Earlier today, an eight foot fence was erected around the velodrome, despite the track-cycling season still being in full-swing. West Shore Parks and Rec (WSPR) commissioned Aon Risk Control to assess whether the velodrome was dangerous or not, and concluded it was.

Interestingly, the bulk of the risks identified by the risk consultant are not new, and date back to the velodrome’s creation for the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Issues such as the moveable goal posts in the (previously closed) infield, and the lack of a barrier between the track and the turf, are reportedly among the alleged identified risks, features of the velodrome and its artificial turf infield since the facility opened.

The Juan de Fuca Velodrome is considered to be in good shape by those using it, who say Read the rest of this entry »

In a previous article, I talked a bit about Westhills seeking Leadership in Energey and Environmental Design Neighbourhood Development (LEED ND) certification. While LEED has traditionally been associated with high building standards, LEED ND is a new approach that rewards primarily how neighbourhoods are laid out. Westhills has agreed to live up LEED ND rules, but there are varying levels of certification and they are proposing a raft of changes to try to get a better score and, ultimately, a higher certification. The intention is to make higher levels of LEED certification a desirable thing for developers and consumers alike, so the financial implcations of Westhills receiving a good LEED rating might be significant to developments in the future.

Under LEED ND rules, less parking gets you more points towards a higher LEED rating. As a consequence of this, Westhills has asked for permission to offer less parking for the forthcoming phases of their development than Langford’s bylaws would normally allow, with some houses getting only one parking spot. Westhills representatives have indicated that they want to communicate to potential homebuyers up front that parking in Westhills will be less than it is elsewhere.
Read the rest of this entry »