A proposal to carve a subdivision out of almost half a Metchosin property owned by the Boys and Girls Club has left the mayor and residents alarmed and feeling betrayed.
The non-profit organization purchased the 98-acre property from the province in 2004 on the premise that the land would remain untouched and be used entirely for youth camps and programs.
The Boys and Girls Club of Victoria is now considering the development of a 40-acre portion. The area is already zoned for that purpose and Mayor John Ranns has said in the past that a subdivision proposal can bypass council and go directly to the municipality鈥檚 chief administration officer for approval.
Ranns did not immediately return calls, but told other media that he鈥檚 鈥渜uite pissed off.鈥�
Metchosin resident Jay Shukin called the subdivision plan a 鈥渂ig, big disappointment,鈥� adding the club has been given $300,000 in property-tax exemptions from the municipality over the last 10 years.
鈥淭hese lands were originally obtained from the provincial government under very favourable terms. When the transfer of Crown land occurred, it was perceived by local residents that these lands would be kept for an enduring public benefit, specifically, outdoor youth recreation and education programs.鈥�
Shukin said much of the land in question is forested and a pond contains Western painted turtles.
Requests for information and interviews from the local and provincial Boys and Girls Clubs of sa国际传媒 organizations were directed to a Victoria commercial real estate broker, Griffin Lewis, a managing broker and partner at Devoncore.
In an emailed response to a request for information, Griffin said: 鈥淭he B&GC board and senior management have decided (based upon advice from me) that they will have no comment or discussions about their property until after the subdivision application and process is complete.
鈥淚t鈥檚 best to wait until all the variables and requirements from the district are understood before they can speak to what their plans are.鈥�
Bev Bacon, who lives near the 98-acre property, found it odd that the non-profit groups were using a real estate broker as a spokesperson on the issue.
鈥淪omething鈥檚 going on and the people of Metchosin should be in the picture here 鈥� we should know what鈥檚 going on,鈥� said Bacon. 鈥淭he district has the right to know. We鈥檝e been paying their tax bills for 17 years.鈥�
The Boys and Girls Club was initially loaned the property from the province in 1984 and exercised an option to purchase it in 2004 without any conditions. Bacon said in hindsight, that was a mistake on the part of the sa国际传媒 Liberals, who were in government at the time. She believes the group should respect the spirit of the deal and keep the property intact for the benefit of youth.
鈥淚f they aren鈥檛 going to protect it, then they should sell it to someone who will and go back to the city,鈥� she said.
The club paid off its mortgage on the property in 2011 via fundraising and donations.
A review of the organization鈥檚 most recent statements does not indicate that the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria is in any financial difficulties. It receives funding from the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as the United Way, the community gaming grant and donations from private businesses and individuals.
Shukin said the club has the right to pursue a subdivision or sale of the land, but noted the organization has 鈥渆njoyed significant financial support from provincial and local governments.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking to them to engage with the community more broadly, to consider alternatives to losing this unique natural area to a residential subdivision.鈥�
He said there is frustration that numerous calls to Boys and Girls Club representatives have not been returned. 鈥淥ur efforts to engage in constructive discussion have essentially been met with silence.鈥�
Shukin is contacting MLA Mitzi Dean, the minister of children and family development and a resident of Metchosin, in hopes she can kickstart dialogue between residents and the Boys and Girls Club.
Dean did not immediately reply to an email request for comment.
