The City of Victoria is seeking feedback on the new draft of the Victoria West Neighbourhood Plan B次元官网网址� which includes a new urban village, densification, and community gardens B次元官网网址� to focus development and planning for the next 25 years.
So far, that feedback has been mixed.
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Changes to urban villages B次元官网网址� upgrading existing ones, and creating a new one at Catherine and Edward streets B次元官网网址� form a significant part of the plan, as does increasing housing stock around them. The city conducted a series of open houses this month on the draft plan that concluded earlier this week.
Justine Semmens, president of the Victoria West Community Association, said sheB次元官网网址檚 curious to see how the plan unfolds, but sheB次元官网网址檚 heard some concerns from the community.
B次元官网网址淲hile they donB次元官网网址檛 resist the idea of densification, they are concerned about what that will do to the area that has a lot of heritage homes,B次元官网网址� she said, referring to streets like Skinner, with several early 20th century homes, that may be targeted for densification. B次元官网网址淭here are some people who would just like [some] clarification.B次元官网网址�
Proposals in the draft plan include increasing available housing stock and businesses, allowing legal suites in existing homes, and improvements to bike and pedestrian trails, and parks. The plan also calls for increased access to , including adding edible landscaping to public greens along Catherine and Wilson streets, community orchards at Hereward and Triangle Parks, and requiring new community gardens at Tyee Co-op, Pioneer Co-op and Bayview Lands.
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On the urban village proposed for Catherine/Edward streets, Semmens said it makes sense as the neighbourhood has B次元官网网址渙rganicallyB次元官网网址� formed a community around Oceanic Market.
B次元官网网址淚f you talk to residents whoB次元官网网址檝e lived in Vic West their entire lives, they remember their parents shopping there 20 years ago; itB次元官网网址檚 been a focal point, a centre for the community,B次元官网网址� she said. The market was recently purchased by a local resident who is turning the business into a high-end market.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not that thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing there right now B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 a kernel that just needs to be cared for and nurtured. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a gathering point for a long time,B次元官网网址� Semmens said.
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Changes are also proposed for the existing Craigflower and Westside Villages.
The draft plan would see densification focused around these areas. Three- or four-storey apartment buildings along Craigflower Road and Skinner Street, heritage house conversions, townhomes, and B次元官网网址渉ouseplexesB次元官网网址� are some options.
For Westside Village, there could be buildings up to six-storeys for housing and business,with street-facing shopfronts.
Semmens said sheB次元官网网址檇 also like to see more in the plan about traffic calming on side streets, including Dominion and Hereward roads, and Front, Catherine and Rothwell streets, which commuters are using more as thoroughfares.
B次元官网网址淭alking to people that live on those streets B次元官网网址� and IB次元官网网址檒l be honest, I live on one of those streets B次元官网网址� people are seeing more traffic,B次元官网网址� she said.
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The city is accepting feedback on the plan through next week, including an until Sept. 25.
More information on the plan can be found on the cityB次元官网网址檚 .
