Council unanimous in downzoning marina site
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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Responses to this Headline or Article
The five most recent replies to VibrantVictoria.ca's discussion forum's [Vic West] Victoria International Marina | Proposed thread, the most relevant thread to the above headline or article:
dasmo
Apr 12, 2012 at 1:25 pmMarina-man, Sounds like a brutal bureaucratic minefield to navigate...You most certainly have my sympathies there. it took my late father four years just to get a building permit once... I think having kayak / small vessel integration of some sort would go a long way into better community integration. It would benefit the yacht owners as well. This way they can take their Whitehall Tyee's out for an evening spin with less hassle. Perhaps something integrated into the lower areas of the commercial buildings?
dasmo
Apr 12, 2012 at 1:57 pmMike, with maximum respect, please don't mischaracterize my words, this way I can stop posting in this darn thread in order to stick up for myself! I don't live in the Songhees, I didn't claim people in the Songhees are " the working man's neighborhood fighting gentrification". (Although I would find it surprising to meet someone there who has spent three times as much on their boat than their condo.)
I am tossing in my opinion on the project and how the mega yacht aspect of the marina does not offer much to the neighborhood, IMO. I think the commercial is a very welcome addition and a marina is a good fit there in general, it's too bad it's not (or can't) be one for us city dwellers.
Mike K.
Apr 12, 2012 at 2:51 pmQuote: I'm 65 and I have my condo in the Songhees and I can stroll down to my boat to work on it before taking it out in the spring.
I'm not sure what it is you may have meant when you wrote the above, but I took the above to mean you live in the Songhees.
With respect to my other comments, you asserted that "There is not one person in the Songhees with a 2 -20 million dollar Yacht waiting for a place to park it," to which I replied that there
You further asserted that the average income in Vic West is $75k and therefore this marina will not service the boats of any locals. But your numbers sidestep the obvious wealth within the Songhees neighbourhood where this marina will be built. Plenty of condos in the Songhees are valued in excess of $1-million and we can be certain that there are residents there with enough wealth to afford expensive vessels.
I mean no disrespect either, dasmo, I'm just responding to your statements as I interpret them through my own point of view and knowledge of the Songhees neighbourhood :)
VicHockeyFan
Apr 12, 2012 at 3:01 pmQuote: (Although I would find it surprising to meet someone there who has spent three times as much on their boat than their condo.)
65'ers starting at $100k:
Lots of Songhees condos for over $1M
Bingo
Apr 12, 2012 at 8:54 pmI like the concept of this marina. However, as a former boater I would like to see more protection from the prevailing westerly winds that blow into the harbour. If you check out other locations in the harbour you will see that boats are tucked away out of the westerly winds such as at West Bay, and on the windward shore at Fishermans Wharf.
A rock breakwater to protect the wharves and reduce the swell will make this location more appealing to the yacht owners.
Quote: I'm not so sure this marina will cause many of the problems raised. In fact it will bring sorely needed commercial services to this part of Vic West and make good use of the shore.
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