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Sewage plant should follow design principles

Re: “Plant design worries politicians,” Feb. 12. The Capital Regional District architectural offering for the proposed sewage-treatment plant leaves much to be desired.

Re: “Plant design worries politicians,” Feb. 12.

The Capital Regional District architectural offering for the proposed sewage-treatment plant leaves much to be desired. The design of buildings, particularly those occupying such prominent locations and that will endure for many lifetimes, should follow the basic principles of architecture in offering pleasant spaces. Perhaps the tactic here was to present something so totally abysmal that any change would be an improvement and allow acceptance of a poor design. Sewage committee chairwoman Denise Blackwell’s only offering was a new coat of paint that would attempt to hide the monstrosity.

What has happened here? This project was once heralded by the CRD as a structure designed in such an appealing way that it would attract visitors, similar to the treatment plant in Portland, Oregon. Citizens were led to believe that much of the construction material and equipment would be barged to the location, but now there will be more than 266 vehicles per day passing through neighbourhoods. Communities were told there would be amenities or funds to offset the inconvenience and impacts of hosting the plant and that the highest standards for noise and odour mitigation would be utilized. All of these commitments have either been abandoned or are now seriously in question.

This project has gone off the rails. Every taxpayer will be paying the price for a poor design in a poor location with impacts to communities and little to show in terms of esthetics or benefits.

Filippo Ferri

Esquimalt