Correspondence: XW Sunrise Developments Ltd. regarding Lakeside Village

Re: Lakeside Village rezoning to include restaurant use

Dear Mayor and Council:

I am overseeing the project management of Lakeside Village, a high-quality design development which seeks to promote healthy lifestyles through its choice of tenants, its location, and its “people-first” mandate. As our name suggests, The Village supports “community” and welcomes patrons to enjoy the outdoors, the arts, and each other within a “one-stop,” pedestrian-friendly shopping experience. The Village, which will feature a local community gathering place (including a courtyard performance stage), will be anchored by a mid-sized, independent grocery store featuring a fine selection of both organic and traditional foods.

My due diligence has included personally polling our neighbours regarding the potential amenities they wish to see offered in this development, and I am pleased to share that the neighbourhood response has indicated an overwhelming support for diverse businesses, a preference for smaller shops vs. Big Box stores, and a strong desire for us to include a pleasant “family-style” restaurant. Please find a selection of support letters attached.

As we have now ascertained that a dining establishment which offers both superior cuisine and good value would be welcomed by those who matter most – our neighbours – I am respectfully requesting your consideration to include an intimate 130 sq. meter restaurant in our development. Again, the canvassing effort has proven this to be an amenity the neighbourhood desires, and in discussions with those who live nearby it was often reiterated that there are extremely limited dining choices in the area. Those I spoke to articulated that neither a “rowdy pub” nor a traffic-heavy, fast-food restaurant would be welcomed, and I wish to assure you that we would not welcome such tenants in our Village community either. A few citizens also mentioned the ideal “pairing” of a hike around the park after enjoying a healthy meal.

I am cognizant that there will be some challenges regarding a restaurant’s inclusion in our development, and I wish to address them. Firstly, parking must be considered. We have conducted a parking study and recognize that there will be a modest increase in parking demand: I trust that this can be effectively addressed during the development permit amendment phase. Please consider that we are situated next to the Galloping Goose Trail, and in the Village’s efforts to reinforce the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, we would especially encourage cyclists and bus riders to patronize the restaurant (potentially via a modest discount). Our allotment for bicycle parking would actually exceed bylaw requirements. We are on a regular bus route, and an extra route is added during the summer season. I also understand that the E&N Light Rail Transit system is a possibility directly next door to our development, and this would effectively serve to alleviate traffic density, as well.

Regarding food smells, the predominant winds will generally carry these away from the Village towards the Trans Canada Highway, in addition to this the ventilation design will have a mechanical filtering system to help mitigate any concerns associated with odours.

With respect to grease control, we will provide a code compliant grease interceptor to effectively control the discharge of oils, fat and grease into the Town's waste water disposal system. This interceptor will be regularly maintained and government inspected to ensure constant control of grease discharge.

In summary, our greatest desire at XW Sunrise Developments is to create an amiable, eclectic, and aesthetically-pleasing atmosphere that promotes healthy interactions, walkable singular shopping and dining opportunities, and community building. We want to feature the best of what life has to offer: the best food, the best products (with a local focus), and the best opportunities for good, old-fashioned face-to-face interaction in the very best city in Canada.

We look forward to working with you to ensure that our goals meet your expectations. Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Sincerely,

Dave Coster Project Manager, XW Sunrise Developments Ltd. 250-588-1222