![\"Esquimalt](\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Esquimalt-Lagoon-Beachgoers-04728-1024x576.jpg\")
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September 10, 2021<\/span> <\/span> September 10, 2021 Mayor and Council, Colwood COLWOOD WATERFRONT PLAN This letter is to let you know that the board of the Victoria Natural History Society has reviewed the draft plans for the Colwood waterfront. While we recognize that there is pressure to exploit the waterfront for recreation, particularly with a growing population, we are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,16,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-initiatives","category-letters","category-protected-areas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15027"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15031,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15027\/revisions\/15031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/span>
Mayor and Council, Colwood<\/span> <\/span>
<\/span>
COLWOOD WATERFRONT PLAN <\/span> <\/span>
<\/span>
This letter is to let you know that the board of the Victoria Natural History Society has reviewed the <\/span>
draft plans <\/span>for the Colwood waterfront. While we recognize that there is pressure to exploit the <\/span>
waterfront for recreation, particularly with a growing population, we are concerned about overuse and <\/span>
abuse. The Esquimalt Lagoon and its federal Migratory Bird Sanctuar<\/span>y are particularly sensitive <\/span>
ecological features of southern Vancouver Island. Shorebirds and other birds need appropriate spaces, <\/span>
particularly in migration, with the least possible human presence.<\/span> <\/span>
<\/span>
The plan recognizes the compelling need to manage the ar<\/span>ea <\/span>\u2013<\/span> traffic calming measures and steering <\/span>
people onto paths, for instance <\/span>\u2013<\/span> and mitigate the damage, but it does nothing to discourage people <\/span>
who might not be sensitive to the critical nature of the lagoon from frequenting the area. We are <\/span>
particularly c<\/span>oncerned with increased infrastructure such as a canoe launch and a viewing platform <\/span>
into the Lagoon, and washrooms and other facilities near the bridge.<\/span> <\/span>
<\/span>
We like that you plan to focus food trucks and entertainment at Pithouse Park and, in time, at Royal <\/span>
Beach. However, we ask that there be a moratorium on food trucks and other intensive activities until <\/span>
the other areas are developed.<\/span> <\/span>
<\/span>
On two other points: The VNHS is hearing from a lot of our members that they are concerned, even <\/span>
alarmed, at the plans f<\/span>or the Colwood waterfront. And finally, we have heard that the survey <\/span>
concerning the waterfront is frustratingly difficult to access. <\/span> <\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>
Sincerely,<\/span> <\/span>
<\/span>Philip Lambert<\/span> <\/span>
President<\/span> <\/span>
Victoria Natural History Society<\/span> <\/span>
president@vicnhs.bc.ca<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"