A public meeting among Cordova Bay residents after Aragon Properties unveiled an ambitious housing project plan at a former gravel pit. 

What began as a proposal for a 300-unit project a decade ago ballooned into a plan for over 1,100 units B次元官网网址� although the exact size and scope of the project have yet to be finalized. 

Residents who attended the Nov. 29 meeting mentioned having felt B次元官网网址渂lindsidedB次元官网网址� and excluded from the process. 

B次元官网网址淚 was shocked like everyone else,B次元官网网址� said Dan Horth, a longtime Cordova Bay resident. B次元官网网址淭hey've [had] everything planned and yet hardly anyone knew about this.

Appalled by the developerB次元官网网址檚 approach and absence of community input, the 61-year-old  in late January opposing the project. As of Feb. 27, it had 1,039 signatures.

Horth told Saanich B次元官网网址 that AragonB次元官网网址檚 proposed plan would feature a mix of highrises and multi-storey townhouses concentrated on a 26-acre site along the 700 block of Cordova Bay Road.

B次元官网网址淎ragon came at this meeting and they basically told us what they were going to do,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t also was not communicated at all that they were going to increase this density.B次元官网网址� 

This sharp rise in density, which he estimates could bring over 2,000 new residents to the neighbourhood, would significantly impact traffic on a road already grappling with B次元官网网址渂rutalB次元官网网址� rush-hour jams, argued Horth. 

He also shared concerns about the strains the plan would potentially exert on existing public services, infrastructure, the environment, and the community as a whole, among other things. 

Horth, like many Cordova Bay residents, said he isnB次元官网网址檛 against growth. However, he believes growth should be conscientious and shaped by community input, particularly for a project this large.

B次元官网网址淚t's not like we don't want any development, but it is clearly outrageous on so many levels,B次元官网网址� said Horth. B次元官网网址淚f [Aragon] had consulted with us, maybe our attitudes would be a little bit different, but they have chosen not to go that route.

B次元官网网址淚 think the whole issue [with] this development is that no one knows what's going on. It's kind of a catch-22. A lot of that information doesn't exist and they're not being forthcoming with it.B次元官网网址�

Noting B次元官网网址渢hat the plans did not meet a lot of people's expectations,B次元官网网址� Saanich Coun. Colin Plant clarified that Aragon hasnB次元官网网址檛 submitted an application yet. As a result, he added, the council wonB次元官网网址檛 discuss the project until a plan is presented.

B次元官网网址淢y advice to the residents [is] to stay informed and to see where the application is at by following along on our where, as projects get submitted with Saanich, they become something you can follow online to see where they are at in their process,B次元官网网址� said Plant. 

Despite being B次元官网网址渧ery earlyB次元官网网址� to vote yay or nay on the project, Plant hinted that council may not prioritize the project once Aragon comes forth with an application.

B次元官网网址淢y understanding is this is a market development, which means it will not be prioritized for Saanich's planning staff, whereas affordable housing projects and rental projects do get fast-tracked because we are in desperate need of that,B次元官网网址� he said. 

After hearing the concerns of Cordova Bay residents, Plant said that AragonB次元官网网址檚 plan will have to respect the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 planning framework, align with the district's official community plan, and include public input. 

B次元官网网址淲e all want to keep Saanich special, but we need to recognize that change is going to happen,B次元官网网址� said Plant. B次元官网网址淏ut we're trying to manage the change as opposed to just letting it happen without a plan.

B次元官网网址淭his is in no way complete; it's just the beginning of the journey.B次元官网网址�

Saanich B次元官网网址 reached out to Aragon for comments but did not hear back before deadline.