Letter to Mayor and Council – Applicant - July 3, 2019

Re: Helmcken Road Rezoning Application (#3, #5, Lot 10, and 1449 Burnside Rd W.)

Dear Mayor Screech and Council:

We are pleased to submit revised drawings for our re-zoning application for the Helmcken and Burnside site. We have carefully reviewed comments from both planning and council, and have made a number of design changes in response. We have itemized our response to each of the requirements listed in the application review summary below:

Massing and Building Height

• The revised plan includes a significant change to height and massing. The two six-storey buildings along Burnside Road have been reduced to four stories, further stepped down to 3 storeys at the main corner. This creates a much more contextual, human scaled streetscape.
• The building at the west end of the site has also been reduced to four storeys to provide a compatible relationship with the adjacent Hidden Oaks townhouse development.
• The building at the north end of the site has increased to eight storeys, with the podium level designed to reinforce the pedestrian-oriented scale and design of the adjacent buildings. Locating the tallest building at the north side of the site minimizes shading and overlook effects.
• We are proposing an averaged 33% site coverage with buildings centered around a pedestrian plaza with all parking underground. Most tall deciduous trees will be retained.
• A Roof Plan has been added to clarify building heights – refer to A209.

Traffic

• A Traffic Impacts Assessment by Watt Consulting has been completed and is enclosed.
• There is no surface parking on site. All parking is underground therefore, the site is unencumbered by parked cars.
• Pedestrian access to shopping at Watkiss Way and close proximity to a bus stop and Victoria General Hospital will serve to reduce traffic in the area.
• In accordance with BC Transit policy a bus layby and shelter is proposed along the Helmcken frontage.

One community meeting has been held and another is scheduled for July 9. There has also been a meeting with Hidden Oaks residents.

We trust that you will find this addresses the issues raised. Please contact our office if you have any questions or require further clarification.

Regards,

Rob Whetter Architect AIBC RAIC