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High-end Songhees marina to open next summer

The long-planned Victoria International Marina on the Songhees is slated to open next summer as its Vancouver-area owners alter the design to reduce its impact on neighbours while maintaining the luxury concept.

The long-planned Victoria International Marina on the Songhees is slated to open next summer as its Vancouver-area owners alter the design to reduce its impact on neighbours while maintaining the luxury concept.

Under the revamped design, a 121-metre-long paddling canal at least seven metres wide will run between the shore and marina. This open-to-the-sky route will move the 30-slip marina back from the shore, creating more space between condominiums and the facility.

The number of commercial buildings has been reduced to one from two, said Craig Norris, project marina director of strategic planning, on Tuesday.

The 8,230-square-foot building will float and house a high-end restaurant, coffee shop and marine services. Topped by a wavy roof, it will be located at the foot of Cooperage Place. A smaller float attached to this building will serve as a landing spot for kayakers.

Earlier designs had called for two commercial buildings, built on pilings, to abut the shore at Cooperage Place and Paul Kane Place. The paddlers’ route would have gone underneath the buildings.

Costs to develop the canal have moved the total development value to $24 million, Norris said, up from $22 million.

Despite delays, the marina is on track to open in July or August, said project supervisor Bob Evans.

The project had been halted while design changes were made, Evans said. “This is the most accommodating plan that is feasible,” he added.

A marina in this location was part of the original Songhees development plan, but controversy ignited after Evans unveiled the project in 2008.

Community members balked at the idea of a 52-slip marina for large yachts in the harbour and complained that it would affect views.

Proponents have said there is a strong demand for the marina and that it would attract visitors and spending to the region.

Victoria council eventually changed the zoning to reduce the number of slips.

Evans said the new design serves both paddle boats and large yachts.

Slips will serve vessels between 65 feet and 140 feet long. The minimum size for vessels was set by Transport Canada, he said.

An ownership group from Vancouver took over the development company Community Marine Concepts Ltd. last year. B.C. government records list Community Marine Concepts’ directors as Weiwei Li, Yulu Zhang and Dongxia Zhang, all of Greater Vancouver.

The new owners “really do want to integrate it with the community a little bit more,” Norris said.

Seawall pilings will be installed in November and December, with canal dredging in the new year, Norris said. A development permit application has gone to the city for new setback plans.

Already, 23,000 cubic metres of material has been hauled out of the harbour.

A concierge and valet parking under the condos, expected to be used mainly by restaurant patrons, are planned.

Six slips will be installed in place of the second commercial building at Paul Kane Place, on property owned by the developer, Norris said. These will be marketed as fee-simple slips. The other 24 slips will be available under a fixed-rate, 40-year lease. Rates for slips have not been released.

The building and docks will be constructed by Blue Water Systems on the Fraser River and towed to Victoria.

cjwilson@timescolonist.com