^{James Bay Neighborhood Association}

Whither Quality of Life?

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

The April 2008 meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) was attended by an audience eager to discuss community issues.

200 Douglas Street

The capacity crowd paid close attention to the architect's presentation for the seven-story, 38 unit development proposed for 200 Douglas Street. Although most of the subsequent speakers appreciated the revised design of the project, they condemned the demolition of 24 existing affordable housing units on the site, and the resultant loss of diversity in the community.
Most speakers identified inaction by the City as the main problem: the lack of stop-gap action to preserve rental housing from demolition during a rental crisis and lack of response to the strata corporations of new residential buildings whose first order of business is to ban the rental of units.
One speaker noted a requested variance for an additional 5-6 units on the main floor (estimated value of $1 million plus to the developer) and questioned if these could be designed as affordable units in some sort of quid-pro-quo. (see related letter on page 3)

Sewage Treatment

The Esquimalt Community Association and the Sewage Treatment Action Group – STAG – have concerns about developing sewage treatment plans in the CRD. (Meanwhile the BC Government refuses to release a tax-payer funded report that might clarify innovative treatment options.) STAG believes that smart growth principles & resource recovery should be addressed, using best and current technology, on locations with the least negative impact on existing communities.
Their primary concern is the selection of Macaulay Point, a residential neighbourhood in Esquimalt, as the site of a sewage treatment plant. STAG has concerns that increased traffic and the transportation of sewage sludge and hazardous waste through the community will create unacceptable levels of noise, pollution and safety hazards.
The group is proposing another site, the Esso tank farm at Maclaughlin Point, which has recently come on the market. This alternate industrial site, already contaminated, is close to the current sewage infrastructure and has access to a barge loading facility. Sludge removal by barge is preferable to removal by trucks through neighbourhoods.
The JBNA will contact the CRD to request that “smart growth” principles, good environmental stewardship, and resource recovery be fundamental in their decision-making with regard to sewage treatment sites.

Updates

Correspondence from the City of Victoria advised that:
– the public hearing on March 27 resulted in approval of the rezoning for Spinnaker's beer & wine store at James Bay Square. A restrictive covenant limits both the range of products sold and hours of operation to between 9 am and 10 pm, 7 days a week.
– amendments to the rezoning application for 118 Ladysmith Street has reduced the number of units from 5 to 4, reducing area, floor space ratio, height and decreased site coverage. There is an increase to all setbacks and open site space, changes to wall setbacks and window placement, and elimination of 3rd floor decks on the north side.
NavCanada Flight Service Centre at Shoal Point
Captain Williamson, Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt, has advised that a 20 year lease has been signed with NavCanada.
Merlin Preuss, Director General, Civil Aviation, Transport Canada advised a harbour resident on April 18 that "Transport Canada regional officials met with representatives of the City of Victoria along with Ms. Denise Savoie, MP on March 28, 2008 to discuss issues pertaining to the Harbour Water Airport. The subject of quality of life was discussed at this meeting as well as safety issues. Although Transport Canada's primary focus within the harbour is one of safety, the City representatives agreed that further discussions on the aspects related to quality of life issues were required."
City Councillors Holland, Coleman, and Madoff will be examining Quality of Life Issues related to the Victoria Harbour Airport.
Harbour residents continue to be concerned about safety issues with the airport. Both the City and Transport Canada have insisted for many years that Victoria Harbour does not present a safety hazard despite airport operations within 100 meters of residential properties. Yet DND and NavCanada have now both identified harbour safety as an issue.
A City commissioned Hazard Risk & Vulnerability Assessment, published in March, 2006, was based on 21,000 float plane movements from the year 2000. By 2005, there were over 30,000 float plane movements, and by 2007, there were over 34,000 float plane movements. Residents may question why data from 2000 was used for a 2006 hazard assessment analysis when 2005 data, showing a 40% increase in aircraft movements, was available.
The Assessment recommended that the City "Meet with hotels that are at high risk and discuss rescue and evacuation plans." Hotels!? What about the residents? Condominiums are located within a hundred meters of float plane take-off and landing areas. Has the City consulted or advised residents (or anyone) as a result of this study?
With 26 aircraft movements (take-offs and landings) per hour, and over 200 aircraft movements and over 1000 marine movements on a summer day, residents have good reason to be concerned. Three float plane take-offs and landings within two minutes is asking for tragedy.
What will be the ramifications of further projected growth to air & marine traffic?

Traffic Noise Study

The JBNA Executive has applied for funding for a traffic noise study in James Bay. Previous studies have focused on aircraft noise alone. VIHA has pledged $1,000 towards this project and $1,375 has been raised towards the estimated cost of $7,000.

Next Month

Join your neighbours at New Horizons on Wednesday, May 13th at 6:30 pm for the Annual General Meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association. After 7pm Councillor Chris Coleman will speak briefly about the Affordable Housing Fund. A proposal for an Off-Leash designation for Fisherman's Wharf Park will also be presented.