Virgina Errick stands under a canopy of a Garry oak trees, and wonders whether the next generation will be able to enjoy this urban forest in the Gonzales neighbourhood.
A development permit with variances at 515 Foul Bay Rd., which borders Abkhazi Gardens, will come before council for public hearing this Thursday (Nov. 23). The Alpha Developments project would separate the panhandle lot into a bare land strata subdivision with four parcels, building three two-storey homes next to the existing early 1900s mansion, which was previously converted into five rental units.
While the neighbours arenB次元官网网址檛 particularly happy about the contemporary B次元官网网址渂oxB次元官网网址� design of the homes, losing 11 Garry oak trees is their greatest concern.
B次元官网网址淭hese trees arenB次元官网网址檛 coming back,B次元官网网址� Errick said, who lives on an adjacent property.
Garry oaks are very slow-growing, and these neighbourhood trees could be hundreds of years old, she said. Errick enjoys the woodlands on her property because it makes it feel like being in the country. Cutting the trees down would destroy the canopy and damage the ecosystem, she added.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not good for our environment, and itB次元官网网址檚 not good for the animals that live here. We have eagles and hawks and owls and deer. We need that space for animals to live here, as well as people.B次元官网网址�
The developers propose removing 19 trees, including 11 Garry oaks and one arbutus. To account for the loss of greenery, the developer proposes replacing the 12 mature, bylaw-protected trees with 24 young trees.
In addition to those at 515 Foul Bay Rd., up to 14 trees on neighbouring properties (four bylaw-protected) could also be damaged or destroyed through the construction process.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one thing to affect trees on your property, itB次元官网网址檚 quite another thing to be impacting trees on neighboursB次元官网网址� properties,B次元官网网址� said Karen Ayres, who lives on a bordering lot.
She is also concerned about the environment, the beauty, and the impact on the community. Ayres said the proposal violates the old Gonzales neighbourhood plan, as well as the new one currently being drafted.
While the developers say intended buyers would be families, Ayres doesnB次元官网网址檛 believe young families would be able to afford the homes, which could go from anywhere between $1 million to $6 million.
Another of the adjacent properties at Chadwick Place was recently developed in a similar manner, but according to Errick and Ayres, the residents are couples from out of province, not families.
B次元官网网址淚f you want to develop all of this, and housing is the number one priority at the expense of the trees, the canopy, the green space and the environment, then letB次元官网网址檚B次元官网网址ecide what is the best use of these large tracts of land. ItB次元官网网址檚 really about the trade-off, that youB次元官网网址檙e destroying all of that to house [a few] people,B次元官网网址� Ayres said.
B次元官网网址淥ur cityscape, and our neighbourhoods, are going to look totally different without our trees.B次元官网网址�
Both women said they are not opposed to development, even suggesting they would be fine if smaller houses were built on the lot, if more trees were protected.
But Fred Rohani of Alpha Developments said the plan protects many existing trees.
B次元官网网址淭his type of precedent where weB次元官网网址檙e saving an urban forest part of this property, where weB次元官网网址檙e saving numerous trees, and weB次元官网网址檙e planting numerous new trees, will add beauty to this property,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f you come in 10 years to this property when the new trees are all matured, this will look like an urban forest.B次元官网网址�
The proposal includes a covenant for tree protection to retain the trees in the area behind the large mansion and other parts of the property, a way Rohani said would achieve growth in these areas.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, the neighbours, they donB次元官网网址檛 want to see growth, they just want to maintain status quo,B次元官网网址� he said.
Even so, Errick and Ayers said they will be disappointed if the development goes through, and theyB次元官网网址檙e concerned it would set an undesirable precedent for further development in the area.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like I want to control the future, but we have to leave something for younger people, to say, this is Garry oak woodland. This is what itB次元官网网址檚 like. ItB次元官网网址檚 not just in the park, itB次元官网网址檚 not just in Oak Bay, itB次元官网网址檚 in Victoria too,B次元官网网址� Errick said.
