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Council's Track Record
Marina Expansion: Council Vote on Reviewing New Report
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May 2005 (Last Updated: 22 May 05)
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Last October, Council voted on a proposal by the Oak Bay Marine Group to expand North Saanich Marina to accommodate an additional 75 boat slips. Approval of this proposal requires amending the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the zoning by-laws; specifically by-laws 1057 and 1058. By voting in favour of this proposal Council went against the advice of its own Environmental Advisory Commission, which indicated that more information was required to evaluate the impact on the Shoal Harbour Bird Sanctuary.
Councillors voted for approval, pending a favourable review from Federal and Provincial regulatory agencies.
In April 2005, the District received a report from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans identifying measures required to mitigate the damages to the environment – but dilly-dallied whether to read it, as consideration of additional information would require another public hearing.
At the May 2nd Council meeting, councillors voted unanimously (with the exception of Councillor Scoones, who was not at the meeting) to review the report and hold another public hearing regarding the marina expansion on May 16th.
The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received. Comments submitted by our readers are the personal views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of North Saanich Online.
Mary W. Davie, Saanich
I am not a resident of North Saanich but what your municipality is considering affects all of us who have to travel the route through the area. I think it is dreadful that you would consider letting this company change forever this nature reserve. As one who has lived through the recent history of Rithet's Bog in Saanich I can say that we in Saanich have preserved this beautiful place which is viewed from the Pat Bay and you should do the same. I know Bob Wright and I patronize his resorts but his is going too far! He doesn't need to do this and you don't need to have this as a legacy for your municipality. Save this beautiful spot for all who enter the Island on the ferry. Maybe it is time we had one municipality in the Victoria area so we are not at the mercy of petty local politicians with no wider view.
Don Southern, Sidney
I must question what jurisdiction the Mayor & Council have over Federally regulated tidal waters, and more specifically a Bird Sanctuary that exists as part of the MCBA to which Canada is a signatory. It would seem that our Federal and possibly our Provincial Govt's have abdicated all responsibility to this issue and the broader issue of the Shoal Harbour Sanctuary.
I am an avid sailor and a member of SNSYC and see the need for additional moorage...but...it would seem that this proposal has been made in haste with a view to development, not preservation. Surely there must be other less environmentally sensitive areas for such use that would appease all concerned parties.
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