View Royal has settled on a design and site plan for its new fire hall.
The projectB次元官网网址檚 architects and managers, along with View Royal fire Chief Paul Hurst, were at an open house in early April to explain features of the design to the public.
Hurst said that they took the concerns and ideas heard at the last public meeting, held Feb. 29, and made changes accordingly.
B次元官网网址淧eopleB次元官网网址檚 input is important. WeB次元官网网址檝e been listening to what people have been saying,B次元官网网址� Hurst said. B次元官网网址淚 want this project to be successful and I want the community to have a successful project.B次元官网网址�
Where the two-level building is situated on the 2.4 acre property at the 300-block of Island Highway has been altered to best utilize the site and improve traffic flow in and out.
It has been oriented to face Island Highway, directly across from Burnett Road, to improve access to the property.
Traffic has been a concern of nearby residents throughout the design process. To address this, one entrance to the site has been removed from the design to reduce traffic turning on and off Island Highway.
Public and staff parking will use one exit, while volunteer firefighters will use another entrance closer to truck bays. There will be separate access for fire trucks.
Noise has been given special attention, and a sound engineer went so far as to measure sound levels on the site. The building is set in the lowest part of the bowl-shaped property. The bank behind the site will be sloped in such a way that sound will bounce upwards, rather then reflected toward the road or toward houses behind the site.
B次元官网网址淚f you canB次元官网网址檛 see the source, you wonB次元官网网址檛 hear it as much,B次元官网网址� Adam Fawkes, architect and senior partner with Hughes Condon Marler Architects said. B次元官网网址�(Sound) is greatly muffled and reduced if you canB次元官网网址檛 see it.B次元官网网址�
Landscaping will be designed to also reduce noise and will use plants that absorb sound.
Unlike a proposed firehall training facility in Langford, Hurst said that any training that goes on at the new View Royal fire hall will have minimal noise for neighbours.
B次元官网网址淭hose are two very different scenarios,B次元官网网址� Hurst said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a hot-button issue with some of the residents and I want make sure that itB次元官网网址檚 dealt with. IB次元官网网址檓 pretty confident this should solve it.B次元官网网址�
The building itself is of a West Coast design and incorporates wood features, along with dark brick.
The main truck bay is post and beam, with glass doors showcasing the trucks.
Equipment and firefightersB次元官网网址� facilities will be on one side of the building, while on the opposite side will be offices, a public entrance, the emergency operations centre and community training facilities.
Hurst said that now the design is complete a final price estimate should be reached within a matter of weeks. That amount then has to go to council for approval.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy so far with the outcome. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a long road but now hopefully weB次元官网网址檝e addressed the concerns of the neighbours.B次元官网网址�
View Royal plans to hold a referendum or counter petition process to seek public permission to borrow money to build the hall.
View Royal Mayor Graham Hill was at the open house and said that he likes what he sees.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 very well done,B次元官网网址� Hill said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 taken advantage of the public input, it reflects the nature of the area. ItB次元官网网址檚 been based on some good care and attention to money matters.B次元官网网址�
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