A marathon Public Hearing Tuesday night at City Hall resulted in council voting to downzone an Outer Harbour lot targeted for a mega-yacht marina.

Developer Bob Evans and WAM Development Group had planned to build a 52-slip marina and two one-storey buildings on shore but council, acting on the advice of planning staff, pre-empted an attempt at an application by rezoning the former industrial lands to a zone that would only permit a much smaller marina facility.

Council chambers were packed with spectators at the beginning of the five-hour meeting with a long list of citizens speaking to the Mayor and council on the pros and cons of the multi-million dollar facility.

Marina manager Lachlan MacLean told council of the results of an Environics poll showing the majority of Victorians favoured a marina after learning of the facility’s benefits. Stating that the developers have brought forth the proposal following City land use guidelines, MacLean touted the aesthetic and economic benefits the Songhees marina would provide.

Mayor Dean Fortin struggled to keep the speakers focused on the heart of the matter: the preservation of viewscapes and whether the use of the land fit the area. At times the hearing threatened to turn chaotic as members of the public insulted the developers, inappropriately questioned their business plan, cheered fellow anti-marina speakers and jeered marina supporters despite the Mayor’s repeated pleas to maintain a forum where the public can speak without intimidation. On several occasions the Mayor allowed speakers to veer off-topic regarding subjects like the drug and prostitution-buying habits of California yacht owners and line-by-line critiques of the financial feasibility of a mega marina.

Feisty former Victoria Mayor Peter Pollen gestures at a rendering of the proposed marina at Tuesday's Public Hearing. Photo by Robert Randall © VibrantVictoria.ca.

Former Mayor Peter Pollen lashed into the marina developers and their supporters saying “We shouldn’t respond to bullies”. Alluding to the five former mayors of Victoria who spoke out against the marina, Pollen downplayed the importance of threatening legal action, saying, “we got threatened with suing by bullies [in the past] when we were mayors.” Pollen dismissed claims made by the Chamber of Commerce that killing the marina would leave the City legally vulnerable, saying the Chamber “was what we used to call The Flat Earth Society.”

WAM's Lachlan MacLean is looking to help build a Songhees marina across from Fisherman's Wharf. Robert Randall photo © by VibrantVictoria.ca.

Marina supporters spoke about the safety, economic and aesthetic features a marina would provide, with some denying the docking facility would seriously interfere with kayakers or floatplane operations.

Councillor Pam Madoff warned the public that their plea to have the land turned into a park would have serious financial ramifications and said that any move to transform the valuable lot to a public park would have to be done through the Province.

Councilor Geoff Young voted for the downzoning but warned fellow councillors and the audience that a smaller marina would not satisfy the concerns of the critics in attendance who complained about the suitability of large yachts and interrupted views from the Westsong Walkway. A smaller marina would also likely omit some of the amenities offered in the larger version.

In the end, all seven councillors and the Mayor endorsed the downzoning plan. Councillor Sonya Chandler was absent.

The Victoria International Marina discussion thread covering the proposal can be found here on VibrantVictoria’s discussion forum.

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