Qualicum Beach Residents' Association (QBRA) - Qualicum Beach Residents Association (QBRA) Blog

AGM is December 1, 2018 at the Civic Centre at 1:30 pm

11/10/2018

Dear fellow member and friends of the QBRA,

On Saturday, December 1 at 1:30pm, the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association will hold its Annual General Meeting at the Civi Centre. Normally we would invite a guest speaker(s) to share information with us. But this is not a normal year.

The QBRA is facing some very difficult challenges that involve you as members or former members. After the well attended All Candidates meeting the QBRA board met to take stock of the Association. I am sorry to report that paid membership is now below 100 with a corresponding decline in fees. For comparison, the cost to the QBRA to host and video record the All Candidates meeting was about $1,000, or the equivalent of 100 paid members.

The majority of QBRA board members have served for many years as volunteers to the Association and our Community. They are tired and they have other interests. Due to the decline in members and the decline in willing volunteers to assume leadership roles, the QBRA board is faced with the following decisions:

1. Should the QBRA close down completely?

2. Should the QBRA retain the non-profit societal status with Province     and suspend any representations or monitoring of Town matters?

3. Is there sufficient interest among past and current members to
    volunteer their time and experience to continue the QBRA?

This is what we must decide on December 1. Our Town has a new Mayor who, along with three Councillors, have no history or experience in municipal government. At the same time, there is the continued pressure to deal with the lack of health care, housing, development of the East Village concept, preservation and improvement of our waterfront and more.

Please join us on December 1 to determine the future of your Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association. Thank you.

Sincerely, Lance Nater
                     President, QBRA

All Candidates Meeting a Great Success

10/9/2018

The All Candidates meeting hosted by the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association, QBRA, at the Civic Centre on October 2 resulted in a full house estimated at about 500 residents. The candidates for Mayor and Council positions were given an opportunity to introduce themselves. The candidates were asked to respond to five questions provided to them one week in advance of the meeting.

While over 75 written questions were submitted by the audience, there was only an opportunity to introduce a few of these questions. The QBRA has video recorded the entire meeting. It is available on the website qbresidents.ca Also, the QBRA intends to post all audience questions received on the QBRA website to be accessible to all residents and candidates.

The QBRA wishes to thank Maureen O’Hearn for her rendition of our National Anthem, Rev. Phillip Spencer who served as moderator, and Matt Breedlove who served as timekeeper. Also we want to thank Mr. Cliff Claven for the video. We hope it is used frequently. It is important to be an informed voter!

Submitted by Lance Nater
President, QBRA

QBRA hosts All Candidates Meeting

9/27/2018

The QUALICUM Beach Residents Association is hosting an All Candidates Meeting on Tuesday, October 2nd at the Civic Centre starting at 7 pm. After introductory statements and some general questions, it will be opened to written questions from the floor and, if time permits, oral questions. Please let all your friends and neighbours know about this meeting as it is one of the few chances to meet all the candidates and get some idea of their views on civic concerns.

QBRA's Letter on the Roundabout by Lance Nater

9/4/2018

Section Head September 2, 2018
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations
Rural Development
142 – 2080 Labiuex Road
Nanaimo, BC V9T 6J9 sent via electronic mail

Dear Sir or Madam:

This letter is being sent on behalf of the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association Board of Directors regarding the Disposition of Crown Land File #1414799, the application from the Town of Qualicum Beach.

By unanimous vote, the Board requested this letter to express our strong opposition to the disposition of the Crown Land in question to facilitate proposed works by the Town at the intersection of Memorial Avenue and Highway 19A. It is our understanding the Town request is to enable four components:

To repair and/or replace a sewer
To revamp and improve an estuary to enhance salmon migration
To establish a buffer (breakwater) to protect beach erosion and storm protection
To build a roundabout at this 3 way intersection

We are in support of the merits of the first three objectives. However, it is our view that the deposition of the subject Crown Land is NOT required to meet those objectives. We oppose this Town application because it is our opinion that this application for your approval is motivated by the Town’s desire to build a roundabout at this intersection. Because this intersection is surrounded by a gas station, resort motel, and ocean, the only way the Town can construct this roundabout is to utilize the Crown Land. We fully appreciate the Town is not intending to build out the roundabout on to Crown Land but the Crown Land is necessary to afford a suitable buffer between the roundabout and ocean.

