Applicant's statement - Development Permit Request for 291 Kerwood Street boathouse

JC Scott & Anita Rydygier 291 Kerwood Street, View Royal, BC, V9B 1A2

December 7, 2014

To: Mayor David Screech and Council Town of View Royal, 45 View Royal Avenue, Victoria, BC, V9B 1A6

This letter is a request for a Development Permit to allow our existing boathouse to be granted a Licence of Occupation by the DND as part of the Esquimalt Harbour regularization process.

The boathouse is virtually as old as the home itself having been built in the 1960's and it is older than recent upgrades and renovations to the primary residence. The boathouse adds significantly to the use and enjoyment and therefore the value of our property. It is one of the reasons we purchased the property in 2008. The structure is sound and has been well maintained. The deck and piers required repair which was carried out in 2012 and which has been certified by a BC Licenced Structural P Eng.

The boathouse conforms to the OCP, to the zoning and more specifically to the guidelines worked out by the Town of View Royal and the Advisory Committee with respect to the 'Private Dock Guidelines for Federally-Controlled Portion of Esquimalt Harbour' relating to docks and boathouses in the Esquimalt Harbour.

The existing structure's economic impact as stated previously is that is adds to the value of the property and in fact was one of the selling points presented by the realtor. Use and enjoyment of the waterfront is important and the boathouse currently and previously has been used to store small water craft and to function as a waterfront studio / workshop. As we are both artist designers, we see this structure as being important to our careers in 'our retirement'. The structure is built entirely with safe materials and has virtually zero environmental impact due to its location above the high water mark but below where vegetation can thrive.

There are very few boathouse workshops in our region and yet if one were to study marine communities worldwide, one would find small craft storage and workshop / studios as a norm.

The boathouse originally housed a pottery studio so it has more than adequate electrical power which we confirmed as safe and to code by our electrician A. Slater when we purchased and renovated the primary residence on the property. No new services are required or requested.

As part of the harbour this boathouse adds to the ambient charm of the neighbourhood. During high school graduation season we sometimes use the boathouse to monitor potentially loud or rowdy behaviour in the public beach access. 'Lights on' in the boathouse seems to calm the festivities if they are too loud or partying very late at night.

As the roofline is well below all neighbouring homes and view lines, the boathouse has virtually zero impact on the neighbours, none of whom having expressed any concerns to date with the structure since we have owned the property. We thank you for considering our rationale and we are willing to answer any questions.

Yours truly,

JC Scott & Anita Rydygier