A hilltop residential development that has caused supporters of Gonzales Hill Regional Park to rally together to fight it, will be discussed at the City of Victoria’s board of variance meeting this Thursday.
The project, a large home proposed for 1980 Fairfield Pl., is designed to be built on a high rock bluff that borders the Capital Regional District park, which sits between the municipalities of Victoria and Oak Bay.
Zebra Design has come up with the plans for the single family home and has been representing the owners of the property through the official process. That included a CRD Parks committee meeting in February, during which the members heard that CRD staff had no concerns with the proposal as it related to the park.
Next door neighbours Brad Atchison and Cheryl Shoji have argued against the proposed variances to the existing zoning that largely relate to placement of the building on the lot. Their stance would ironically place the structure much closer to their home if the variances are rejected.
Issues over potential drainage problems that may result once a portion of the hillside is blasted away, and the loss of Garry oak habitat at the top of the hilly street, are also among the concerns.
Some people have suggested the best solution is for the CRD, perhaps in partnership with the City of Victoria and District of Oak Bay, to purchase the lot and retain it as parkland.
The appeals portion of the board of variance meeting gets underway at 12:30 p.m. March 22.