The results are in and members of the Cadboro Bay Residents Association are against a proposed 14-unit townhouse complex on Penrhyn Street, according to a survey conducted in April by the CBRA.
Released last month, the results indicate local residents take issue with the project’s height and design, and have raised concerns with parking, blocked ocean views, green space, beach access and the development’s overall fit in the village. The survey was conducted to provide input to the developer, Beaucore Holdings Ltd.
“Having reviewed the results of the community survey, and the information and plans provided, the CBRA board has voted not to support the proposed development,” wrote CBRA board secretary Jerry Donaldson for board chairman Eric Dahli. “However, the CBRA invites Beaucore Holdings Ltd. to provide revised plans and to continue to dialogue with CBRA in this matter.”
According to the survey, 71 per cent of respondents disapproved of the development’s present design, with 63 per cent saying it was not appropriate for the neighbourhood. Seventy-four per cent said it didn’t fit in with the existing single-family houses and half of the respondents said it didn’t fit in with the existing multi-family housing developments.
Residents were asked 20 questions, with responses including strongly agree, somewhat agree, uncertain, somewhat disagree and strongly disagree.
Sixty-three per cent took issue with the development’s three-storey height, with 67 per cent recommending the complex be two storeys or less.
While 41 per cent disliked the development’s flat roof, 22 per cent were uncertain of their preference while the rest agreed the flat roof was OK. However, 48 per cent said they’d prefer a sloped roof.
The survey also asked residents if distances between the townhouses and surrounding homes should be enough to prevent overshadowing, encroachment on privacy and noise and light pollution, to which 83 per cent agreed.
A whopping 91 per cent of respondents said the development should be designed to minimize the effect of additional vehicle traffic.
Ultimately, 62 per cent said they don’t think the development respects the area’s history, though 18 per cent were uncertain in their answers. Sixty-four per cent said the development should be redesigned “to more closely resemble other housing in the neighbourhood.”