Application for development of 280 Wilfert Road as doctor's office (Attachment 3)
Project statement from the applicant outlining the benefits and features of the proposed medical specialist's clinic.
Jeff Sutherland Business Manager Sherri Hancock, M.D., Inc. 3336 Ocean Blvd., Colwood, BC V9C1W6 (778) 433-4413
March 20th, 2014
Attn: Mayor's Office and Town Of View Royal Council Members Re: Application for development of 280 Wilfert Road as doctor's office.
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
This letter is to make you aware of our application for redevelopment of the property located at 280 Wilfert Road as a medical specialist's office.
The resulting wheel chair accessible office would operate as the "The View Royal Specialists' Clinic" and would include an office, meeting room, examining rooms, handicap-accessible washroom, waiting room, storage area and reception area with five legal parking stalls.
Benefits To The Community
With respect to the Official Community Plan, there are a number of benefits to the community but the major one will be local access for patients to medical specialists. Currently there are very few medical specialists with offices located west of Royal Jubilee hospital. This is because generally specialists spend only 4-6 days per month (depending on the specialty) seeing patients in an office environment and to this point there are no specialist-specific offices on the West Shore where overhead costs can be shared. There has already been interest from both Obstetricians and Mid-Wives in seeing patients in this setting.
As it relates to economic benefit, the office would employ 1 to 1.5 full-time equivalent employees.
With respect to ease-of-access for patients and the concept of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), the area has a high degree of "Walkability" and is safe, comfortable and accommodating for pedestrians with a major bus route less than 100 metres away. There is also easy bicycle access and renovations would include the construction of a secure bicycle storage area to encourage use of non-carbon based transport.
Finally The Town of View Royal would receive increased tax revenues associated with the redevelopment.
Issues Related To The Development
Your staff has identified two major issues that need to be addressed:
- the number of legal parking spaces required for a medical office (five) and
- the need for a sprinkler system.
Parking Spaces
We commissioned an engineering firm (Richard J. Wey & Associates) to complete the BCLS required for the rezoning. At the same time we had them survey the specific elevations and distances relevant to the parking areas (See page 11). After review, with the removal of concrete planters fronting the building, there are potentially six legal parking spaces (see pages 24-29) in addition to a further two (non-conforming) stacked spaces in the driveway.
Sprinkler System
The addition of a sprinkler system will occur when the interior renovations are made. It will likely also include the necessity of changing the diameter of the intake water pipe from the road. We would like to note that the installation of these sprinklers will add significant additional costs to the redevelopment (likely in excess of $35,000) and if possible without significantly affecting current timelines for the project, we would like to explore the necessity of these sprinklers given the structure's:
- small footprint
- being single story and
- inclusion of four points of egress (after renovation)
Geo Technical Information
As James Davison noted in a previous email, "I've received the appropriate geotechnical information from Ryzuk Geotechnical, the company contracted to do the work at the site. The letters specifically address your property. It essentially says that no further action will be necessary unless there is modification to the catchment. Due to the change in use and activity on the site we will require that a brief letter from a geotechnical engineer be submitted as a condition of the Development Permit, essentially indicating that the change in use will not have an impact." We have contacted Ryzuk and they will be producing this letter in the next few days.
Sincerely,
Jeff Sutherland Business Manager Sherri Hancock, M.D., Inc.
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