed for this corner promises to be higher and denser than the existing rental accommodation, increasing traffic through the school zone. 640 Michigan St. Five months ago the JBNEA raised concerns regarding the 3-year old building permit carried over through transferred ownership, with a different developer, a different building, and a different structural system on this project. Application of an outdated bonus density policy applied to what would appear to be a $13 million dollar complex being constructed on a $7 million permit was also questioned. City Council requested a legal opinion, prior to going to public hearing on Developer David Chard’s proposed five- and three-story townhouse/apartment complex of 60 units at 640 Michigan. – Lega opinion states ‘that’s ok!’ While taxpayers live in fear of increased property taxes as a result of through-the-roof property evaluations, the City looks for ways to give our money away. We have had a 5-month break with no answers regarding this development. James Bay residents are urged to watch for announcement of the public hearing date and to be prepared to speak out on this issue if they have concerns. Victoria: Vibrant City, Vibrant Neighbourhoods A series of Neighbourhood Workshops presented by the City of Victoria, in conjunction with the University of Victoria, LifeCycles and Vancity, are scheduled for 2007. The March Workshop, part of the Land Marks Lecture Series on Public Art is titled Community Connection and Creativity. Come out and hear Vancouver artist, jill p. weaving discuss community-based public art, highlighting neighbourhood art projects where artist and community have worked together to creatively express neighbourhood identity. Mosaic artist, Glen Anderson, will demonstrate his community-based approach. FREE ADMISSION – Everyone Welcome - For further information contact Gail Price-Douglas, Community Development Planner, City of Victoria 361-0358 SURVEY A big thank you to all of the James Bay residents who participated in the JBNEA Survey published in the November’06 issue. We received a significant response from residents, many with write-in comments, which have made the survey data time-consuming for our volunteers to evaluate. Watch for an evaluation of the survey in upcoming issues of the Beacon. Back to News & Stories Menu