We would also like to make clear we support the use of roundabouts as a respected method for many, but not all intersections. This intersection is not appropriate for a roundabout. It is an intersection with entry and exit points in close proximity serving the gas station and resort motel. It is an intersection with high pedestrian traffic as it is used for beach access. Add to this mix a relatively high use of cyclists with Town plans to enhance this use by building dedicated cyclist lanes.

There was a pedestrian fatality near this intersection several years ago. In response, the Town installed a pedestrian activated cross walk-signalized light. We believe if the Town determines the need to further improve this intersection, it should be done with traffic lights. This would not require intrusion of Crown Land.
A recent petition was circulated in protest of building the roundabout. To be clear, the 875 signatories were only protesting the roundabout – not the elements to improve Town infrastructure or protect and enhance our environment. We urge you to carefully consider the motivation for the Town’s application request and to reject that request as an unnecessary and undesired use of Crown Land.

Respectfully , Lance R. Nater
President, Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association

Bruce Fleming-Smith's letter about the Roundabout

9/4/2018

Section Head
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations Rural Development
142 – 2080 Labiuex Road
Nanaimo, BC V9T 6J9
(sent via electronic mail) Dear Section Head
September 2, 2018
I am writing to voice my concerns, observations, and opposition to the application submitted by the Town of Qualicum Beach: Disposition of Crown Land File #1414799.
At the outset I will say that I support the general concerns off enhancing the Beach Creek estuary with improved stormwater outflow, and increasing resiliency to extreme weather events. However in 1.1 of the Management Plan (MP) it’s stated that; “This project is primarily for ecological benefit.” This is a fundamentally misleading characterization of this project. The scope and extent of the applicant’s incursion into into the Crown intertidal zone is completely predicated on accommodating the construction of a new roundabout at this intersection.
I find the fact that there is not one mention of the new roundabout in the whole Management Plan to be a failure of public disclosure on the part of the applicant. It should be noted for the record that there has been no public consultation between the Town and residents regarding this proposal.
Notwithstanding my previous points, I have the following concerns regarding the Management Plan:
1.2 Investigative Work
- The applicant states that : The public is strongly supportive of improving the Town’s shoreline to a natural beach profile..” The scale of the application is dictated by the roundabout and results in construction of a very large artificial headland that intrudes well seaward of the current natural boundary. This rock and boulder headland will not be seen by residents as consistent with the “natural beach profile” in the least.
1.4 First Nations Consultation
- The Town has undertaken no consultation of public record with the local Qualicum First Nations Band regarding this application, despite this coastline being part of their ancestral home. This would appear to be a fundamental omission of public process necessary for the Crown to be assured that this project has broad based public interest.
4.1.2 Soil Disturbance
- It is not clear to me how the Town can state there is no “potential for disturbance of archaeological, paleontological fossils or historical artifacts”. The Town has records on file indicating that this stretch of coastline has a number of locations where archeological sites have been identified.
4.1.3 Riparian Encroachment
- The extent of the proposed riparian encroachment is not warranted for habitat enhancement purposes and extreme weather resiliency, but rather a requirement of accommodating a traffic circle.
4.1.5 Visual Impacts
- The seaward extension of the rock headland will significantly alter the visual character of this stretch of the Qualicum Beach shoreline. The shallow sloping sand flats of Qualicum’s beach are a major attraction to summer residents and tourists. No material has been submitted by the Town that indicate that visual impacts from nearby properties and from the beach have been considered. The rock headland will be the only man made structure extending significantly beyond the natural shoreline in all of Qualicum Beach. As such, this alteration to the natural shoreline should have been put before the public for comment prior to being submitted to the Crown for approval.
4.1.6 Archaeological Sites
- It is not clear to me how the Town can state there is no “potential for disturbance of archaeological, paleontological fossils or historical artifacts”. The Town has records on file indicating that this stretch of coastline has a number of locations where archeological sites have been identified.
- An AIA should have been conducted as part of the Town’s efforts to prove ‘due process’ to it’s residents, and to address the subject of ‘archaeological sites’ with some degree of third party professional assurance.
5.1.1 Land Management Plans and Regional Growth Strategies
- The applicant states: “Town of Qualicum Beach Official Community Plan: Strongly supportive of proposed project.”
- Residents familiar with the Town’s OCP and The Waterfront Master Plan, could easily take issue with this contention. While the environmental goals of the application are consistent with the Town’s OCP and Waterfront Master Plan, the inclusion of a roundabout clearly contradicts major goals of those documents. Both documents state a priority on reducing traffic flows, and enhanced pedestrian and cyclist safety and access. Without public consultation that has affirmed that the proposal is compatible with our OCP, the Town’s claim must be seen as without foundation.
I will summarize in stating:

