Opposition Letter - Chantal Brasset (May 18, 2020)
A formal letter of opposition from Chantal and Bill Brasset detailing the negative impact the building would have on their home environment.
Town of View Royal
Development Services
May 18, 2020
To Mayor, Council, and Staff:
We just read the agenda for the meeting May 19, 2020, and the staff report on the development variance after coming across it on Facebook.
We are deeply saddened and confused to hear that staff is suggesting that the variance for 8 Eaton Ave. be approved. Confused because in the report staff said,
“Staff is concerned regarding the impact of the proposed accessory building on the adjacent neighbour. While there may be additional costs for the property owner to remove retaining walls to pull the proposed accessory building back from the lot line to meet setback requirements, this may be warranted in considering the concerns expressed by the neighbour.” (page 3)
Staff goes on to recommend granting the variance, without any reasons as to why it is a good idea.
While we recognize that the Carter’s are very popular in our neighbourhood, we hope that getting so many letters will not sway council’s opinion, especially since most “supporters” will not hear any noise. We doubt that they would be so supportive if a wall was being built on their property line so close to their front door.
This project really concerns just two neighbours, the Headen’s and us. For the Headen’s the project is in the back corner of their backyard, and they have decided that it won’t bother them. But a backyard is much different from a front/ side yard.
Every day, we will have to walk through a narrow walkway between the Carter’s workshop and our home as we enter or leave our house. Yes, there is currently a laurel hedge there. But how long will it survive with it losing sunlight? No hedge is forever. And if the overhang of the roof has to go into the hedge, the density of the hedge will be compromised. The hedge is already less dense closer to our home, since it gets less light. We will fear the day when the hedge is removed and we will be forced to look at the side of a building, within mere feet of our home.
Nothing is forever, and a building of that size could easily be repurposed one day into a mechanic’s garage, or into an Airbnb. New neighbours might have much different plans for the large workshop built so close to our home. It could turn into a nightmare for us.
My husband Bill is a nurse who often sleeps during the day, in a bedroom just past our front door. (Yes, there are three bedrooms on that side of our home, even if the Carter’s cannot see all of the windows). As a front-line caregiver he needs his sleep. I currently work from home as an essential worker in the healthcare field. Two of our young adult children currently live with us. We are in and out of that front door umpteen times a day.
We are asking council to think about how it would feel to have a wall put up in front of their front door.
We did not buy into a townhouse complex, or an apartment building. We bought a beautiful home on a beautiful street in a wonderful small lot neighbourhood. We are so thankful to be living here. We strongly believe, that our home will never be the same if this variance is approved.
Having a workshop within feet of our home, and so close to our door will affect the property value of our home. We consider this to be a dangerous precedent to set in our neighbourhood, if accessory buildings are built not regarding setbacks. Having a workshop with such variances on the property line of any home, and so close to one’s door and bedrooms will absolutely negatively affect the property value of any home. Yours too.
We urge council to not approve this variance permit, but to allow the Carter’s to build a smaller hobby shed respecting the setback bylaws that have been created by the Town of View Royal to protect homeowners and the ambiance of the community. 1.2m is already the bare minimum, but so necessary.
We have told the Carters of our concerns and opposition from day one (August 2019). Recently Troy came over with their support letter, asking us to sign it, instead I walked over to his property with him, and had him go over the plan with me again. If we were in support, they told us that they wouldn’t have needed to have the survey done. So they obviously knew that we were not supporting this variance. With something like this, the only letters of support that have any value or relevance are from those immediate next-door neighbours. Us.
Council members, ask yourselves… would you like it if your neighbour was to build an accessory building on your property line with these requested variances, and so close to your front door? We love our home and strongly believe that it is in our neighbourhood’s best interest to not set this precedent by approving this variance.
Thank-you for considering our needs. Please do not approve the requested variances.
Chantal and Bill Brasset.
10 Eaton Ave. Victoria, BC V8Z 5E1
250-888-3148 chantalbrasset@gmail.com
