Email from M. & B. Soutar Re: Proposed Development at 7 Erskine Lane
Correspondence expressing concerns over pedestrian safety and lack of sidewalks for a proposed development.
From: Soutars Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 8:26 PM To: Info Address info@viewroyal.ca Subject: Proposed development at #7 Erskine Lane
Dear Mayor and Council,
We would like to express our concerns regarding the proposed development at #7 Erskine Lane. We recently attended the viewing of the development plans and were surprised to hear that there will not be a sidewalk beside #14 Erskine Lane as was indicated by council candidates we spoke to during the last municipal election. Anyone who has to navigate Erskine Lane knows that it is a dangerous road for both vehicles and pedestrians in its current configuration. BUT add to this a major development bringing in more people and vehicles, it will become even more dangerous. When we prepare to drive out of the entrance to #14 onto Erskine Lane, we are actually “taking our lives in our hands” on many occasions because of the speed of vehicles coming down the hill to go to the properties at the end of the lane. In addition, my grandson—who lives with us—takes the bus from VGH to Camosun College so he must walk up the side of Erskine Lane to get to Watkiss Way and eventually to Hospital Way. He has on several occasions had to jump out of the way of vehicles speeding over the top of the hill. Even if we can traverse this section of the road by walking on the grass beside our complex, we have to cross over Erskine Lane at some point with vehicles coming from both directions—around bends and up or down the hill. In this era of governments at all levels encouraging everyone to use public transportation, surely it is more appropriate for View Royal to facilitate the many seniors in this area to be able to safely get to and from bus stops.
THE ONLY FEASIBLE AND SAFE RESOLUTION TO THIS WOULD BE A SIDEWALK ON THE EVEN SIDE OF ERSKINE LANE (not the ODD) by using the easement that View Royal already has from #14 property.
In addition to the above concerns, it has been suggested that the provision of on-street parking for residents of #14 Erskine Lane will have to be discontinued. Obviously when the developers of #14 were given planning permission to build, they must have been given some form of exemption from providing sufficient parking since VIEW ROYAL provided the permits for on-street parking. Surely it is now appropriate for View Royal to follow through and either leave the current on-street parking available, OR provide equivalent parking—perhaps a special parking lot at the bottom of Erskine Lane or equivalent.
Thank you in advance for considering the concerns of long time residents of #14 Erskine Lane.
Sincerely,
Myrna & Bert Soutar #67-14 Erskine Lane