Community concerns

Submitted by the James Bay Neighbourhood Association

The November 2014 James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) meeting provided a rare opportunity for residents to discuss issues which were unrelated to a specific land use application. There were no development applications for consideration.

The initial discussion on Streets and Sidewalks was presented by Nick Armstrong and Alexander Angus from the Transportation Planning Unit of the City of Victoria.

A proposed new sidewalkfor Montreal Street on the east side of the block between Niagara and Dallas Road is currently in the concept discussion phase.Work on this project is scheduled for 2015. Although the proposal may impact the street-parking practices of residents in the large apartment building in that block, neither residents nor owners of the building acknowledged the notification or attended the evening's presentation. Residents noted the improved pedestrian access afforded by the sidewalk/curb installation further up Montreal, and anticipate that the narrowing of this section of roadway will further calm traffic. Near-by residents suggested that a four-way stop at the corner of Niagara and Montreal Streets or one-way street designation could provide further calming. A suggestion that the boulevard be converted to a community garden was also raised.

At the request of the JBNA, the City has assessed the need for bike stands in James Bay. A new bike rack is scheduled for installation on the south-side of the Menzies/Simcoe corner (to the west of Pharmasave) early in 2015. Suggestions for other potential locations for bike stands in James Bay should be made directly to Victoria City Planning or to the JBNA. The recently installed bike stand on the sidewalk on Belleville by the Steamship Terminal building was discussed as an impediment to pedestrian traffic which needs to be relocated.

The traffic signal at Government and Superior is one of the 2015 scheduled intersection improvements; a new traffic signal will replace the existing hanging one.

Repairs and improvements are also scheduled for the BC Transit bus parking bays on the east side of the Legislature on Government Street.

More changes and improvements involving the roadway around Capital Park are anticipated. Changes are under discussion and will likely involve cost share. Increased traffic and delays caused by left turns into Capital Park parking will all have to be addressed.

The timing of the left turn signal at Superior/Douglas was noted and may need to be increased.

The concept of a mid-block crosswalk at Fisherman’s Wharf Park will be developed in 2015. The concept plan will be brought back to the JBNA prior to implementation in 2016. Discussions ensued regarding possible alternate crosswalk sites. Difficulties with street crossing at the Erie/Dallas corner, the Superior/St Lawrence intersection and the Michigan/St Lawrence t-junction were all identified. The need for a four-way stop at Oswego and Simcoe was also raised.

Ogden Point: Issues and Opportunities

Tom Coyle led a brief discussion regarding the potential of Ogden Point. Tom provided a brief outline of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) purpose as per the Society Act, GVHA vision, mandate & guiding principles, and the GVHA point master plan themes.

GVHA master plan - GVHA requested that the City put any consideration of rezoning in abeyance. The request has been renewed several times since 2005/06, and no master plan proposal has been submitted. Transport Canada placed constraints on the site when the land was transferred to GVHA.

A 2012 report commissioned by GVHA suggested a number of sustainable and cleaner services with less impact on the community than cruise ships. The MasterPlan does not seem to have progressed since 2012. (UPDATE: GVHA recently announced it has retained the services of another consulting group, Stantec, to 'complete' the Ogden Point Master Plan.)

The level of disruption to the community has already exceeded the maximum. Regardless of future development at Ogden Point, there should be no increase in traffic and pollution. Measurement of levels of traffic and environmental impacts should be a standard component of GVHA operations. The City should have ensured that all impacts were measured and managed, but did not. Performance based zoning might address this. Alternate uses of the Ogden Point site should be considered. It was noted that the Coast Guard does all manner of work that doesn’t impact the community.

Community/Neighbour Concerns:

People not maintaining their shrubs along sidewalks, makes it difficult to navigate sidewalks when shrubbery encroach walk ways, combined with telephone polls on sidewalks makes it very challenging and can be dangerous as can be forced to walk on road.

Christmas in James Bay

Santa arrives, via tugboat at Ogden point on Saturday, December 6. The Warm-Up event begins at 3 pm and Santa arrives at 3:30 followed by the Christmas Tree light-up at 4 pm. 

The lighted truck parademarshalling begins at 3:45 with the parade starting from Ogden Point at 5:45.

The Dickens Fair also occurs on Saturday, December 6 between 10am and 5pm at the James Bay Community School.

Municipal Election

Congratulations to the new mayor and to the returning and newly elected councillors. The JBNA all-candidates forum was well attended with over 200 in attendance. Seven Mayoral candidates and over 20 candidates for Councilor participated.

James Bay is home to two of the twelve City Polling stations on the day of the election. On average, 34.5% of eligible James Bay voters cast their ballots at the New Horizons and Community School polling stations on November 15. This compares to a City wide election day average turn-out of 33.7% at polling stations. Cook Street Village and Oaklands polling stations saw the highest turnouts of 48.9% and 45.8%. Overall, with advance and mail ballots, 39.1% of those eligible voted in the City of Victoria Municipal Election.

Mayor-elect Lisa Helpshas informed us that the Neighbourhood Councillor assignments will be made in a few weeks time.

Join Us in December and January

Wednesday, December 10 General Meeting.

All welcome, 7pm-9pm, 234 Menzies (New Horizons)

Do you share the vision of the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) which would like to place a library facility in James Bay at the Menzies-Superior corner of Capital Park?  Lynne Jordan, Deputy CEO, GVPL, will share early thoughts and seek input from residents.  

Have you thought about ways that James Bay residents could contribute to the vibrancy of downtown, and how downtown could interface in a more collaborative way with residents? Ken Kelly, General Manager, Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) will introduce James Bay residents to the DVBA and its initiatives. Nibble on Christmas treats while providing your thoughts on these topics at the December JBNA General Meeting.

Looking ahead:

Lisa Helps will introduce herself as Mayor of Victoria to James Bay residents at the February 11, 2015 General Meeting. Also early in the New Year Rob Jawl will be returning with further news on the development of Capital Park.  

Other topics for the first months of the year will be the City of Victoria way-finding project, Michigan Allotment Garden Re-location, and GVHA's Fisherman's Wharf Commercial Mix.

The agenda for the January 14 JBNA General Meeting will be posted on the JBNA website at in early January.