On the waterfront

Submitted by the James Bay Neighbourhood Association

An interested group of residents attended the October 2015 James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) meeting to get updates on waterfront projects scheduled for both sides of the James Bay peninsula.

Ogden Point Master Plan 2015 - 2016 – Vision Possibilities

Mark Crisp, Stantec (Community Planning & Design Consultant to GVHA) Project Manager for the Ogden Point Master Plan (OPMP) presented the current schedule and process for this complex project, initiated in 2007.

The functional facilities plan is scheduled for completion in November 2015, with the Master Planning Phase to be completed by December 2016.

Crisp discussed aspects of the engagement process involving the community. A questionnaire on the GVHA website links to a site which provides a feedback loop for comments, ideas, and concerns from the community, and indicates whether ideas can or cannot be incorporated into the Master Plan.

Crisp plans to recommend a regulatory approach to GVHA as a way for the City to deal with noise and traffic impacts. When certain levels of development changes take place at Ogden Point, a communications process should be triggered. It was pointed out that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in use at Fisherman's Wharf could be a more effective approach.

Crisp has not been given a mandate to examine the inclusion of sewage treatment at Ogden Point. If he is instructed to examine the issue, he has the confidence of previously planning and developing three sewage treatment plants in other locations. His team has the expertise to evaluate the impact of a sewage treatment plant on the master plan and on the site, as well as evaluating impact on community. No planning can happen until a firm proposal has been developed.

James Bay Food Gardening Outreach Services

JBNA has contracted with Kathryn Pankowski to provide gardening outreach services for James Bay. Kathryn will encourage food gardening in our community. In the next several months, she will update us on events which may be of interest to gardeners and coordinate information gathering for creating an inventory of food gardening activities in James Bay. Residents may be familiar with Kathryn through her role as a member of the core planning group for Victoria’s Seedy Saturday.

GVHA - Wastewater

Ogden Point remains in discussion as a possible site for part of a distributed wastewater treatment facility although a regional facility has been taken off the table. CRD reports on the Westside and Eastside combined sites are due on November 4, with the final report due December 2.  Consultation will follow shortly thereafter with final site selection early in 2016.  Mayor Helps stated “someone for CRD is actively engaged in [Ogden Point] MasterPlan”.

UPDATE: On Wednesday, October 21, the CRD Eastside committee discussed possible sewage configurations still under consideration. Ogden Point continues to be considered for a possible Eastside distributed system. More will be known at the end of November. JBNA has asked the Eastside consultant if they will be in a position to present at the December JBNA meeting.

Ogden Point as a Home Port

On several occasions, reference has been made to Ogden Point becoming a home port for smaller cruise-ships. Such a development would bring both challenges and opportunities for Victoria. Suppliers (if produce/supplies are island sourced), local hoteliers, restaurants,  and retail businesses would benefit. But significant impacts to the neighbourhood with increased delivery/reefer truck activity could also be expected. A thorough study, highlighting potential impact on James Bay, should be undertaken before any moves are made in this direction.

2016 season: The cruise-industry continues to grow. 2016 will see the largest cruise-ship ever in port at Ogden, a Royal Caribbean ship.

Crosswalk 

The City has installed a new crosswalk across Menzies Street on the south side of the Menzies-Michigan intersection.

There will be no November 2015 JBNA meeting. Don't forget the Remembrance Day Ceremonies at the Legislative Buildings.

Join us for the regular monthly meeting on December 9th!