ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 newest seaside community welcomed its first residents last week.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e pretty excited, thereB次元官网网址檚 so much happening,B次元官网网址� said Ben Mycroft, Royal Bay project director.

But while amenities for those residents continue to be added to the site, developers are also looking to offer more to neighbouring residents.

B次元官网网址淲e focus a lot on the public realm,B次元官网网址� he noted, as crews continued to make improvements to Latoria Boulevard. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 neat to start to see the integration with surrounding neighbourhoods.B次元官网网址� Mycroft added that he is increasingly seeing neighbouring residents out walking their dogs or going for a run through the site.

The entire Royal Bay project is designed to eventually become a series of inter-connected communities. All of those mini communities will share a certain walkability, with all homes within a five-minute walk from a park.

With 2,300 homes planned to house approximately 7,000 people, thatB次元官网网址檚 a lot of park space. Mycroft said roughly 25 per cent of the site B次元官网网址� approximately 100 acres B次元官网网址� is earmarked for parks and it was a significant part of the site design. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a real focus for the development.B次元官网网址�

With its own master plan that has been adopted by Colwood council, Royal Bay will take an estimated 20 years to fully build out. B次元官网网址淔or Victoria thatB次元官网网址檚 the reality of how fast you can build homes,B次元官网网址� Mycroft said, noting it is also a nice, measured pace for Colwood residents. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e here for the long haul,B次元官网网址� he added.

But itB次元官网网址檚 not just houses that are popping up on the current landscape. While the site spent 100 years as a gravel pit, the developers are working hard to introduce new ecosystems and restore some natural elements.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very proud of Meadow Park B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 the first park weB次元官网网址檝e built,B次元官网网址� Mycroft said of the new green space, visible from Latoria Boulevard. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e invested in this beautiful park thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be an asset to all Colwood residents.B次元官网网址�

A blue construction fence is keeping onlookers from entering the space while the last few finishing touches are made.

But residents can clearly see that the manicured, urban-style space also incorporates wood elements in a naturalized play park. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 an old growth stump that has been carved into a play feature,B次元官网网址� Mycroft noted.

The park also features a storm channel that connects with MurrayB次元官网网址檚 Pond. While the rock bed is dry in the summer months, it will flood during stormy weather.

Landscaping in the park is also a step in a new direction. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e introduced a Garry oak ecosystem,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 quite rare; itB次元官网网址檚 a threatened ecosystem in the Victoria area.B次元官网网址�

A similar landscaping design is also featured along the siteB次元官网网址檚 main road, Latoria Boulevard, which will eventually connect directly to the new Royal Bay Beach Park, scheduled to open on Sept. 10. That beach access may just be the siteB次元官网网址檚 best kept secret. The roughly 1.3 kilometres of waterfront used to provide the main access to the siteB次元官网网址檚 mine. In more recent years, it has seen its fair share of grad parties as public access was limited. That is all set to change next month.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very important to us to provide access for not just future Royal Bay residents, but all Colwood residents,B次元官网网址� Mycroft said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool that weB次元官网网址檙e able to provide this new amenity.B次元官网网址�

Less than a kilometre away from Esquimalt Lagoon, the park has been a priority for the development and the plan is to B次元官网网址渕ake it an exciting and vibrant recreational venue.B次元官网网址�

More details on the Beach Park will be released closer to the grand opening. In the meantime, Mycroft said, the goal is B次元官网网址渞e-connecting to other parts of Colwood.B次元官网网址�

Part of that means minimizing some of the negatives that go along with construction.

B次元官网网址淲e go to great lengths to keep all of our neighbours happy,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧urely out of respect for our neighbours, we require our contractors to use non-disturbing backup indicators.B次元官网网址� He noted they also invest heavily in dust suppression measures.

While those water trucks make regular appearances travelling on Latoria Boulevard, itB次元官网网址檚 also hard to miss the site of the future Neighbourhood House.

B次元官网网址淭he idea behind the Neighbourhood House is to provide a sense of place for Royal Bay,B次元官网网址� Mycroft said. B次元官网网址淭he residents weB次元官网网址檝e talked to have expressed real excitement.B次元官网网址�

The building itself is meant to be an icon on the Royal Bay landscape, both in design and by offering a number of amenities for residents including a cafe, recreational space and areas for families to use for events. Construction is expected to begin this fall and be completed by the end of 2017.

With more homes taking shape on the massive property, itB次元官网网址檚 definitely getting harder to see the old gravel pit.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com