Letter dated February 7, 2023 from C. McDougald, Re: OCP Restart Plan

Re: DRAFT OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE – RESTART PLAN

I note some concerns with the ‘RESTART PLAN’:

1. How is that a document as important as this only becomes available four days prior to a meeting? That does not seem reasonable to me.
2. This project has been termed an update and further described as “not a major re-write”. It’s explained that the purpose is “to focus on a few key strategic areas including: housing, urban design, climate action, environment, transportation, economy, and First Nations reconciliation.” That is seven areas of focus and frankly, any project that includes housing has a direct effect on people and it will be deemed significant.
3. While taking part in the public consultation, I found myself wondering what exactly is getting changed. I was pleased to see today’s agenda item attachment of 95 pages which lists the changes. We had noticed that a whole section titled Implementation had been removed in the 2022 draft OCP when compared to the 2011 OCP. However, this is not mentioned in the 95 page attachment listing the changes. It makes me wonder what else might have been removed or changed but is not noted.
4. Accuracy of information used in the OCP Update Draft Last month, Mayor Tobias brought forward concerns regarding the Housing Needs Assessment Report. Unfortunately, the response was basically that concerns were not to be worried about. If a flawed report is used to update our OCP, I fear that the new OCP will be likewise flawed.
5. Inconsistencies are noted. Walkshop participants are numbered as 75 on the 3rd page of the 340 page document and then on page 246, walkshop participants are numbered at 42. It may sound nitpicky to mention this but it was an easy one for me to see and it makes me wonder what else is inconsistent or inaccurate.
6. Speaking of the walkshops, I took part in the following public consultation events:
   • Sept 21, 2021 noon – Admirals walkshop (meet at Rexall parking lot)
   • Sept 21, 2021 5:00 pm – Harbour walkshop (meet at Firehall back parking lot)
   • Sept 22, 2021 noon – Helmcken walkshop ( meet at VR Park entrance, Pheasant Lane)
   • Sept 23, 2021 noon – ‘Hospital’ walkshop (meet at parking lot at Helmcken Market)
   • Sept 24, 2021 5:00 pm – Casino walkshop (meet at Elements Casino parking lot)
   • Nov 24, 2021 noon –OCP workshop #2 on Zoom
   • Feb 2, 2022 noon – OCP Update Workshop 2

I was very keen to take part as I had lived here over a dozen years, plan to stay forever, and had heard from people that took part in the consultation for the 2011 OCP that they found it to be a positive experience. This looked like a good opportunity to take part in planning for our town’s future.

My enthusiasm waned when I realized that the facilitators didn’t seem that interested in what myself or the other participants thought. It was more about telling us.

There weren’t maps to refer to despite requests of participants.

We asked them to consider the 23,000 cars travelling daily on Island Hwy… not to preclude building condos along the corridor but to take it into consideration because no one can turn left unless they go to the traffic light at Helmcken. This would bring more cars through the neighbourhood and the narrow streets are not designed for that volume. This was dismissed as irrelevant. I do see some vague mention in the draft about getting across Island Hwy but no mention of how to ensure infrastructure is adequate.

I listened to my neighbour who taught school for decades ask a thoughtful question about space for future schools … and be told something to the effect of, ‘that’s for the school board’. So much for the concept of Community.

I heard about the concept of a transition zone when I was on the ‘Hospital’ area walkshop. It was presented as ‘de facto’ but when we finally had some maps to look at, I saw that that is not the case. At any rate, it was a new term to me and I specifically asked, twice actually, if a transition zone was being planned to extend south of Island Highway into the Harbour District. The planner whom I asked would not give me an answer. In retrospect, I now know that since she would not say no, then in fact the answer was ‘yes’. She just wouldn’t tell me.

In the end, I felt like I had attended a series of sales pitches and I was not sold. It was a learning experience and somewhat pleasant to walk around sharing ideas with groups of people. But then I would later reflect and consider what I didn’t learn, such as what are we doing to help people who cannot afford housing? An employed single parent on a walkshop shared with me that they couldn’t afford a supposed affordable unit that was in a new development in View Royal at the time.

I even heard this comment from a planner: “I’ve got no skin in the game” and she explained that she lived elsewhere in the CRD. Wow. It does not matter where someone lives. I expect an employee of a municipality to have the best interests of the residents at the forefront of their work and attitude.

Given my experience with the public consultation so far, I do not feel optimistic about future public consultation, specifically noted in ‘Next Steps’ that there will be two staff-driven public open houses on the draft OCP update.

I want us to get this OCP right for our community. I have no comment at this time about what the town will look like in the future but let’s make a plan based on valid information and contextually informed public input. I know one thing – we have the best weather in Canada – therefore, no matter what is built here, it will be occupied. We need to find a balance between what is wanted and what is needed.

I am in favour of expending more time and funds to back up a few steps, get the foundation right, and then move forward with our OCP Update. Lets get it right. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.

I hope that we can move forward as a community to accomplish a valid and thoughtful Official Community Plan Update.

Sincerely,

Claire McDougald

291 View Royal Avenue