Correspondence from D. Lockyer re: OCP and Rezoning Application - 2401 Burnside Road West
Resident letter calling for a broad-based community review or referendum on the handyDART rezoning.
Rezoning Proposal 2401 Burnside Road West
To: Mayor and View Royal Council From: David Lockyer, 2337 Highland Road Date: May 8, 2018
I am a long term resident and I live near this property. Many of my neighbours are in the dark about the implications of this potential rezoning. Several have shown considerable surprise and expressed concern about the far reaching impact that this could have on their everyday lives.
This potential use could have irreversible negative effects on environment, traffic and future intercommunity transportation opportunities. The mere consideration of this seems to run contrary to the Town of View Royal’s philosophy and individual council member’s values and stated commitments to existing residents.
Many of us moved to View Royal because of the quality of life and View Royal’s vision to preserve and protect that. View Royal has in the past done great things to plan, reclaim and protect our nice environment. Many citizens have been involved in community wide consultations and neighbourhood gatherings to support council members and our mutual values. Consequently, many of us have relaxed, and perhaps become complacent in the understanding that Council will stand up and carry forward those values that are important to all of us. It is hard not to think of this proposal and link it with the Choices issue on virtually the same piece of property. Both are examples of very little consultation.
This rezoning proposal has the potential to affect thousands of residents and goes well beyond the 400 meter rezoning circle. Shouldn’t a concept of this far reaching magnitude be considered in a broad based community wide consultation? A referendum or a similar mechanism would inform the entire community and allow them to weigh in on the potential implications. Many of us would volunteer to network in our neighbourhoods to ensure that this proposal receives the broader community response.
Other communities have designated industrial areas to enable this type of use. BC transit has a similar facility in the Henry Eng industrial park in Langford. Why can’t these affiliated entities be housed together and share facilities in a large, properly zoned Industrial Park? This Handydart proposal belongs in a compatible industrial park, not a sensitive community park. Our small town shouldn’t be risking its environment by taking on non-compatible industry that have already outgrown other, larger jurisdictions. There are much better uses of the property that won’t jeopardize the quality of life of View Royal citizens.
We are asking that View Royal Council reflect on its policies, values and planning commitments to citizens. Respectfully, we request that Council embark on a broad based community review to inform our citizens and to receive their input to this rezoning application. Many of us would be willing to volunteer in a community forum to properly arrive at the best uses for this property. The process that was used in the Pistol Range reclamation could be considered as a model for moving forward.
Please let me know if there is anything that I can do as a citizen to assist View Royal Council in this property review.