Email from Myrna Soutar re: Rezoning application for #9 Erskine Lane

View Royal Council

Dear Mayor & Council,

It has come to our attention that the Council Meeting on June 16th will be held virtually “in camera” because the attendance of interested tax payers is being denied. If you are concerned about contracting CoVid19, there is nothing stopping you from making arrangements for an electronic meeting like is being done by other municipalities. This is 2020 not 1820! Participation by written comments does not provide the same importance as a spoken statement does. If you have not had time to set up an electronic council meeting, what is the rush to proceed? Why can you not postpone the #9 Erskine Lane rezoning decision until after View Royal has implemented open Council meetings? This rezoning decision will affect more than just the Erskine Lane residents. The residents of Stoneridge—and even other communities on Watkiss Way—will be affected by the densification of Erskine Lane without proper amenities.

Taxpayers in View Royal are entitled to have access to all the pertinent information regarding zoning changes that will affect their own property and related issues that could put their safety in jeopardy through traffic congestion, etc. Using the pandemic as an excuse to not allow an open meeting seems like there is something to hide from the residents. We should have an opportunity to hear a presentation by the developer, and answers to questions from council members. Recommendations from View Royal staff, although well thought out, are not always as a result of direct consultation with residents. Council make the final decision; therefore, they should be asking questions of the developer when the public can hear both sides of a point. In addition, residents should have the same option to hear both the developer’s and the council’s answer to their concerns. This would allow residents to help staff and council cover all aspects before a final decision is made that results in an inferior “product”.

In this time of climate action, is forest protection being considered? We have already lost a major amount of forest in the area around Watkiss Way. What about Council committing to creating a much-needed park/playground? Will sidewalks and a traffic light go in before any development starts? It is already dangerous for children—or even adults—making their way up Erskine Lane due to the speed of vehicles turning off Watkiss and flying over the hill. There is also so much traffic on Watkiss Way that it is dangerous for children trying to cross from Erskine Lane to make their way to school along the sidewalk rather than walking along the roadside. Even seniors trying to cross Watkiss to get to the bus stop are in danger with the speed of cars coming around the corner. Imagine the results when the Handy Dart buses are travelling to or from their “depot” and have to slam on their brakes because a child has rushed out to cross the road! Not only are the children in jeopardy, but any elderly or infirm on the Handy Dart would also be affected. Traffic lights and sidewalks, along with a park, should not be totally the responsibility of the Lot 9 development. They are features that will benefit many in the surrounding area of Burnside Road/Watkiss Way and should be provided in part by View Royal.

Without full and active public participation, we are being shut out. The pandemic should not be an excuse. We are left with a feeling that the matter is being decided “behind closed doors”. Council may deny these concerns, but perception is everything! Council should remove the rezoning application for #9 Erskine Lane from the agenda until the town has implemented open Council meetings like other Councils. We want to hear the applicant’s presentation, not just read it. We want to ask questions and get answers before a Public Hearing.

Thank you in advance for considering our concerns.

Sincerely,

Albert and Myrna Soutar

#67-14 Erskine Lane