Correspondence from Olivia Young regarding Eagles Nest Proposal
Saanich resident letter expressing concern over the size of the development and existing bottleneck traffic issues.
Eagles Nest - Proposal
From: Olivia Young
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2019 1:11 PM
To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca; council@saanich.ca
Cc: Olivia Young; Cam Stanfield
Subject: Eagles Nest - Proposal
Good Afternoon Mayor and Council,
My name is Olivia Young, and I am a Saanich resident at 3953 Helen Rd. I live with my husband and son, in a house and property that has been owned since 1973 by my husband's family and we now own and reside. My son attends Strawberry Vale Elementary. We love where we live and are proud of the neighbourhood and enjoy being home.
Back in May, I had received a postcard in the mail regarding an open house for the proposed Eagles Nest development at Strawberry Vale Hall. I let a few neighbours' know, and family as well that live close by on Mildred Place and Burnside Rd West. None of the 7 I contacted, were aware or had received any notification of this development.
I went to the meeting with an open mind, but once I saw the massive huge development in the neighborhood we love and take pride in, it was very disappointing to say the least. My first concern is obviously the size. I am not sure this corner is suitable for the massive development. I have travelled this part of View Royal for most of my life, being that I grew up in the East Highlands. I can appreciate nothing stays the same but keeping this in mind, development is good but it must be good development, appropriate for the community in density not changing the scale, ambience or character of the area as per the OPC. It is purely too much.
Which leads me into the next point of our families concerns. I live and work downtown, with my family in Saanich. In the least, by the time I leave my house, drop off my son at school, park and get to my desk, MOST days, it is just under an hour. The fact that my son, is growing more independent and I don't have to leave my vehicle at drop off at school, has given me 10 minutes more to drive in. I understand that traffic can't be the only thing stopping this development, but I challenge Council, to drive the routes that us, which are stuck in traffic an hour each way to and from work, the stress of making to work in time as a working parent and return. I have raised these same concerns with Saanich for many years. And now, View Royal will potentially be adding to this with another close to 400 stalls. I leave my house at 7:45am and return at the end of the day most of the time by 5:30-6pm. It is clogged and congested no matter what. Traffic is already grid locked at times and hoping that will change by the end of the construction period is not responsible or realistic so if you can’t change the traffic infrastructure, the development needs to be tailored to have the least amount of impact on that infrastructure. Try going down to Eagle Creek on a Saturday afternoon to grab something quickly from the grocery store. It is a 45 minute drive there and back.
Please keep in mind, OCP wants our area to change but 248 apartments and 24 retail spaces have been added with no alternative housing options other than apartments offered to the market so our area has experienced great change in the last few years.
Please rethink the size of this development and do what is best for existing View Royal residents and bordering Saanich neighbours.
Which leads me to the last case and point of this email.
What are the plans to open up that bottlenecked corridor? Please don't say we have to wait until the McKenzie Interchange is complete, it is a very wearing and empty response.
Sincerely,
Olivia Young