2016 Nov Vol 16 Issue 4 Newsletter.pdf - Google Drive

Volume 16, Issue Three

November 2016

THE PISCES JOURNAL President’ Message This year brings lots of construction projects. The TCH/McKenzie Interchange, the Senior Care Facility at Gorge and Admirals and the possible re-development of Christie Point. In these developments there is a the weighing of the social need and the impact any development has on the environment. Change is never easy. The one aspect I believe we need to keep in perspective is there are those who cannot speak for themselves, namely the birds, the wildlife and the environment. Only we can provide them with a voice.

President George Blogg PISCES EXECUTIVE Address:

1121 Skeena Pl. Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1L8

E-Mail: Website: President : Vice Pres.:

[email protected] http://pisces.shawwebspace.ca George Blogg (250) 479-1877 David Farmer (250) 727-2808

Sec/Treas. :

Vicki Blogg

(250) 479-1877

Director:

Norman Bruce

(250) 472-7282

Director:

Eleanor Webster (250) 953-9987

Director:

Andrzej Nowak

(250) 661-4441

Membership: Dianne Webster (250) 953-9987 Mail to :

1141 Bute St. Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1L9

Our Society is interested in preserving the unique features of Portage Inlet and Colquitz Estuary areas. Membership is by donation and we appreciate your support and interest in this goal.

UPCOMING EVENTS— FREE PUBLIC LECTURES From Brant To Biodiversity: “Resurrection” of ” Victoria Bird Sanctuary …. The oldest Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Pacific Canada…. WHEN: Thursday December 8, 2016 ( 7PM) WHERE: Robert Bateman Centre, Steamship Terminal at 470 Belleville St. Victoria. For information : [email protected] or call (250) 360-3299 (See attached notice). Refreshments will be served Our Relationship to Nature and Storytelling on the Digital Age. WHEN: December 5, 2016 (7 PM to 8:30 PM) WHERE: David Lam Auditorium, at UVic HOSTED BY: The BC Protected Areas Research Forum

THE PISCES JOURNAL Volume 16, Issue Three

November 2016

Christie Point Re-Development

Christie Point apartments is a 15.8 acre rental housing site located in the Town of View Royal. The buildings were constructed in 1963 and provide 161 (2 and 3 bedroom) rental units. Realstar owns and manages 23,000 rental housing units across Canada and acquired this property in 2014. Realstar is currently contemplating redevelopment of the site to replace and increase the amount of rental housing at Christie Point. Realstar has met with our Executive and has given presentations to the Gorge Waterway Initiative (GWI), the View Royal Community Association and the Town of View Royal. In our initial meeting Realstars’ proposal was for 6 story high buildings and about 520 units (from 161). This was later modified to one 4 and 5 story high buildings along with 6 story building and two 9 story Towers in the centre. The last presentation given to the View Royal Council on November 8th was back to having all buildings 6 stories high with no change in density (520 units). This represents a 223% increase in number of units alone. Realstar indicated to View Royal Council their plan to submit an application within one month. At the View Royal presentation residents raised a number of issues to include but not limited to the following.        

The height of the buildings and hazard created for birds The density (number of units, people, cars) this project will generate Traffic issues getting out of and onto the Old Island Highway Parking issues, given Realstar is asking to have only one parking spot per unit Lighting and noise that will carry across the Bird Sanctuary Lights affecting migratory birds and disturbance to residents Loss of mature trees during development Lack of affordable housing (rents to be at “market”) and displacing people from the current units.

The Executive of PISCES has met with Realstar representatives on a number of occasions and completed a “walkabout” of this site. We have also talked to a number of residents and heard from residents surrounding this proposed development. PISCES believes this project needs to be considered very carefully and thoughtfully given it is in a Federally Designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Portage Inlet has been part of the Federally Designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary since 1923, established after the Migratory Bird Convention Act of 1917. In 2023 the Sanctuary is looking to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. In Portage Inlet we truly have a special jewel.


