This page is intended to provide extra information regarding the Irvine Community Resource Centre projected, slated to be constructed in 2023.
Below you'll see a timeline, with links to relevant documentation already available through our website.
We have also created a question and answer section to clear up any confusion.
Planning documents including conceptual images are uploaded as well.
Finally, we encourage you to review council and library board minutes and relevant bylaws.
The Resource Centre is intended to be a space to further benefit the community.
Questions and answers
Cypress County believes in fostering community growth, and we hope the information presented here answers as many questions as possible without encouraging how to proceed. That job is left to councillors, who are advised by residents and staff.
Here, in point form, are some of the things claimed and corresponding facts which should be considered:
- Claim: The Woodward Memorial Park is being torn down. Response: The plan for the site includes park space, a playground, and a new building. The community room in the building will be named for the Woodward family. A second Lions Park playground is being developed elsewhere in Irvine (details including location not finalized).
- Claim: It is disrespectful to the Woodward family to build at the memorial park. Response: The Woodward family has expressed support for the project.
- Claim: The proposed location is not optimal. Response: The original Irvine Area Structure Plan, undertaken in 2017 and presented in 2018, states “If the library moves, it should continue to operate from a central business district (downtown) location in order to encourage traffic and activity in this area.” However, we note that there is no documentation for how the proposed site came to be chosen, nor what other locations were considered.
- Claim: Trees will be cut down unnecessarily for this project. Response: An arborist report dated Dec. 10, 2022 states that five of the trees on the site should be removed due to either pollarding, trunk-rot, or maintenance and safety issues (see attached).
- Claim: The public was not properly engaged regarding this plan. Response: Numerous surveys and open houses were conducted with residents and included plans for the library. There was a resident satisfaction survey in 2018 for all county residents, a 2021 survey specifically sent to Irvine residents, and an open house about the project in 2022.
- Claim: Residents petitioned the county regarding the location in 2022. Response: No petition was presented to county staff in 2022. The petition submitted in 2023 was evaluated by the CAO in consultation with a lawyer and found to be inadmissible.
- Claim: The plan does not include enough parking space. Response: The plan includes four parking spots plus ample room for street parking. This is far more parking space than the current library affords. See this attached document showing parking plans (posted April 3, 2023).
- Claim: The centre will include a visitor information centre area. Response: While this was considered at one point, the county operates a visitor centre in Walsh and no longer has intent of using Irvine’s centre for tourism purposes.
- Claim: Environmental concerns including birds and other aspects of the local ecosystem are being ignored. Response: A certified biologist conducted a wildlife sweep and environmental monitoring on April 11, 2023 and produced this report. No concerns were found.
Timeline
- Among the first mentions of a new facility for the library was the 2018 Irvine Structure Plan, which stated "If the library moves, it should continue to operate from a central business district (downtown) location in order to encourage traffic and activity in this area."
- A county-wide Recreation Master Plan was published in 2019 with feedback obtained from the community. This included a resident satisfaction survey sent out in 2018.
- Dec. 1, 2020 Council hires architect to create conceptual design ($10,000 budget)
- April 7, 2021 Conceptual design presented to council (video link is with proper time stamp when presentation started) https://youtu.be/nnn1vPmPjI0?t=8846
- May 4, 2021 Council approves $1,000,000 in funding
- May 18, 2021 Council agrees to apply for Green and Inclusive Buildings grant from province
- Jan, 18, 2022 Council directs administration to work with Rodermond Enterprises for conceptual design and engineered drawings ($30,000 budget). Notes that location has not been selected.
- March 22, 2022 Councillor Oster speaks on location (Motion 2022/108 carried “That Council direct Administration to notify the Irvine Lions Club that within 4 months, the County wishes to take over care and control of the lands located at Plan 3130B Block 3 Lots 6-10 inclusive, for the future development of the Irvine Community Resource Centre.”) He says that the location has now been chosen (link is with proper time stamp when Oster begins speaking on topic https://youtu.be/3rWP0UQ-X08?t=18536)
- April 20, 2022 An open house is held in Irvine for the proposed Community Resource Centre. It includes conceptual designs
- Aug. 2, 2022 Site inspection of current library done, results presented at Sept. 20, 2022 council meeting
- Jan. 4, 2023 CAO met with Irvine Lions Club and presented a strategic plan for the Resource Centre
- Jan. 4, 2023 Request for Proposals for Irvine Community Resource Centre advertised on county website and social media
- Jan. 9, 2023 Press release issued regarding Resource Centre
- Jan. 14, 2023 Feedback requested regarding the Resource Centre
- Feb. 7, 2023 Five delegations received during council meeting (link is with proper time stamp when first delegation begins https://youtu.be/MkgbsWNpvzo?t=3048)
- Feb. 21, 2023 Council votes to proceed with the Irvine Community Resource Centre project
- March 21, 2023 Irvine Community Resource Centre webpage published
- April 5-11, 2023 Wildlife sweep and environmental monitoring conducted
- April 11, 2023 Site preparation (including removal of trees) started.
Planning
Shown above are conceptual drawings of the Irvine Community Resource Centre.
Below is a drawing showing plans for parking and pedestrian access.
Here is an arborist's report regarding the proposed site.
Playground equipment has been ordered. See a conceptual image below.
Process
Meeting minutes are posted for both county council and associated boards on this website.
To find council minutes, see the Minutes & Agendas page.
For library board minutes, you'll need to use the Boards, Commissions, and Committees page.
To learn more about how the library board works, see our bylaw.
For any questions pertaining to land use, see the Land Use Bylaw.