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OAK BAYNEWS
Real Estate, Insurance & Property Mgmt.
2045 Cadboro Bay Rd.
250-595-1535 boorman.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
vicnews.com
Extra half-metre a sticking point for O.B. High paths Playing field construction affects width of walkways around school Christopher Sun News Staff
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Oak Bay Kiwanis member Delphine Straith helps arrange the styrofoam gourds for the annual Pumpkin Art display behind the Municipal Hall on Oak Bay Avenue. The display, a fundraiser for Oak Bay Kiwanis, runs nightly from 5 to 9 p.m., ending on Halloween night tomorrow (Oct. 31).
Halloween events on tap Residents looking to celebrate Halloween in Oak Bay have a variety of options. The annual Pumpkin Art display, created by John Vickers, is set up now behind the municipal hall. It’s open from 5 to 9 p.m. and winds up tomorrow night (Oct. 31). Admission is by donation, with all proceeds going to the Oak Bay Kiwanis club. From 6 to 10 p.m. tomorrow at 430 Beach Dr., you’ll find zombies and other creepy characters at the Haunted House of Horrors, hosted by the Hospers family. The display,
which will be less terrifying early on to accommodate younger visitors, is a fundraiser for the Victoria SPCA. The family is collecting cash, blankets, animal toys and pet food for the shelter. Also starting at 6 p.m., the Kiwanis join Oak Bay firefighfighters for their annual Halloween bonfire, lighting up Fireman’s Park off St. Ann’s Road. A costume parade starts at 6:30 in front of the Scout Hall. There’s entertainment planned and hot dogs, pop and hot chocolate will be available. There will, however, be no fire-
works display and the fire department reminds residents that private bonfires are not permitted. In general for Halloween, parents are encouraged to dress their children in flame-resistant clothing that is light coloured or has reflective tape to increase visibility. Carrying flashlights is also suggested. It is illegal to possess or discharge fireworks in Oak Bay without a permit. Fines range from $100 to $500. The sale of fireworks is banned throughout the Capital Regional District. editor@oakbaynews.com
OAK BAY tomf@vreb.bc.ca
250-360-4821
The new Oak Bay High will feature regulation size playing fields. But plans to cut down the width of pathways around the school by more than a half-metre to make room for those fields is not an acceptable solution, Oak Bay councillors told an architect working for the project designer. “I don’t think I can stress enough to have those pathways wide enough,” said Coun. Michelle Kirby, whose research into the topic found that three metres was the standard width for a mixed-use pathway. “I didn’t see anything about 2.4 metres last year.” Mayor Nils Jensen also implored designers and the school to find a way to add the extra 60 cm to the pathway width. “We want as much width as you can leave us,” he said, suggesting a reduction in the allotted 100 parking stalls might solve the problem. “We may find that we might not need all that parking.” Councillors were told the situation isn’t as simple as that. The Neighbourhood Learning Centre, which will house a daycare, teen centre and activity rooms, takes up 15 per cent of the new school, said Greater Victoria District facilities director Seamus Howley. “We have to be all things to everybody, but it’s a very constrained site,” he said, adding that building a new school next to an existing one still in operation comes with its own space challenges. Barry Scroggs, president of contracting company Farmer Group, said meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements has impacted on the width of the pathway. He said the grass area next to the path is designed for biofiltration and cannot be reduced in size. “The site is very compact,” he said, adding his company will look at trying to address council’s request. “We’re going to take what you are asking us to do … and see how we would be able to do it.
PLEASE SEE:
Pathway problem to be looked into, Page A2
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