Correspondence from Gordon + Jennifer Bryant regarding suggestions for remediation at park
A letter from local residents providing a list of 10 prioritized suggestions for remediating the 'Chilco Creek' protected area.
May 6, 2016
Mayor and Council, View Royal
Re: Suggestions for 'Remediation' of recently created 'no name' park /green space / Protected Area directly across road from 2422 - 2430 Lund Rd. (aka by neighbours as 'Chilco Creek' Protected Area). with View Royal signage as 'Protected Area')
Based upon recent communication with John Rogers, I have assembled this letter with map and photos with suggestions to start the process to address potential opportunities for complimenting and restoring the above Thetis Vale / Lund Rd. neighbourhood 'Protected Area', [See center +right sections labeled 'Park' [Part Two] plus also original Part One( labeled as 33 Plan VIP 76890) on following map.
Background: Part One of this protected area was dedicated as part of 2004 'Chilco Creek' development and has been signed as "Protected Area' by View Royal since 2006. No 'remediation' has ever been done, and was left with 'old rusty page wire fencing', 'left over property stuff' and 'invasive species". While signed as "Protected Area", unfortunately the signage was omitted at the old driveway access point, and some in the more extended Thetis Vale neighbourhood, not seeing the one 'Protected Area' sign, have used this 'Protected Area' increasingly and more recently as a 'garden compost dump' over past 10 years.
In 2011, as part of Limona 6 subdivision, Part Two was added, including a 'Gary Oak meadow', a 'First Nations cairn site', and 'other green space', from original 2429 (old) Chilco Rd. property. This now combined area has several issues that ideally should be addressed in a timely manner in the near future, assuming an overall aim 'to restore to at least a somewhat closer to original condition'.
Neighbours are aware, that as part of the Limona 6 development, the following is already planned, and will evolve in the coming year or two, between Limona and/or View Royal including: (a) both metal /wire and/or rail fencing around First Nations cairn site, (b)metal wire fencing on bolder rock walls on duplex lots. (c) Other?
Neighbourhood Suggestions
Neighbourhood Suggestions for remediation consideration, in order of priority, include:
Removal and/or filing-in / decommission of the old septic tank/cistern (partially above ground), left over from 2429 Chilco house property of 25+ years ago (A potential safety hazard for neighbourhood children (and wildlife).
Photo of the old partially above-ground septic tank/cistern Removal of remnants of old rusty page wire property line fencing, between Part One and Part Two. (Potential safety issue for children and wildlife.)
Topping of at least two dead trees, with hazardous dead trunks and branches extending over new Lund Rd. sidewalk. (Potential public safety issue.)
Photo of dead trees with trunks extending over the new sidewalk and street lamp Consider the best option for remaining portions of old asphalt driveway. (Development area portion of asphalt driveway section already removed by C-1 Contractors / Limona.)
Photo showing a remaining portion of the old asphalt driveway Remediation of invasive plants including scotch broom, non- native blackberries, and daphnia, especially in the Garry Oak meadow area.
Photo of the Garry Oak meadow area with invasive plant growth Removal of dumped garden compost waste piles of past 10 years along old driveway.
Addition of a second "Protected Area" sign strategically located at access point, plus additional educational 'outreach' to extended Thetis Vale Neighbourhood, as to availability of Canteen Rd. compost site.
Planting of additional native trees (e.g. Firs and/or Gary Oak etc) in now new open space directly below Duplex area rock walls, (and in old driveway IF asphalt remediated?), to provide for additional buffer, to reduce recent new TCH highway noise, and excess light from off-ramp TCH lights, etc created by Limona 6; and goal of providing for additional buffer between Limona 6 duplex lots and existing Lund Rd. residences.
Whether or not this 'Protected Area' will include any new trail access to CRD TCH # 1 trai,l we leave to your Parks Advisory committee and View Royal Parks Dept . Regardless, at minimum, a garbage can and dog bag dispenser will be now needed in this area, given addition of Lund Rd. sidewalk with mortared wall.
Concerns that two informal trails are already evolving, including the recent cutting down of a young maple tree (3" diameter trunk), by parties unknown to create a second trail.
In summary, we wish to be clear that existing natural growth of native plants and trees etc. DOES NOT need to be removed or remediated as this a thriving natural protected area, (although being compromised by some). Manual removal of man added 'stuff' and invasive species is the priority.
We appreciate that the above may take time and will need yet to be budgeted resources, to address over next couple of years plus; and offer the following points as part of the potential solution.
The above points, were originally provided as neighbourhood input at the March 15, 2011 View Royal Public hearing, on this Limona Group rezoning application on 2429 Chilco (now Lund Rd.). At the time, Mike Baier, representing Limona, assured neighbours and Council they would 'work with View Royal and neighbours to address these issues as part of the Limona 6 development'. We trust this offer still exists.
We believe that at least some of this work could be done as a 'View Royal lead co-ordinated neighbourhood volunteer work party'; especially related to invasive species removal. Various neighbours are receptive to doing 'short term invasive species removal' volunteer work, specifically in own immediate neighbourhood.
While secondary, it is our observation, that while View Royal Planning Dept. requires very detailed landscape plans (e.g. location for each specific identified plant on a duplex lot); there would seem to be no proactive planning related to new and added park/green space/protected areas, added as a result of rezoning + development. (E.g. We can find no specific reference to this situation or to this specific park / green space /protected in recent View Royal Parks Master Plan documents.)
We trust these suggestions are of assistance to your Parks Advisory committee and Parks Dept. We would happy to clarify any of these points, as and when considered, realizing this may take year or two to complete. In summary, we believe this is an opportune time to present these suggestions, now that sidewalk and retaining wall is complete, and Limona 6 houses are starting to be built.
Gordon + Jennifer Bryant
2422 Lund Rd. Victoria BC V9B 6V5
cc:
- Lorraine Mainwaring + Janice Edwards, 37 Cahilty Lane
- Ted and Wendy Turner, 24 Cahilty Lane
- Vernice Shostal, 35 Cahilty Lane
- Dave + Janna Butterman, 35 Cahilty Lane
- Edmond Duggan + Anna Fodchuk, 2428 Lund Rd.
Cc Mike Baier – Limona Group / John Rogers (also by direct email)
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