Correspondence from G. & L. Safranyik Re: 2401 Burnside Road W - handyDART Site

February 26, 2010

John Horgan, Premier, Province of BC, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC. V8V 1X4

Claire Trevena Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC. V8V 1X4

I am a voter residing in View Royal and I’m writing today to express my concern regarding the manner in which the Province has handled the land use decision for 2401 Burnside Rd W, View Royal, BC. The proposal to locate the BC Transit HandyDart Fleet Maintenance Facility on this site was rejected by The Town of View Royal. Overruling this decision does not respect the wishes of the citizens and is undemocratic.

Some issues:

• Community engagement was mandated by the Town however, no immediate residents were notified.
• The application stated that First Nations and Watershed Groups would be consulted. This didn’t happen.
• Craigflower Creek: salmon bearing waterway – no mitigation for the creek is present in the proposal. The only mitigation for run off of toxic fluids from the site to the creek is to plant trees. Will not work.
• The impact on residents; we get to enjoy a decline in our property value and air and noise pollution and traffic from a Fleet Maintenance Facility from 4:30AM to 11PM, 7 days a week.
• The talk of an electric bus fleet is just that, talk. Even with this in consideration, the run off of contaminants from 112 employee vehicles will compromise Craigflower Creek.
• The Victoria Bowmen have been outstanding stewards of this land. Not only for their use but for providing programming to hundreds of kids in cooperation with Saanich and West Shore Parks. After over a year of looking for a new location, none have been adequate for either location or safety to date. This club is at great risk from no longer existing after decades of contributing to the community.
• No real appreciation for the volume of Galloping Goose traffic and impact of rider safety, particularly with the introduction of the second exit on Watkiss Way which was not presented to CRD but was to the Town of View Royal.
• Too close to Eagle View Elementary and Our Place Transitional Recover Centre.

What we know:

• The CRD Assessment and Watershed Management Plan for Craigflower Creek was established in cooperation with the Town of View Royal, The Highlands, Saanich Langford, CRD Parks, CRD Environment, Provincial Capital Commission and DFO. What was agreed upon was to prohibit building on Flood Plains and no Building in storm water retention areas.
• The topography/drainage of 2401 Burnside Rd W is by design, by the province, post highway upgrade in the 90's. Not only to ensure there is adequate filtration of contaminants to the creek but to also mitigate flooding as a result of climate change for the surrounding community.
• Bill C-68 has been passed into Law which enhances federally regulated fish and fish habitats. To be specific, “allow for better management of large and small projects impacting fish and fish habitat through a new permitting framework and codes of practice”. What steps have been taken to ensure this new law is being followed?
• When there is a breach on the creek, it is the Town of View Royal and the residents who will be on the hook for the costs; both financially and environmentally.

This type of short sighted decision is, in part, what has led to the current climate crisis. The community is not in support of this decision or its imposition upon the neighbourhood without due process.

Sincerely,

Sylvie Ghanem PP Gina & Laszlo Safranyik 2319 Highland Rd, Victoria, BC V9B 6H9

cc - George Heyman, Minister of Environment ENV.minister@gov.bc.ca Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Resource Operations, Rural Development FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca Andrew Weaver, MLA Oak Bay-Gordon Head Andrew.Weaver.MLA@leg.bc.ca Adam Olsen, MLA Saanich North & the Islands) Adam.Olsen.MLA@leg.bc.ca Mitzi Dean, MLA Esquimalt-Metchosin Mitzi.Dean.MLA@leg.bc.ca