Re: Procurement of VIPCA property on Donnay Drive
We recently received the notice of the proposed procurement of this property from the Vancouver Island Providence Association (VIPCA) and would like to take this opportunity to address the matter.
Firstly, we are onside with the purchase of the property, and we are quite willing to pay the levy either as a lump sum or yearly as describe in the letter.
Unfortunately, we think the way this has been presented amounts to extortion of the local community to purchase a beautiful green space which is used by more people than the approximately 660 residences identified that have been asked to pay for the purchase. We are sure that this council is aware of the local demographic and is quite aware that there will be more than likely a resounding no vote due to that demographic, specifically the average age of the residents in the local community.
As local residents like any other we pay a portion of our taxes to support parks and recreation maintenance and projects throughout North Cowichan. We are obligated to do so as we are part of the community we live in. We cannot ask council to direct our parks and rec tax contribution to specific parks and rec facilities within 10 minutes walk of our residences. So, we ask why are we being asked to pay for the purchase of this property?
Secondly, I would like to point out that this property will be extremely costly to develop either for housing or some other purchase. Property sits on a rock and glacial till, the development costs would be extremely high to provide the site servicing i.e. water, sanitary and storm sewer, Hydro, communications and gas. Portions of the property are quite narrow due to the presence of the cliffs overlooking the pond and Donnay. The portion of property extending east from Deborah Place is quite steep and therefore very challenging for housing development. I note that there were For Sale signs posted on the property last year and assume that the interest in it as development property was lukewarm at best.
So here we are, a beautiful green space, animal corridor and a biodiverse portion of land is going to used by VIPCA to increase their operating revenue and the approximately 660 residents within 10 minutes' walk are going to be asked to pay for it. Quite frankly I wish VIPCA had set up a local residents meeting and asked for the funds directly as a donation in exchange for keeping the property as it is. This would have been far more tenable than the council pitting the local residents against each other and to me smacks of extortion.
James Walsh
Maple Bay
