Attachment 1: Letter to Mayor and Council

Attachment 1: Letter to Mayor and Council

Date: November 30, 2023

To: His Worship Mayor Tobias & Members of Council

From: Wayne Hopkins

Subject: S I X on Camden Further information for the proposal at 14/14A Helmcken & 6 Camden Avenue

Please find below further information on the project known as S I X on Camden. This letter is further to the project information submitted on September 8, 2023, and the subsequent request for further information received from the Town of View Royal on November 10, 2023.

Neighbour Consultation

Starting in summer of 2022 we commenced consultation with the neighborhood, starting first with adjacent properties and then expanded to include the general neighborhood. Our neighbour outreach always starts with meeting neighbours directly on their doorsteps, providing information and gathering input and suggestions.

Five separate information packages have been distributed door to door to neighbours from August 12, 2022, to August 18, 2023. These information packages contained cover letters with updates and project information as well as copies of updated project drawings. Please find attached a sample information package that has been distributed in our neighbourhood in the past.

Where we were unable to speak directly to a neighbour the information package invited neighbours to contact us with any questions, or to meet and discuss. We were pleased to hear from some neighbours with questions and suggestions and we were welcomed by a few neighbours to meet and discuss in greater detail the project.

Amenities & Amenity Contribution

S I X on Camden is designed to provide amenities for residents beyond their individual units, including a resident defined indoor amenity space, roof-top amenity space, and a large, landscaped amenity space off the main entrance on Camden Avenue. The landscaped amenity space will include a pavilion for residents to sit, relax and gather, a rain garden, as well as some lawn and garden areas to enjoy. We haven’t forgotten our canine residents; we have included a “K-9 Corner” for dogs to work off a little energy or take care of business. If deemed necessary we agree to secure these amenities in a covenant prior to final adoption of the rezoning bylaw.

When creating the plan for S I X on Camden we evaluated the feasibility of incorporating affordable rental units, however With S I X on Camden being a boutique sized project the ability to offer affordable rental units is financially prohibitive. We also note and recognize that View Royal has approved a substantial number of rental projects in the recent past, many of which are currently under construction in the immediate area of this project, therefore we suggest that the market sale units of S I X on Camden will balance housing options in the area.

As we support affordable housing, we propose to contribute financially by way of the View Royal Community Amenity Contribution Policy, at a rate of $4,000.00 per unit. It is our understanding that a portion of this cash contribution will be directed to the Capital Regional District Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing in the region.

Trees on Helmcken

As stated in the previous information submitted, it is a priority for the project to retain trees along Helmcken Road. Notwithstanding the impacts of aggressive pruning by BC Hydro over the years and impacts from road and sidewalk construction, the project arborist feels that the trees that are in fair or good health may be retained. The trees are shown as TBC in the arborist report as we cannot guarantee that the trees will be retained. However, we are committed to making extraordinary efforts working with the project arborist to retain these trees.

The project arborist has submitted further information in a letter as a follow-up to the report that better describes the methods and measures that will be employed during design and construction.

We look forward to formally presenting S I X on Camden and we look forward to answering any questions you may have.

Regards,

Wayne Hopkins HFT Ventures Ltd. A Merdyn Group Company Phone/Text: 250.812.0554 Email: wayne@merdyngroup.com