Did You Know?

Sep 2011

James Bay Neighbourhood Association

An on-going feature on land use & planning - to alert, inform, and prompt community action - and to celebrate success!

Councillor Lynn Hunter gave an upbeat report on the on-going business of the City to the August 2011 monthly meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA). The Dragon Boat Festival in the Inner Harbour and the unveiling of a sculptural play area at the Harrison Yacht Pond were of particular interest in August.

Her report also included:

- conversations on emergency preparedness with visitors from Nagoya, Japan,

- encouragement for residents' continued involvement in the Official Community Plan which is now scheduled for completion in early 2012.  Planning staff will spend dedicated time over the next 4 months to review public input into the Plan.  Website: Shapeyourfuture@victoria.ca

- Transport Canada has issued permits for the dismantling of the rail-bridge portion of the Johnson Street Bridge, scheduled to start in January 2012.

- CMHC has approved an infrastructure loan of $10.2 million to the City, decreasing long term borrowing costs for the bridge.

- In the subsequent Q&A period, Hunter stated that, although the City remains committed to  the E&N as part of a commuter rail link, the existing rail-bed is deficient. The Island Corridor Foundation has received assurance of Provincial Government funding for the rail service, contingent on Federal funding.  The new service will depart from Nanaimo in the morning and return up-island from the VIA rail station (relocated to VicWest) in the evening.

- A community member questioned city funding for a Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) study of emissions from cruise ships, proposing that the principle of 'polluter pay' should be practised. SO2 testing by the Ministry of Environment indicates that the majority of emissions occur as cruise ships arrive and leave Ogden Point. (Note: Following the meeting, an e-mail from Councillor Hunter clarified that the funding was for a GVHA shore-power study, not for emissions monitoring.)

Aerodrome - Floatplane Operation

Marg Gardiner stepped in, following scheduling changes, with an informative presentation showing the timeline of floatplane operations in Victoria.  The presentation also examined the GVHA re-zoning application on behalf of Harbour Air which proposes to lease a GVHA waterlot to use for expanded float plane operations.

- Did you know that at one time, the floatplanes landed in the Inner Harbour?  The 'runways' have moved westward as the Songhees area was developed.

- Did you know that Helijet operations moved from the Songhees to Ogden Point in 1986?

- Did you know that in 1989 there were approximately 5,313 floatplane movements per year - 38 daily scheduled floatplane flights and 19 scheduled helicopter flights daily?

- Did you know that Transport Canada reported a total of 44,185 aircraft movements by floatplanes and helicopters in 2007?

- Did you know that the maximum number of reported floatplane movements is 27 in an hour and 216 in one day?

- Did you know, that following airport certification with "draft regulations" and an altered traffic scheme to shift the runways west in April 2000, Transport Canada created a Noise Management and Air Quality Committee?  Have you seen any evidence of their work?

- Did you know that in 2009 a Victoria realtor actually included the caveat "without extreme noise and fumes of floatplanes" in a property listing?

- Did you know that the 2010 QualaTech Aero Consulting Report recommended replacing the expired and obsolete Transport Canada Risk Assessment for the Victoria Harbour Airport with an up-to-date Hazard and Risk Assessment?  The Report also raised questions about the current "coffin zoning" for take-off and landing areas for floatplanes.  Do you know what "coffin zoning" means?

Air quality studies have established the need for the monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) with attention to floatplane and helicopter emissions.  Impulse noise created by harbour aircraft is well above acceptable levels with no attempts at noise mitigation.

Who is paying attention and/or taking responsibility to address these quality of life problems?

- City of Victoria, as landlord to Harbour Air, with responsibility for planning and zoning under the Municipal Act?

- Transport Canada which is the Airport Operator?

- Tourism Victoria?  Chamber of Commerce?  CRD?

While floatplane operators benefit, residents bear the impacts of extreme noise, costs to health, and declining property values.  Residents also pay for the operation of the harbour airport through tax funding consumed by Transport Canada. 

The possibility of reduced floatplane movements to mitigate noise and air pollution in James Bay was dangled during campaigns in the 2008 municipal election.  Current Council support for floatplane expansion fails to meet those expectations.  Based on this record will candidates expect continued support in the November 2011 municipal election?

Brian Scarfe presented an Overview of JBNA Priorities:

- build a stronger/better working relationship with the GVHA,

- work on environmental impact mitigation,

- work on VOC monitoring & the mitigation of floatplane noise,

- increase awareness of SO2 emission levels and Lmax levels,

- improve pedestrian safety,

- work with BC Transit to improve services in James Bay,

- work with City to more effectively plan for & mitigate impact of special events in James Bay.

NOTE: The 2011-12 JBNA Board Priorities are posted at www.jbna.org Organization page.

BC Transit - In the absence of a BC Transit representative, JBNA-VP Tom Coyle discussed the recommendations resulting from consultations with James Bay residents:

- priorities: frequency/coverage/focus on 5-Corners/smaller buses preferred with better connections to buses downtown,

- key issues: community bus service, lack of connections to town centre, and continued use of Erie St. as terminus (179 buses daily),

JBNA actions: meet with BC Transit to review proposed plans, express concerns of key issues and most importantly, keep communication OPEN.

Community Concerns

A member provided details of a protest by Montreal Street residents against speeding taxis travelling between downtown and Ogden Point, planned for the following Friday evening. There was also a report on the creation of a data-base to document excessive speeding in the neighbourhood. Do readers have any thoughts on how the data-base might be used?

Join Us:

Presentations scheduled for the September 14 JBNA Meeting include:

 - Curtis Grad, CEO, GVHA

"GVHA Strategic Directions.  Where we have been, where we are going."

 - Rob Johns, City of Victoria  Emergency Preparedness

"Are you prepared for ShakeOut?"

The October JBNA meeting will feature a presentation from Doug DeMarzo, Victoria Park Planning & Design, who will introduce the Phase 2 Fisherman's Wharf Park design and the Harbour Pathway plans for 200 block Belleville St.  

The agenda will be posted on the website www.jbna.org.