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Myths & Realities

Viewscapes:

Paul Kane place view corridor
Cooperage view corridor

 

Myth: 
The developer only wants to cater to "megayachts".

Reality:

  • Transport Canada has insisted that the smallest boat allowed in the marina must be at least 65 feet in length.

Myth:
The public does not support this project.

Reality:

  • According to a February 2009 Environics survey of Victoria residents, 74 per cent thought the marina would have a positive impact on the local economy and 53 per cent of respondents were supportive of the project.

Myth:
The Victoria International Marina project has not considered environmental impact and may be harmful to the environment.

Reality:

  • The Department of Fisheries & Oceans has determined that the marina will not hurt the environment and has stated the removal of waste material will be beneficial to the marine habitat - restoring it to a better state than it is in right now.
  • The Victoria International Marina intends to be the first marina designed and built to Clean Marine B.C. standards, a Georgia Strait Alliance program sponsored by Environment Canada.
  • Independent auditors will monitor and certify our level of commitment to environmentally sound practices in all aspects of marina operations.

 

Myth:
The developers of the Victoria International Marina did not solicit feedback from residents or regulatory bodies when designing the marina.

Reality:

  • In developing and modifying the plans for the Victoria International Marina, the project team has worked with the City of Victoria, the Province of B.C., Transport Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada and the residents of Victoria.
  • Transport Canada’s Navigable Waters Division has been reviewing navigation impact and safety considerations surrounding the marina since 2006.
  • Based on feedback from residents, the restaurant, coffee house and docks will be accessible to everyone. We have also updated paddling routes at the request of paddlers, residents, and Transport Canada.
  • In 2008, we created a project information booklet with frequently asked questions and offered an open invitation for area residents to contact us with any concerns. We will continue to provide updates to residents as the project progresses. 
  • We held a well-attended Open House in March 2009.
  • We were also present at meetings held by opponents of the project and advertised notices from federal and provincial bodies asking for public input.
  • The City of Victoria Official Community Plan and Zoning were created with public consultation.
  • The City of Victoria held a public meeting in September 2010 to hear from the community about the marina.

 

 

Myth:
The marina will simply provide parking spots for rich yacht owners; there will be little to no positive impact on the local economy.

Reality:

  • Revenue generated by the marina and other related activities including the restaurant and coffee house, shipyard activities, and provisioning of vessels could amount to $13.25 million every year. 
    We also anticipate that boat owners will spend approximately 10 per cent of the value of their yacht each year on maintenance, crew and fuel. 

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Myth:
This is public land and it should not be used for profit by a private developer.

Reality:

  • Like most marinas in B.C., the Victoria International Marina docks will be on Crown land leased from the Provincial Government and annual market rent will be paid to the Province of B.C. We own the two fee-simple water lots for the marina commercial buildings and have controlled this private land since May 2005.

 

Myth:
By developing the proposed marina, we would be limiting vessel access to Lime Bay Park and therefore violating riparian rights.

Reality:

  • The City of Victoria will keep access to and from Lime Bay Park, and to the waters within Lime Bay and beyond. This alone meets the standard for riparian access to deep water for an upland owner.
  • Further, due to the natural rock formations within Lime Bay, access by a vessel of 40 feet (the standard used by the Integrated Land Management Branch when evaluating riparian rights of access) would be treacherous and unsafe under any circumstance due to shallow water, submerged boulders and a rocky shoreline.

 

Myth:
It is the same as paving Beacon Hill Park for the storage of large motor homes.

Reality:

  • Beacon Hill Park is not zoned for the storage of motor homes. The water lots where the Victoria International Marina would be located are zoned by the City of Victoria for marina development. A diverse and active working harbour, including boats of varying sizes creates a strong and resilient local economy - which benefits us all.

 

Myth:
The City Plan calls for a small marina for small boats.

Reality:

  • The City of Victoria’s zoning bylaws, Official Community Plan, Victoria Harbour Plan, and Design Guidelines all permit development of a marina of this size and scale at this location. None of these documents stipulate any minimum or maximum boat size; however, Transport Canada has required that vessels must be 65 feet in length, or longer, to use the Victoria International Marina. Transport Canada made this decision to maintain the safety of the harbour traffic.

 

Myth:
It's a waterpark.

Reality:

  • It's a Brownfield industrial site
  • It's appropriately zoned for the proposed uses, which have been part of Victoria's OCP, zoning bylaws and Harbour Plan for the past 20 years.

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