Local Agriculture Public Meeting - LAST MIN NOTICE : Duncan apartment complex debate- - Sept Westward Independent Launches - Save the dates!
Duncan Zoom Sept 11th - Agriculture meeting Sept 26th-
September Edition of the Westward Independent
https://wwind.ca/edition-004-september/
Upcoming Meeting - Local Agriculture #2
How can the Cowichan Valley Regional District best support local agriculture?
A Workshop for Cowichan Valley Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector Stakeholders
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
1 PM to 4 PM
Cobble Hill Farmers Institute, 3550 Watson Ave
RSVP: planyourcowichan@cvrd.ca
Agenda
• Presentations
- Best Practices for Local Government Support for Agriculture
- Role of the Province
- Role of the Agricultural Land Commission
• Plenary or Group Breakouts
• Next steps
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Letter to council regarding new proposed building height by a constituent below.
To: Tom Duncan; Mayor; Bob Brooke; Garry Bruce; Jenni Capps; Stacy Middlemiss; Carol Newington; mmckinlay@duncan.ca
Subject: New proposed 6 story construction on Jubilee street
Attached is the notice - just a fews days after the community meeting held at the Church, that is scheduled to be the new location of a proposed increase from a 4 to 6 story apartment complex.
There are a number of reasons why 6 stories is not suitable for this community - 2 are listed. Those whose job it is to study the urban development - know full well why 4 stories or less is preferable.
1st Rudi's Townhouse apt. will for the most part of the morning sun if not all of it be in shade.
The architectural drawings shown only a few days of the year are highly suspect on accuracy and overly misleading.
The architect (only got that his first name was Barry) that I spoke with attempted to rationalize this fact, what was forthcoming was not denial or any explanation for the drawings shown, but rather 'you will still get light'. Seriously? Yes in the daytime you do get 'light' obviously, it's daytime. Even in a shadow there is light - but none of it is actual direct sunlight.
This is huge difference - which apparently only matters - if you live there. Those that will never live in the shadow of a building will have no clue as to the emotional / psychological impact of a well diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder. Especially for those of us living above the 49th parallel and do not have the financial luxury of travelling to Sun Destinations every year.
As another rationale he kept trying to point out that the end or south side of the building which is mostly a staircase and does have some windows for bedrooms of the apartments in the west side of the building - will still get full sun. ??? Completely ignoring that the entire east side, the front of the building will not ever again get full sun. I suspect that this will also drastically reduce the desirability of any apartments now facing Jubilee street. The view now being a 6 story eyesore.
2nd reason is that 4 stories is already the accepted height for downtown Duncan. That is a consistent height of the community one which is already being highly impacted by a second construction of new apartments only a block away
Though I understand the reasoning for another building in the downtown area, it should remain at 4 stories or less. The increase in height is more of a benefit for the developer and a huge downside of increased urban density for the existing homeowners and residents. If you want more 'density' do it out at Walmart.
You've already agreed to a 6 story monstrosity on Garden - yet to be completed. Why continue down this path of ruining what is lovely about Duncan's downtown community?
But unless you actually live here and don't drive off outside of the core - I guess you'll never understand.
Another point that I found rather sketchy was the arrival of a notice in the mail, is the rationale for a Zoom call to hold a meeting from the community with city hall In less that 2 weeks ie with very little time for anyone to actually prepare and not even in person (at the same venue) but on Zoom! A very convenient 'location' for someone not to be heard - to delete someone - loose the sound - loose the connection. etc....
Thus I also wonder just exactly how many of those that attended the community meeting at the church (notice sent the month prior) most of them with canes or walkers: uses or 1) has a computer, 2) has internet 3) has email 4) has any clue on how to even set up a Zoom call? Or - was that actually the point?
All the best
If you are interested in writing here are the contacts: mayor@duncan.ca,
mmckinlay@duncan.ca,
gbruce@duncan.ca,
jcapps@duncan.ca,
smiddlemiss@duncan.ca,
cnewington@duncan.ca,
tomduncan@duncan.ca,
Sincerely,
The COAP Team
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