Correspondence from Anonymous regarding Greenspace and Development
An email from a local resident expressing deep concern over the rapid loss of greenspace and wildlife habitat due to recent developments at Watkiss Way and Burnside Road West.
Subject: Playground
From: Anonymous
Sent: April-20-18 10:58 AM
To: Engineering
Hi there,
I apologize if I am sending this to the wrong department, but this just reminded me, or perhaps motivated me to express my concern over the greenspace by Watkiss Way/Burnside Rd W that is being taken over by the BC Transit. I am not one who is going to go out in public or a meeting to talk about this, I’m just not that person, and I am not confident with confrontation. But I am concerned about this and don’t really know how to communicate this. It may not even be relevant as it sounds like it’s a done deal, at least that’s what I’ve heard from others in the neighbourhood, that there is no point in trying to change things. It’s kind of a big deal to us, and there are a lot of people like me who don’t feel comfortable bringing this up at a meeting, but who also feel run over by these decisions.
Yes, we have Thetis Lake. If we were comfortable with the safety of the Goose trail through here, that may be enough. But it’s not, really. It used to feel safe, but the greenspace and surrounding areas have changed so much in this short stretch –
- the new Eagle Creek Center which took over a beautiful acreage (yes, I support that center as I think it was necessary for our area, a good plan and an asset to the community)
- the Vandekerkof (not sure if that is spelled correctly) forest mowed down – some of the school kids were actually in tears over this, where are the wildlife supposed to go? Parents were sad and disappointed that this was able to happen despite knowing that it’s private land
- the youth penitentiary, again taking over greenspace, and made you feel a little less safe
- Choices moving in to the building didn’t make a whole lot of sense as it isn’t a location that the residents have good access to transportation, job prospects, upgrade schooling, low income rentals, mental health clinic support, etc… things that are needed or enhance in assisting homeless people with improving their lifestyle and independence. I’m glad they have somewhere to be temporarily, but it just doesn’t seem a good location for this. It’s more like babysitting.
- Watkiss Way condo / townhouse development and Burnside Rd. W townhouse development, both huge housing projects and both blasting away the beautiful oak grove, so thin now
- Another rental unit development/commercial space on Watkiss Way going in, again blasting away the oak grove, now with so few trees, it’s so thin that I can’t imagine the trees withstanding the fall/winter wind storms well. Yes, there are trees left so that it looks like the “forest is still there” but really, it’s not. There are just a few trees sitting around until they are blown down. Where are the urban wildlife supposed to go?
- Townhouses/Nest Café/ 4 Pillars at Watkiss and Burnside. This is a nice development and great to have a neighbourhood café.
- Traffic light controlled intersection at Watkiss and Burnside, just proves the amount of development and change this little area has gone through. Now the afternoon traffic is backed up all the way to Prospect Lake Rd. Our rural Burnside Rd W is now a thoroughfare, with traffic speeding through the school zone more than ever.
We have now been transformed from a beautiful neighbourhood that you could feel good walking around in at any time, to having security patrols 24/7, homeless people camping out instead of building community and capacity in an urban, health and skills/job supportive location, and drug paraphernalia found on the elementary school grounds (rare occurrence, but not one that we had experienced prior to this change), garbage and drug things found around the GG trail. That does not instill confidence in families to let their kids be kids and go out running around or riding their bikes on the trail – that was created just for that! We can’t just let our kids ride to Helmcken Market to buy a treat and enjoy a little independence with their friends, while still in the neighbourhood.
- Some of this development is good, and appreciated by many. The Eagle Creek development was a good move, and it’s great having the Nest, and some of the housing is good, this does enhance our community. But all this greenspace changed to commercial use or industrial use, within a 2 km stretch of road is a bit much. And now, you want to destroy the natural greenspace, archery area and change it to industrial zoning? It’s unbelievable. Progress… is not always progress. View Royal was a gem, you could feel like you were living in a beautiful area with trees and greenspace, a bit of a countryside feeling. Not quite Metchosin, I know. It’s funny, because so many people joked about Metchosin and how they are so opposed to development and commercialization of their area, yet now we are the ones to suffer – in the long run, they will have the property that is invaluable, priceless, and we will just be another extension of Langford, therefore without character, and less desirable. I don’t want to be one who says “not in my backyard” but really, this tiny area has been through enough. We don’t want to be Langford. Only Langford wants to be Langford. We want to live and to love being part of the special and unique Town of View Royal. The tax revenue or lease revenue that you will get from BC Transit just can’t be worth destroying this area. Raise taxes if you want the money so badly. Or destroy the park area by Helmcken/View Royal School area and put it there – you haven’t commercialized that neighbourhood yet. Maybe that would be a better solution, good access to the overpass and highway. They already have fields and playground areas, we don’t. All we have is a toddler park that is cute, but not too useful only as a quick stopping point if you’re on the goose but not a destination for any amount of time, behind Helmcken Market. If you feel that you must spoil the natural greenspace/Archery area, then it would make a nice place for a kids play area, a field, walking path and playground.
It's just upsetting, and despite all that I’ve heard from people saying why bother, it’s a done deal, I thought I’d at least give some feedback. These are not only my thoughts but others that I’ve heard from. I know it will not make any difference but I needed to say something. Thank you for your time in reading this.