I am one of the many ‘dissenters’ that oppose the rezoning and construction of a badminton facility on the end of my narrow residential street. Unlike most of the users of the Cordova Bay Community Club and unlike any of the executive, including Ron Jordon, I am a resident of Cordova Bay.
This new proposed ‘world-class’ facility (steel frame and clad industrial warehouse) will not result in a new community centre for Cordova Bay but will be a tax-free playground for elite badminton players from outside the community.
Tony Knott (rezoning applicant) confirmed that he would build this facility in his own neighbourhood, but “they won’t let me.” We don’t want this mammoth badminton facility in our neighbourhood either, Mr. Knott.
The club no longer functions as a community resource but as a high-performance, mostly masters-level, badminton training facility. There will be no programming for youth in the area that wish to play badminton at a purely recreational level, as confirmed by Ron Jordon and Rob Oldfield (CBCC executive) at a meeting on March 22.
The club will host numerous tournaments drawing 200-plus participants, necessitating buses to transport players and supporters to and from the facility. These buses plus individual participant vehicles will result in a traffic and parking nightmare for the residents of all neighbouring streets.
Perhaps the club’s ‘moral obligation’ is not to build a badminton centre open 24/7 in a community where very few residents are badminton players, but to return the property to the community of Cordova Bay.
This very valuable property could be sold for residential housing and the money used to provide a more appropriate legacy for the residents of Cordova Bay.
Diane Mellott
Saanich