- The environmental objectives of the application don’t warrant the seaward extent of the
works.
- The proposed boulder and rock headland is not consistent with a ‘natural beach profile’.
- Lack of First Nations consultation is a significant omission.
- Failure to address visual impacts and show evidence of ‘acceptability’ is an omission.
- Likely absence of archaeological sites is not sufficiently substantiated.
- Suggesting substantial support with our OCP for the overall project is misleading.
- Lack of prior local community consultation for the overall project is a serious omission.
Respectfully submitted:
Bruce Fleming-Smith
564 Berwick Rd. North Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1L1

Letter from Joseph Dennie on the roundabout

8/29/2018

Section Head
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations
Rural Development
142 - 2080 Labiuex Rd
Nanaimo, BC
V9T 6J9

Regarding the Disposition of Crown Land File #1414799, application from Town of Qualicum Beach.

I wish to oppose this application only in regard to the addition of the proposed roundabout included in this application for this license.

There is absolutely no requirement for this roundabout at this location. To my knowledge there has never been an accident at this T intersection.

This is our namesake, our beach area and the proximity to a hotel, limited parking and a gas station make this undertaking of a roundabout a disaster waiting to happen, not-withstanding the history of roundabouts.

I do not oppose the application for the work required for re-establishment of the estuary and foreshore, sanitary sewer upgrade, bike path and retaining wall that this License is required to carry out the work on the foreshore to re-establish the estuary, enhancement of Beach Creek and increase resiliency to foreshore erosion.

I went door to door in Eaglecrest here in Qualicum Beach. The residents are not in support of this proposed roundabout. On the whole, in the community I was able to garner 875 signatures that oppose the construction of a roundabout at this location. We suggest that should a license be granted, it should be only for the re-establishment of the estuary and foreshore, sanitary sewer upgrade, bike path and retaining wall.

I know the residents associations here in the community are also non-supportive of this roundabout.

Please take this into consideration prior to issuing a license to the Town.

Respectfully submitted

Joseph E. Dennie
960 Royal Dornoch Drive
Qualicum Beach, BC
V9K 1E1
289 816 2411
Ps: I am copying 137 parties in this community for FYI.

QBRA Requests More Information on the Roundabout

6/15/2018

Dear Mr. Mayor and Councillors,

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association board of directors. As a result of several lengthy discussions by the directors and fielding many questions from our members and the general public, we have very serious reservations about the logic and cost benefit of the proposed roundabout.

We realize this opinion comes late in the process, long after a grant of $1.4 million was announced. Nevertheless, based on what we know and from the comments we have heard, we cannot support this project as it has been presented. We regard a grant as a redistribution of taxpayer funds and do no believe acquiring a grant should, in itself, justify this or any other project.

