A contentious project by Aragon Properties to dismantle a beloved Esquimalt neighbourhood park has the developer back at the drawing board.
Aragon plans to renovate the English Inn and build a 180-unit condo development on the adjacent property. With an influx of residents, a new fire access lane is required and the original plan meant demolishing Hither Green, home to a toddler playground, mature foliage and park benches, for a paved route. AragonB次元官网网址檚 design, voted down by council at a meeting last month, was presented as a mixed-use area to double as a B次元官网网址榩arkB次元官网网址� and provide access for emergency vehicles.
It was standing room only as residents of the neighbourhood surrounding Hither Green Park took to the microphone expressing their objections to council.
Scott Banister, who lives in the neighbourhood with his wife and family said the community is in favour of development, but not at the expense of their quality of life, a sentiment echoed by many who spoke.
Landscape architects presented three alternate plans to explain how they arrived at using the small green space along Bewdley Avenue. But residents called it bad planning on AragonB次元官网网址檚 part, asking them to instead use part of the grounds of the English Inn, the adjacent property they purchased.
B次元官网网址淢y twin brother and I spent many hours at that park [growing up],B次元官网网址� Luke Ishizaki said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 be very upset to see Hither Green Park get changed.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Beth Burton-Krahn was first to suggest that Aragon find an alternative route for a fire access lane. B次元官网网址淭his is a small park, itB次元官网网址檚 a neglected park, itB次元官网网址檚 forlorn,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淸But] itB次元官网网址檚 our park.B次元官网网址�
IshizakiB次元官网网址檚 mother and longtime Esquimalt resident, Lorraine Nygaard, gasped when council voted 5-2 to halt the projectB次元官网网址檚 current plan.
B次元官网网址淓veryone was deeply concerned within their hearts and within their own homes,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think council finally heard loud and clear.B次元官网网址�
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said this week that council is waiting to hear from Aragon regarding a new proposal.
