City Council Rezones Water lots, Developer Returns to Drawing Table
Victoria -- It was a full house at Victoria City Hall last night but after five hours, city council made it's decision. A unanimous vote in favour of rezoning two Songhees water lots means the Victoria International Marina will not be the large-scale tourist attraction the developers had hoped.
"I'm disappointed," said Lachlan MacLean, spokesman for the Victoria International Marina.
MacLean and his team of developers had proposed a 52-slip luxury yacht marina. The rezoning shrinks the scope of the project by almost half and sends the developers back to the drawing table. MacLean says the designers aren't sure about the layout yet, but they're now looking at a 27 to 28 slip marina.
"This seems to be a reasonable comprimise that recognizes public objectives, and recognizes that marina has been planned for a long time, " says Victoria Councillor Geoff Young.
MacLean may have expected the outcome, but says he was surprised council's decision was unanimous. At previous meetings Councillor Young had expressed concern that shifting gears so late in the game would open the city up to litigation.
Tonight, both sides wonder if troubled water could have been avoided if only they had actually met and talked to eachother.
"Council wouldn't meet with us. I've tried to meet with the mayor, I've tried to meet with staff and we've been rebuffed," says MacLean.
"As I said last night, I think we should be talking to the developer. The problem with the rezoning is that it's a very crude too. Really it will satisfy no one, " says Young.