November 2016

CHRISTIE POINT REDEVELOPMENT—PART 2 The abundance and diversity of birds in this Migratory Bird Sanctuary is a result of being on the Pacific Flyway, a major migration route on the West Coast, and also because of the variety of habitats available. While some birds nest in these waters, the Sanctuary is MOST important for the habitat it provides to wintering and migrating birds, particularly waterfowl. Some of these species are considered threatened, and safe and healthy habitat for feeding, resting and mating are important. (Reference Gorge Waterway Initiative Info Sheet on “Wings Over The Gorge”-copy enclosed). According to the National Geographic News of April 17, 2003 , and many other related new articles like (www.learner.org/north/tm/Nights.html) and FLAP (Flight Light Awareness Project), lights at night mean trouble for birds. Navigating primarily by the stars, night migrating birds become disoriented by artificial lights. Light pollution threatens wildlife by disrupting biological rhythms and otherwise interfering with the behavior of nocturnal animals. Artificial lighting seems to be taking the largest toll on bird populations. Nocturnal birds use the moon and stars for navigation during their bi-annual migrations. When they fly through a brightly-lit area, they become disoriented. It’s not just lights on skyscrapers that can impact migrating birds—new research in The Condor: Ornithological Applications demonstrates that even ground-level artificial lights can affect birds passing overhead at night. Most birds migrate at night, and artificial light disrupts migrations in a variety of ways, throwing off birds’ natural navigation abilities and even attracting them to fatal collisions with buildings. From the proposals we heard at the View Royal Council presentation our concern for this project is still the height of the buildings and density, the lights that will result from these buildings, the lights required surrounding the property. We are concerned there will be a lot more people, pets, lights in the middle of a Migratory Bird Sanctuary (1923) and deemed a Nature Hood as of 2015. We leave you with this thought….. This is akin to putting a cruise ship in the middle of a Bird Sanctuary. It's not that we wouldn't expect birds to die from human activities, but it is our responsibility to minimize that mortality. We believe the proposed height and density of these buildings in this location is not appropriate given its proximity to this very important Federally Designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary. We could support a project with less density and height. We would like to hear your thoughts and urge you to help protect this very important Sanctuary. We will notify member residents when VR has this application before them and any Council dates. If we do not have your email address and you would like notification please email us and let us know at [email protected]


November 2016

]

TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE UPDATE The Interchange and construction has started. There will be construction slow downs and much change for us all. If you would like to keep updated as to what is happening now and over time here is the web link to find out information updates from MOTI. http://engage.gov.bc.ca/mckenzieinterchange/construction-updates/ The construction phase is always difficult as it means disruption to all of us for our every day commute, where we walk, where we cycle, how our streets look, the park disruption, and just our every day lives. This is the “messy phase”, everything getting ripped up and changed. What we need to focus on is what will the end result will give us and how can we get an improved environmental outcome for this area and hold the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure accountable for that outcome. We understand Cuthbert Holmes Park (CHP) is valuable to many people, including our Society, PISCES. We fought hard to retain CHP back when Council of the day wanted to place Tillicum Lodge (now Broadmead Lodge) in the center of CHP. During this current phase of TCH construction things look devastating, however, we hope with the removal of the invasive Hawthorne's we can replace this area with a more natural based planting and see an improvement for this area of the Park. The Ministry of Highways has committed $450,000 to Saanich and these are funds, we hope, will be committed to Park restoration in areas in need of it. This is an amazing Natural Area and perhaps through this funding, we can move forward on areas needing help and reclamation that Saanich could not afford or be able to provide the staff to do on its own.

We will continue to monitor MOTI as they proceed with their project and will continue to discuss with them their plans, the impact they have on Cuthbert Holmes park (CHP) and our neighbourhood safety. Our next meeting with MOTI is January 18, 2017. It appears the moving of the water main from the TCH to Portage Road is commencing in the near future. Also given the closure of inbound traffic from Admirals road onto Portage Road, now requiring residents to use Esson Road, this is a major change. We will be contacting the Ministry to again ask for a “deceleration lane “ from Admirals Road onto Esson Road as this is a greater than 90 degree turn and very dangerous with traffic leaving the TCH at great speeds (80 km). If you have any specific comments or concerns you would like us to take to our next meeting we would like to hear from you at [email protected]. If you are a member or on our TCH distribution list we will keep you updated.