Email dated May 5, 2020 from O. Young, Re: Proposed Eagles Nest Development
A Saanich resident expresses extreme concern over project density and the lack of proper traffic infrastructure to support 400 new parking stalls.
From: Olivia Young Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 1:43 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca; council@saanich.ca Subject: Invictus Development
Good Afternoon Mayor and Council,
As a resident of the Northern Gateway Corridor neighborhood of View Royal are VERY concerned about this development. I understand Mr. Foord is trying to discredit our concerns and the amount of concerns that pertain to us who live in the area.
If we want to go down the road of misleading information, let's discuss the offer to build a pickleball court and have petitions signed in support of the development to obtain support. I will once again reiterate my concerns with this massive development. I have read Council agendas/minutes, I have attended the open house sessions Invictus hosted and I also attending the Council meetings if I was able to.
My concerns are MY concerns and not mislead by anyone else.
Good Evening Mayor and Council,
My name is Olivia Young, and I am a Saanich resident at 3953 Helen Rd.
I live with my husband and son, in a house and property that has been owned since 1973 by my husband's family and we now own and reside. My son attends Strawberry Vale Elementary and will do so for another 3 years.
We love where we live and are proud of the neighbourhood and enjoy being home.
Back in May 2019, I had received a postcard in the mail regarding an open house for the proposed Eagles Nest development at Strawberry Vale Hall. I let a few neighbours' know, and family as well that live close by on Mildred Place and Burnside Rd West. None of the 7 I contacted, were aware or had received any notification of this development.
I went to the meeting with an open mind, but once I saw the massive huge development in the neighborhood we love and take pride in, it was very disappointing to say the least. My first concern is obviously the size. I am not sure this corner is suitable for the massive development. I have travelled this part of View Royal for most of my life, being that I grew up in the East Highlands. I can appreciate nothing stays the same but keeping this in mind, development is good but it must be good development, appropriate for the community in density not changing the scale, ambience or character of the area as per the OPC. It is purely too much.
Which leads me into the next point of our families concerns. I live and work downtown, with my family in Saanich. In the least, by the time I leave my house, drop off my son at school, park and get to my desk, MOST days, it is just under an hour. The fact that my son, is growing more independent and I don't have to leave my vehicle at drop off at school, has given me 10 minutes more to drive in. I understand that traffic can't be the only thing stopping this development, but I challenge Council, to drive the routes that us, which are stuck in traffic an hour each way to and from work, the stress of making to work in time as a working parent and return. I have raised these same concerns with Saanich for many years. And now, View Royal will potentially be adding to this with another close to 400 stalls. I leave my house at 7:45am and return at the end of the day most of the time by 5:30-6pm. It is clogged and congested no matter what. Traffic is already grid locked at times and hoping that will change by the end of the construction period is not responsible or realistic so if you can’t change the traffic infrastructure, the development needs to be tailored to have the least amount of impact on that infrastructure. Try going down to Eagle Creek on a Saturday afternoon to grab something quickly from the grocery store. It is a 45 minute drive there and back.
Please keep in mind, OCP wants our area to change but 248 apartments and 24 retail spaces have been added with no alternative housing options other than apartments offered to the market so our area has experienced great change in the last few years. I understand that Mr. Foord has had a new application and the reduction of density sits at a mere 5% decrease, this is still unacceptable to us residents.
Please rethink the size of this development and do what is best for existing View Royal residents and bordering Saanich neighbours.
Which leads me to the last case and point of this email.
What are the plans to open up that bottlenecked corridor? Please don't say we have to wait until the McKenzie Interchange is complete, it is a very wearing and empty response. Considering Saanich is now asking for input on how to fix Prospect Lake Road, the conversation between the two municipalities is long over due. How are both municipalities going to support their current residents with concerns of these huge density projects being proposed? Add the Erskine Lane development and you have this entire corridor at a stand still.
Sincerely,
Olivia Young