Residents living along Church Road are expressing growing frustration with the District of SookeB次元官网网址檚 attempts to address concerns regarding the impact of ongoing construction on their properties.
The issues trace back to December 2023, when resident Jim Gerrie noted the onset of troubles with the installation of a new street light directly opposite their home at 2171 Church Rd.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still like a search light on our property,B次元官网网址� said his wife, Mary Gerrie.
The couple contacted District of Sooke staff, the mayor and council on multiple occasions about the street light and other concerns during the past five months, and waiting for solutions has caused a lot of emotional stress, Mary added.
B次元官网网址淗ow many people from the district does it take to change a light bulb?B次元官网网址� Jim wondered aloud.
Another primary concern is how the road work has left the couple with a steep gravel slope several feet high that prevents them from using their front gate.
B次元官网网址淭he only response weB次元官网网址檝e received is that theyB次元官网网址檙e going to put in dirt and grass and a couple of steps by the gate, and that doesnB次元官网网址檛 address our concerns,B次元官网网址� Jim said.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 70 and may need a wheelchair one day. Adding dirt and grass seed is not a solution, as far as weB次元官网网址檙e concerned. We need a retaining wall like the ones they put in on Charters Road, where thereB次元官网网址檚 much less of a rise.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Jeff Bateman went to the GerriesB次元官网网址� property on March 28. He outlined their concerns in a response to the couple and sent them to district staff.
B次元官网网址淚t seems like we had to go to the media before we got anything more than lip service,B次元官网网址� said Jim after Mary contacted the Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror last week. B次元官网网址淕oing to the paper was a last resort.B次元官网网址�
Pete Norton, who lives next door to Jim and Mary Gerrie, said the change in elevation for his driveway has left him with little room to manoeuvre his recreational trailer, and almost two feet of loose gravel has started to fall onto his lawn.
B次元官网网址淚 have a 34-foot long RV thatB次元官网网址檚 50 feet long with my tow vehicle, and getting in and out of my driveway was never a problem,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ow that theyB次元官网网址檝e reduced the turning circle, itB次元官网网址檚 a real problem getting in and out.B次元官网网址�
Norton is also frustrated by the lack of response. More than a month ago, an engineer from the district came out to assess the situation and told her that he wanted a fill put in so he could navigate his RV in and out. Norton said she offered no solution and that she was no longer with the district.
Norton and the Gerries stressed they have no issue with Hazelwood Construction Services, the company working on Church Road.
B次元官网网址淭he problems are with the design approved by the District of Sooke,B次元官网网址� Norton said.
Martin Trainor said the rise in the roadB次元官网网址檚 elevation at his property two doors down at 2177 Church Rd. has also adversely affected his driveway.
B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 see whatB次元官网网址檚 coming now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淕etting in and out is like running a gauntlet.B次元官网网址�
Trainor said none of the information residents received from the district before the work started showed how significantly the elevation of their driveways would change.
In an April 19 statement to the Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror, the District of Sooke said that Church Road is an active construction site; the district is aware of the concerns and is addressing them.
Staff has issued a change order to install a shield on the streetlight across from the GerriesB次元官网网址� house to block light from their property while maintaining road lighting for traffic safety and public security.
The district is pursuing a price from Hazelwood to install two steps from the public multi-use path to the gate between the two properties, which would provide a third access point from public to private property for the Gerries. The statement said the hinges on the gate may have to be altered to open inward.
Edges of driveways were built as per the engineered drawings, with edge slopes at 2:1 (horizontal: vertical) grade. The districtB次元官网网址檚 contractor has also built out their driveways beyond their existing widths to provide them with more space to get in and out. TheyB次元官网网址檝e been assured that the project is incomplete, and soil and grass will be placed to further grade and stabilize the slopes.
The slope fronting the property is also installed at a 2:1 grade and will have soil and grass placed over it to stabilize it. A 2:1 slope is typical for roadsides throughout the district and conforms to the engineering drawings.
The grading of the driveways was in the original plan and is required to match the elevation of their property to public property. These notices were delivered to residents before the project began without any feedback.
B次元官网网址淲e understand they can be difficult to read, so going forward, we are looking at how this can be improved,B次元官网网址� the statement noted.
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