Notes on Nov 30, 2004 Neighbourhood Meeting at St. Alban's Church - by Kathy Cook
Background
On Tuesday, November 30, neighbourhood residents met with city staff to discuss the City of Victoria's plans for 1439 Ryan St.
Last summer Victoria City Council approved a Greenways Plan for the City. It is an ambitious 50 year program that is intended to link major streets, park systems, waterfront and open spaces throughout the city. One way the City is proposing to fund the Greenways program is to sell some of the properties that it has acquired over the years. 1436 Ryan St. has been listed as a property that could be sold. The assessed value of the property is $176,000
Proposal by the City for 1436 Ryan St.
This lot is a 60 by 120 foot lot located on the north side of Ryan St, at the top of Ryan St. hill. City staff recently had this property surveyed, with the purpose of determining its suitability for sale as R1 residential development. This lot is a very steeply sloping rock outcrop, with mature Gary Oak trees.
In order to protect the Gary Oak trees and also put a residential dwelling on the lot with the required set-backs from the lot line, the staff are proposing to extend the lot into the road allowance, by approximately 25-40 feet. They are also suggesting that a covenant be placed on the Gary Oak trees, so that the future owner/developer would not be permitted to remove the trees. With this proposed development plan, any residential dwelling placed on the lot would then be much closer to Ryan St. than any other existing dwelling.
Since the lot is already zoned R1 residential, the city can sell the lot without a re-zoning process. In order to extend the lot into the road allowance, a road closure process is required and is an opportunity for community input.
Concerns expressed by neighbourhood residents during public meeting:
· Loss of Gary Oaks during construction on the site (change in drainage, damage to the trees or root system)
· Ineffectiveness of covenant to truly protect the trees
· No consequences if covenant contravened
· Loss of view
· Loss of what is currently perceived as a public amenity
· Removal of more Gary Oaks
· Loss of sunlight by adjacent houses
· Unsightliness of having a house stuck out closer to Ryan St. than all other houses on Road
· Damage to other houses by blasting required to develop the site
· Ability of City to ask for extension into road allowance, not previously available to other land owners on the street
· Relatively little financial benefit to City by sale compared to loss of amenity value to neighbourhood
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