Correspondence: Letter from Ron Avis & Wendy Ouellet re: Bylaws 1674 & 1675 (April 27, 2017)

From

Ron Avis / Wendy Ouellet
3031 & 3041 Sooke Road
Victoria, BC V9B 5Y9
250-474-4471

April 27, 2017

To

City of Langford
2nd Floor – 877 Goldstream Ave.
Langford, BC V9B 2XB

Re:

File OCP17-0001 and Z17-0005

Bylaw 1674 and 1675

Dear Council,

I am writing in regards to the “Notice of Public Hearing” we received for an application to re-zone properties shown in Bylaw Map 1674 & 1675. The properties to be re-zoned along Sooke Rd and Woodruff Rd are directly next to our properties located at 3031 and 3041 Sooke Road.

Firstly, I would like to express that we are not necessarily opposed to the re-zoning but have some real concerns. We have lived on our property for over 26 years and worried about the impact an industrial/business park could have on the heavily treed, natural surroundings that we have enjoyed for so long an also the impact on Bilston Creek.

Here is a list of our concerns;

1) Reduction in Property Value

We have not had time to research this yet, we only received the “Notice of Public Hearing” letter on April 21st, 2017 and the meeting is scheduled for May 1st, 2017. But we feel that our residential property may be de-evaluated because of the noise, extra traffic and deforesting that a business park could do to our two properties worth. This is one of our biggest worries. We are self employed and are relying on our land to retain and/or grow its worth, to help us in our retirement.

2) Noise

We are really concerned about the noise that will occur during and/on completion of the business park. I am assuming there will continuous blasting, drilling, trucking and construction noise lasting for years. And once the construction is completed the noise will be replaced with noise that goes along with a commercial business park.

3) Bilston Creek / Environmental Impact

Yes, what about Bilston Creek, we thought the creek and our surrounding areas were part of the protected water shed area. (Again, we have not had time to do research on this). Is there going to be park area around the creek? Will the trees on and around the creek be left in place? We feel Bilston Creek is in jeopardy of being destroyed or its natural beauty greatly diminished. What about wildlife in and around the creek?

4) Rezoning Own Property

What are our options, if our residential property does face deflation because of the new business park, will we be able to subdivide or rezone our property to bring up its value again?

5) Request and/or Suggestions

a) We would like to ask if possible that Scaler Road (road allowance) which is directly adjacent and runs the full length of our property (3031 Sooke Road) be held as a buffer between the applicable properties. If this is something that can be done, we also would like to ask that the undeveloped Scaler Road allowance to remain in its natural treed state to help with noise and block the view into new business park.

b) Is there any chance of barrier wall between the new development and our property? For noise and privacy.

c) Sub-dividing / re-zoning our own property to help with possible decrease in value because of the new business park.

d) Is there a plan in place to protect Bilston Creek? Should the boundaries be set back even more for commercial business buildings? Are there going to be by-laws to protect the creek from contamination from industrial business’?

e) Restriction on heights on new commercial buildings, again for privacy?

Sincerely,

Ron Avis and Wendy Ouellet

Key facts