100+ HOMES PROPOSED FOR CENTRAL SAANICH
Although this is primarly a Central Saanich issue it does affect residents of North Saanich. Does all this seem eerily familiar? Do you remember past councils in North Saanich and their cosy relationship with developers?
HHHHmmm read on and please support the cause if you can and do check out the website for the history of this issue and for more information.
There is nowhere else like Central Saanich. Areas of great natural beauty, rolling rural
landscapes, active agriculture and defined settlement areas co-exist in harmony with one
another – all within a growing metropolitan region. This uncommon pattern is valued
greatly by residents of Central Saanich, one that we need to protect for future
generations….Long-term Vision – Central Saanich 2008 Official Community Plan
There is a beautiful hilltop – zoned agricultural – that sits near the Central/North Saanich
boundary, next to Quarry Park. Nestled between two separate working farms, it is covered
in Firs, Arbutus and Garry Oaks. Below, cattle and horses graze on one side and daffodils
and other flowers grow on the other. This peaceful, pastoral setting defines the jewel that is
called Central Saanich.
But that idyllic scene could change forever. Mr. Ian Vantreight proposes to build a large-
scale, urban-style subdivision that may potentially result in more than 100 homes –
including legal suites – being constructed on this hilltop; but he can’t do it without the
support of Central Saanich Council. The Council is now moving forward to allow the
development to proceed by simply calling the land “rural” and changing two zoning bylaws.
In adopting the changes, Council would vote against the vision dear to its own residents,
create high-impact growth that is anything but modest and destroy a little piece of heaven.
And, once these bylaw changes are adopted, the sobering fact is that all agricultural lands
outside the agricultural land reserve are potentially candidates for similar developments.
With 181 farms listed in Central Saanich, that number could be staggering.
Sadly, Council is prepared to approve the project by calling the amendments “minor” – a
decision that will minimize any involvement by the CRD or affected municipalities, such as
North Saanich, whose residents are directly impacted by this development. Mr. Vantreight
intends to build the access road to the development right beside a long-established
neighbourhood in North Saanich, even though two existing roads accessing the hill are
already built further to the south.
If you cherish green space, open skies and the rural character that defines Central
Saanich, let Central Saanich Council know how you feel.
E-mail the Municipal Hall at municipalhall@csaanich.ca or phone them at 250-652-4444.
Contact the Councillors – their names and telephone numbers are listed on the District’s
website at www.centralsaanich.ca. Take a walk through Quarry Park and look to the east,
over the blue waters of Georgia Strait, past the green hills of the Gulf Islands to majestic
Mount Baker. If you are moved by the beauty of this area, e-mail the media, talk to your
friends, contact the Chair (Mayor Graham Hill) or Co-Chair (Mayor Dean Fortin) of the
Planning and Transportation Committee of the CRD at snorton@crd.bc.ca or call
250-360-3000 and ask them to become involved.
Let’s stop this development before it’s too late.
For further information, check out our website: http://saveourruralland.blogspot.com/
Concerned citizens of Central and North Saanich December 16, 2009
We in Central Saanich have actually asked for and welcome the help of North Saanichers and anyone else on Southern Vancouver Island on the issue of the Vantreight proposal to build 100+ units of housing outside our urban containment boundary and at great expense to the taxpayers. This is unsustainable and clearly violates our official community plan which was reviewed by the public just a few months ago. It is not our responsibility to pay for Mr Vantreight’s business dealings by allowing our rural lands to be devoured for development. All farmers need land on which they can place their vehicles, machines, compost etc and homeowners need the buffer zone this area provides through it’s trees and bushes to keep the farm smells and noises from becoming a contentious issue between farm and neighbours.
Sue Stroud
It is upsetting that some people put out such misinformation and then won’t even identify themselves. I myself do not have a quarrel with Vantreight’s proposed development, especially given that it is NOT on ALR land and that I would certainly like to see them able to continue farming. Living adjacent to their farmland adds much to my quality of life. Keeping farms going on the peninsula seems important to most people who live here. That’s why we choose to live here. If that means that the owners need to develop the unfarmable portions of their land, then so be it. We are short of developable land.
Surely, if we think that we need this big McTavish Interchange, then we must be expecting an influx of people who will be looking for housing.
By the way, I am not in approval of the McTavish Interchange. It is scary that such a big expense can be made without consulting with the local residents.
We should be promoting public transportation instead of spending 24 million taxpayers’ dollars to encourage one person per car to go to and from the airport.
Dear Editor:
It is indeed unfortunate that Deja Vu (actions speak louder than words?) does not sign a name to his/her
comments, making it impossible for interested Council members to
contact the writer with further information on secondary suites and on
what North Saanich Council has done to mitigate significant impacts on
Southeast Quadrant residents from the potentially intrusive
development proposal planned by Mr. Vantreight.
It’s also unfortunate that the writer does not take the time to
contact Council members or to vist my blog or the District website for
correct and more recent information on both the proposed Vantrieght
development and on the secondary suite proposal. I appreciate that
residents have views and opinions and I am pleased that they are
engaged through NSO. But speculation based on a lack of factual
information does not help to inform the debate, community or public
opinion.
Please contact the Mayor, individual Council members and/or municipal
planning staff for accurate and complete information on both the
secondary suite proposal and on concerns about the proposed Vantreight
development. I also encourage concerned residents to attend Council
and Committee of the Whole meetings where they can address Council
members with their concerns.
Many thanks.
Sincerely,
Cairine Green
cjgreen@shaw.ca
What is the measure of success for any pilot project? If 100% of the homes apply to build a secondary suite – is that the success that this Council is looking for? If so, that would double the density.
With the economic reality almost anyone purchasing these homes in the future will be reliant on the income of a secondary suite to manage the mortgage. It may not be right away, but in the long term, I can guarantee you there will be a suite in nearly all 450 homes in that area – hence doubling the density (or more if the suites are rented to a family of 4) in an area that is outside the rural containment boundary and according to the OCP and Regional Growth Strategy is to remain rural. Just as Mr. Vantreights 100 home project may not be built out all at one time, but they will eventually all be built.
good point, however it will only double the density if each of those 450 homes get approval for and build and rent a secondary suite. What I find interesting is that the secondary suite thing is billed as a ‘pilot’ project and yet there does not seem to be a contingency plan in regards to the project not working. Do the homes get rezoned again because nobody has constructed a seconday suite? What is the timeline to gauge whether it is a viable thing to do or not and how is it evaluated?
We have to look in our own North Saanich backyard before we complain about our neighbours in Central Saanich.
We wonder how North Saanich residents and a North Saanich Council can be critical or non-supportive of a 100 home subdivision in Central Saanich when the majority of North Saanich Council have already voiced their support for the rezoning of 450 homes to allow secondary suites that will double the density of an area designated “rural” in the Regional Growth Strategy. This would happen directly next door to the Vantreight development of 100 homes (including suites).
To quote a friend: “do we have a majority of council that says one thing – but does another? Only time will tell.