Correspondence from A. Whiting re: OCP and Rezoning Application - 2401 Burnside Road West
Detailed resident opposition to the handyDART facility citing noise, pollution, safety, and loss of greenspace.
From: Astrid at Synergenix Sent: May-11-18 7:07 AM To: Info Address; Engineering; Mayor And Council Email; View Royal Planning Subject: HandyDart Facility Proposal - Opposed
To the Mayor, Council and, other decision makers with regards to the HandyDart Facility Proposal.
Let the record show I am opposed to HandyDart having a bus depot, and fleet maintenance shop in our community.
I live 1 block from the proposed HandyDart site and will absolutely be impacted by it’s operations should this proposal be allowed.
I AM OPPOSED to this development for the following 5 reasons.
NOISE
Buses will be moving in and out of the Depot all day and night.
Every single time a bus comes and goes from the yard, back up beepers will pierce the rural air.
Back up beepers will be heard each time a bus is backed up, or repositioned in the yard, or moved in/out of the maintenance shop.
Back up beepers will be heard during each and every Pre-trip inspection that is done before a bus leaves the yard.
Given HandyDart’s hours of operation I can expect to be woken up too early by Beepers and engine noise, and kept awake well past bedtime by Beepers and engine noise.
The Fleet Maintenance shop will be constantly generating noise.
Power tools, forklifts beeping, large delivery trucks with their extra large engines air brakes and horns coming and going as they regularly deliver parts.
Heavy duty tow trucks will be creating more noise as they regularly tow in broken buses at all times of the day and night.
The Bus washing station on the grounds will be generating noise.
The maintenance of the physical buildings and grounds themselves will require other companies to come with their loud industrial trucks ie; Coast Environmental to remove oily sludge/water.
Commercial fueling trucks will be loud, beeping, and very regular as well.
Grounds keeping of the facility will involve commercial crews with pressure washing, and lawn mowing,
Regular generator testing and use will create even more noise.
AIR POLLUTION
Air quality will be adversely affected by the constant starting, and running of all the busses with their combustion engines.
Fumes of oils, gasoline, and paint will emanate from the grounds.
Staff vehicles, gasoline trucks, tow trucks, and other commercial grade trucks will create more gassy smells as they constantly come and go.
LIGHT POLLUTION
Bright lighting around the grounds of the Depot is essential for the safety of the people that work there.
Workers walk to and from their personal vehicles, to and from the buses they bring in and out, and to and from the building.
BC Transit takes safety very seriously and there will be a lot of light emanating from the grounds to keep employees safe.
SAFETY
Eagle View elementary school is 1 block from the proposed site.
The recent increase in vehicle traffic at the corner of West Burnside and Watkiss Way, has already prompted a new traffic light be installed.
The addition of HandyDart bus traffic, fueling vehicles, tow trucks, maintenance vehicles, and staff vehicles in this little area will increase traffic significantly.
This significant increase in traffic poses a safety hazard to the hundreds of our elementary school kids that walk to and from school 5 days a week.
Also, many people in our community have dogs and do multiple daily walks in this area. There are also those who just like to go for walks.
The Galloping Goose trail runs right alongside the proposed area and directly through the intersection of Watkiss Way and Burnside West.
Many cyclers, walkers, Mom’s with strollers, and joggers use this trail on a daily basis to commute, and enjoy. The Nest Cafe has become a destination spot for trail users to go to.
All of these people culminating at the intersection of Watkiss Way and Burnside West, would now have to contend with the considerable bus traffic.
The significant traffic increase is unsafe. Such a small rural area cannot support this type of traffic increase.
LOSS OF GREENSPACE
View Royal is a semi-rural area.
People who live here like the trees, like the fields, want to protect the nearby creek, and love to walk about their green community.
One farm has already dramatically impacted our green space by logging almost every tree on his property.
The new condo/townhouse development next to Eagle View elementary school has stripped us of even more green space.
We have lost so much green space already that the dear, owls, woodpeckers, racoons, lizards, and other wildlife that we enjoy seeing and living in harmony with are struggling for shelter and food.
The loss of green space has also resulted in a loss of sound barrier. Traffic noise is much louder now that so many acres of trees have been lost.
Losing the green space that the Bowmans utilize, would be devastating.
We need our green space.
IN CONCLUSION
No matter what BC Transit says they will do to mitigate concerns, the items I have listed above will be what our community has to endure.
How do I know? I work at BC Transit. Five days a week I see, and hear what goes on in a bus Depot.
I don’t want that 1 block from my rural home.
HandyDart is a very important service, and one that is vital to many people in Greater Victoria.
It does need a proper home.
A rural sub-division, next to an elementary school is the wrong place for a bus Depot.
The HandyDart Depot should be built and reside in a more industrial setting.
Please do not allow HandyDart to reside in our rural setting.
Respectfully,
Astrid Whiting
Kami Court, View Royal