It is our view that the proposed redesign of the 19A and Memorial intersection to a roundabout is not an improvement in vehicle or pedestrian movement. The location and entry/exit of the Shell station is a significant obstacle. We do not believe this proposed redesign was suitably explained to the general public. Dave Golson served on the Waterfront working committee and does not recall the roundabout being discussed to any extent.
I served on the Public Safety Committee and do not recall any discussion about converting the subject intersection to a roundabout.

The QBRA board is not opposed to roundabouts. We are opposed to this proposed application at a three way intersection. This opinion was unanimous among our seven board members.

In reading the Town announcement of the grant, it highlights key improvements that will result. This is a well used pedestrian intersection. Based on our observations with the Rupert/Memorial roundabout, we do not think safety for cyclists or pedestrians would be improved. Many of the other infrastructure,transportation and environmental gains, we believe, could be realized without a roundabout at this site. The underground work necessary could all be accomplished without a roundabout. Traffic calming for the beachfront would be no more effective then the Rupert roundabout where speeds along Memorial are not impaired.

Clearly, the directors of the QBRA board and many members of the general public do not understand what the merits of this roundabout are and by not understanding, they are very much opposed.

We strongly suggest the Town take a step back to justify this roundabout to the general public. Based on our experience, either the Town has failed to make a convincing justification to residents or the design is of very questionable merit. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Lance Nater
President, QBRA

Memorial Avenue Roundabout

5/22/2018

Dear Mr. Mayor and Councillors,

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association board of directors. As a result of several lengthy discussions by the directors and fielding many questions from our members and the general public, we have very serious reservations about the logic and cost benefit of the proposed roundabout.

We realize this opinion comes late in the process, long after a grant of $1.4 million was announced. Nevertheless, based on what we know and from the comments we have heard, we cannot support this project as it has been presented. We regard a grant as a redistribution of taxpayer funds and do no believe acquiring a grant should, in itself, justify this or any other project.

It is our view that the proposed redesign of the 19A and Memorial intersection to a roundabout is not an improvement in vehicle or pedestrian movement. The location and entry/exit of the Shell station is a significant obstacle. We do not believe this proposed redesign was suitably explained to the general public. Dave Golson served on the Waterfront working committee and does not recall the roundabout being discussed to any extent.
I served on the Public Safety Committee and do not recall any discussion about converting the subject intersection to a roundabout.

The QBRA board is not opposed to roundabouts. We are opposed to this proposed application at a three way intersection. This opinion was unanimous among our seven board members.

In reading the Town announcement of the grant, it highlights key improvements that will result. This is a well used pedestrian intersection. Based on our observations with the Rupert/Memorial roundabout, we do not think safety for cyclists or pedestrians would be improved. Many of the other infrastructure,transportation and environmental gains, we believe, could be realized without a roundabout at this site. The underground work necessary could all be accomplished without a roundabout. Traffic calming for the beachfront would be no more effective then the Rupert roundabout where speeds along Memorial are not impaired.

Clearly, the directors of the QBRA board and many members of the general public do not understand what the merits of this roundabout are and by not understanding, they are very much opposed.

We strongly suggest the Town take a step back to justify this roundabout to the general public. Based on our experience, either the Town has failed to make a convincing justification to residents or the design is of very questionable merit. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Lance Nater
President, QBRA

Time to Speak Up--Committee of the Whole May 16

5/15/2018

Woman attacked in Qualicum Beach

3/20/2018

A woman was attacked Friday, March 9, 2018, about 8:30pm on Hoylake Road West.
She was walking up Hoylake from Arbutus. She passed a man at the corner of Arbutus and Hoylake Road West who was smoking a joint. He followed her and pushed her down to the ground. She fell to the ground in front of 423 Hoylake Road West. She screamed and he then tried to cover her mouth, Then he ran off.
The man is about 5'6" or 5'7" tall. Dark brown hair. Also has a mustache. He was wearing a plaid shirt, puffy vest and jeans. He spoke with an accent.
If you have any information or do see this man, please contact the RCMP.