Email dated February 5, 2023 from S. Presho, Re: OCP Restart Plan
Resident expressing major concerns regarding the OCP draft's impact on tree canopy and environment, particularly in the Pallisier and Island Hwy areas.
From: Susan Presho Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2023 6:03:25 PM To: Sid Tobias mayortobias@viewroyal.ca; Ron Mattson RMattson@viewroyal.ca; John Rogers JRogers@viewroyal.ca; Damian Kowalewich DKowalewich@viewroyal.ca; Don Brown dbrown@viewroyal.ca; Alison MacKenzie amackenzie@viewroyal.ca; glemom@viewroyal.ca glemom@viewroyal.ca Subject: Fwd: Susan Presho of 285 Pallisier Ave. In response to the OCP restart point from staff tabled for the upcoming Council meeting, February 7, 2023.
Response Regarding OCP Draft Restart
February 5, 2023
To: View Royal Mayor and Council members
Response from Susan Presho 285 Pallisier ave Regarding the council meeting February 7, 2023 agenda topic; OCP draft restart.
Please publish and make available for other residents of View Royal in accordance with the normal procedures.
“Let’s design a future of View Royal by residents and for residents.”
I have a few MAJOR concerns regarding this OCP draft (update, tweak, amendment whatever you want to call it).
- The major question is as to the accuracy and validity of the contents, number discrepancies and numerous clerical faults of said report. It has been brought to the attention of council as to the validity and concerns, dated dec 14/21 by a resident, it was proven by the vote that the residents were against it in the municipal elections in Oct 22, resulting in the change of mayor. Why would staff propose to move forward with a report that is flawed and not supported by the community?
- Why is staff driving this discussion and decision when the community voted in a council to lead and impact change of this OCP? Who is leading this town?
- The overall impact and importance this present plan will have on the future of View Royal and the impact it will have on the environment, climate impact and the well being of present residents, the future generations of the residents and their families.
- What we do today will impact and eradicate what we have today. Trees which are decades, century old which we lose today are lost for 3-5 generations. These trees which help us provide oxygen for us, children, grandchildren and the generation after them. We need to think about this. We are surrounded by Langford and Victoria which have not kept this in their planning processes.
From a personal perspective as a Resident:
We moved here from Langford in July 2021. The reason we left Langford was that it hurt our hearts and souls as to what they were doing to the environment.
We came to VR because of the neighborhoods, the tree protection and seemed environmental commitment it seemed to have for the community and its residents.
In December 2021 we received the pamphlet by mail inviting the residents to a OCP update via a survey and then a zoom meeting. We did the survey and then attended the zoom meeting.
The presentation was pretty comical in its presentation with silly out of place questions which had no connections to housing or the OCP, for example “what is your favorite animal”. To me this mocked our intelligence and the importance of this plan. The other feeling we had during this presentation was this plan was a fait accompli, they were informing us about the plan but at the same time we had no clue as to where this area was within VR.
Following that meeting we met and talked with people within the neighborhood about the plan and came to realize the plan they were talking about was across the street from us. Pallisier and Island hwy between Stewart and just shortly past Beaumont including the community center.
This was very alarming and disheartening for us to hear as we had left Langford due to the devastation they have done there and now it was planned to happen again in front of us. It also proved to us that the whole transparency of this plan was a complete joke as none of the people living within this area were aware of this plan. Where was the residents' involvement and consultation in this?
We have come to see while living here now 1 1/2 years later…..
- We have a rich and diverse area in this community within Victoria
- There are important trees which house/ feed migrating birds each spring and fall.
- There are beautiful and vital old growth trees.
- We have wonderful neighbors who love the community and live in family homes, some multi family homes.
We voted against this OCP and few other issues concerning our community.
We implore of you on council to vote for a new start to the OCP with real and transparent involvement with the residents of View Royal.
To find the true needs of the community and its residents, a lot has changed over the past three years. We need to have an accurate document to plan for the next 5-10 years. Let’s not make the same mistakes that Langford has made. Let’s learn from communities that are getting it right.
We have already seen some pockets in View Royal that have and will be impacted in negative ways through too tight density (removal of old growth trees, transportation, road limits, medical access, amenities etc). I.E. ERSKINE LANE, BURNSIDE and HELMCKEN and ISLAND HIGHWAY with the three new complexes between Helmcken and Admirals road.
Do not let View Royal become another Langford. We can build, all the while saving trees and fulfill the needs of and for the residents.
Let’s STOP ……revisit, involve the residents in their specific areas and the overall picture of the town of View Royal with clear accurate, and meaningful information to think of the true long term future of View Royal and the environment we need to sustain for the residents.
Do what’s right for the community and the residents.
Susan Presho