Central Saanich residents packed municipal hall Monday night to have their say on a controversial development but left in frustration after the public hearing was cancelled.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not trusting the process right now. I believe that the members of the public are here to speak, and they should be able to speak,B次元官网网址� said resident Jennifer Wear.
Central Saanich residents filled municipal hall Dec. 9 intending to make their voices heard on a proposal by Aryze Developments for 1934 Hovey Rd. which would feature 197 units in two buildings that would house seniors, veterans and health-care workers.
The affordable housing project was planned in collaboration with the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation, the South Vancouver Island Housing Society, and the Royal Canadian Legion.
The decision to cancel the public hearing followed a recommendation from staff who received new information Dec. 3 from the applicant, noting that the development application would be revised in response to community input.
The revision proposed reducing the height of a seniorsB次元官网网址� building from six storeys to four. At the time of the meeting, however, council had not yet received the updated proposal from Aryze Developments. B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 our intention to delay or frustrate the process B次元官网网址� we were simply responding to what we heard throughout our continued engagement process,B次元官网网址� said Melanie Ransome, AryzeB次元官网网址檚 director of marketing and communications, in a statement to the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review.
B次元官网网址淲e are committed to finding common ground B次元官网网址� and compromise is a key tenet in doing so. We look forward to sharing how these changes have improved the proposal and its ability to provide much-needed housing for veterans, seniors, and health-care workers across Central Saanich.B次元官网网址�
The knowledge that new information was forthcoming put council in an awkward position, without the full picture of the development plan.
B次元官网网址淯ltimately, I think itB次元官网网址檚 not democratically sound for us to receive information on a public hearing when details like height, setbacks, proximity to farmland, and the design specifics are not known,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Niall Paltiel.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think anyone on council or the public predicted this, and so in the spirit of ensuring that both council and the publicB次元官网网址檚 understanding and expectations are aligned, I think council made the best decision they could out of a lot of bad options tonight.B次元官网网址�
The hearing was originally intended to allow public input on amending the districtB次元官网网址檚 official community plan (OCP) to redesignate five properties from B次元官网网址渘eighbourhood residentialB次元官网网址� to B次元官网网址渕ulti-unit residential.B次元官网网址� If approved, the amendment would enable a new supportive housing project consisting of two multi-storey buildings, including market rental units along with housing for seniorsB次元官网网址� veterans and health care workers, to move ahead.
Central Saanich residents came out in droves, filling the municipal hall while many watched a live feed from the district fire hall. Despite this, council voted 5B次元官网网址�2 to adjourn, with Couns. Newton and King opposed.
Ironically, many residents previously divided on the issue were united in disappointment at councilB次元官网网址檚 decision.
B次元官网网址淏uilding affordable housing shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be this complicated or take this long,B次元官网网址� said Scott Duchak, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Victoria. B次元官网网址淚 think this is a unique project that balances surplus land from a legion, and it accomplishes their goal for seniorsB次元官网网址� housing plus affordable rental housing. So, IB次元官网网址檇 like to see the project proceed.B次元官网网址�
A sense of distrust was palpable among residents.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e delaying, delaying, delaying, and theyB次元官网网址檙e hoping people will give up because as winter comes, itB次元官网网址檚 tougher and tougher to come out,B次元官网网址� said Carmen Augustini, a Central Saanich resident.
Despite the frustration, Paltiel assured residents that the decision was made in good faith.
B次元官网网址淭here are no tactics of any kind here. ItB次元官网网址檚 just about good democratic process and land-use policy, and having a public hearing on a half-baked plan is bad policy.B次元官网网址�
While many were disappointed, the message resonated with some residents.
B次元官网网址淚 feel OK about this decision,B次元官网网址� said Brian Smith, a resident living on Hovey Road near the proposed site. B次元官网网址淎t the next public hearing, theyB次元官网网址檒l talk about the OCP and the zoning bylaw and put it all into one. We all have more time to prepare. ItB次元官网网址檚 a neutral thing for me.B次元官网网址�
It remains unclear when a new public hearing will be scheduled, as council must wait for a more complete development plan from the applicant.
B次元官网网址淚 think tonight we effectively pressed pause, wagged our finger at the applicant and said, B次元官网网址楥ome back with a full picture and a full story,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Paltiel.
B次元官网网址淚f they do that and council decides to forward it, the public will get a chance to be heard.B次元官网网址�
