Dear Editor,
I wish to express my opposition to the repeated rezoning requests from Onni Development to eliminate the Mixed Maritime Use requirement for the commercial portion of Imperial Landing.
All of Richmond has lost the opportunity to have full access to this real estate as a park. Regretfully, I understand that we cannot undo that. Let’s not make a bad situation worse. I see from reviewing archived council minutes that Onni has been before city council on July 17, 2007 and May 27, 2009. On July 17, 2007, it is recorded that “the applicant has stated that the Mixed Maritime Use (MMU) is not economically feasible on the site” and later “ the applicant proposes a grocery store at street level on the west end of the site with a restaurant planned for the second of the two stories.”
Onni has since, without any approval, gone ahead and constructed exactly that. You can be sure that the two storey building that is currently offered to have a daycare on the second storey will be an unsuccessful operation and Onni will pursue the originally planned restaurant use.
The proposal to house Nester’s grocery in the ground floor would be disastrous. The loading zones already on Bayview create a zig zag of through traffic and bicycles daily — add backing up grocery delivery trucks and daycare drop-offs to the mix and there will be casualties.
At the council meeting of May 27, 2009 it is recorded that “Mr. Jarvis stated that he fully understood the City’s definition of MMU.”
What kind of message would council be sending to developers if it was to allow Onni to rezone? It is OK to build what you wish, regardless of the zoning, and then continue to hold info sessions and come before council with ever-larger “goodwill contributions” until the zoning is changed to enhance the developer’s bottom line?
It would be a significant precedent for the city to yield to Onni’s technique of building to achieve the highest possible financial gain, while ignoring the zoning and adjacent residential quality of life.
Their presumption of success is displayed by the TD green windows used in the original construction. At previous info sessions, Onni pointed out they had supplied new, free public parking on Bayview, then promptly added “no parking without permit” signs on them until the city directed their removal.
The timing of these “Discovery Days” is interesting given the recent possibility of a new grocery store in the Rod’s Building Supply area.
The current independent Steveston merchants have created a responsible, caring community. Let’s support them and the residents by allowing Steveston to thrive without the threat of big chain stores being invited by Onni to weaken the local businesses and destroy the safety of Bayview St.
Sharon Renneberg
Richmond
