BC Hydro plans to offer the chunk of land between Kings Road and Haultain Street to the District of Saanich.
When and how much the initial offering price would be for the 5.5 acres are yet to be determined. Any price figures will be kept behind closed doors by Saanich council as it handles all land acquisitions in camera.
However, there is good reason to believe that Saanich is interested, said Rebecca Sterritt, a neighbour who helped organize more than 200 people for a Sept. 16 Kings Road block party. The party also served as a rally to have either Saanich or the CRD purchase the land and preserve it as a park.
B次元官网网址淲e have five of the current councillors saying theyB次元官网网址檙e supportive of the [Hydro land] being acquired and preserved, plus candidates,B次元官网网址� Sterritt said. B次元官网网址淢ost have said they are supportive.B次元官网网址�
Ted Olynyk, BC Hydro community relations, said the official liquidation process of the land has moved from offering it to crown corporations to First Nations, and will now be offered to local municipal governments, which could include the CRD.
(Inset photo: A childB次元官网网址檚 sign asking to save the vacant B.C. Hydro at Kings Road. B次元官网网址淒o not turn the park into condos. Park is much more prettier then some old condos.B次元官网网址� Facebook)
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be presenting local governments with a formal offer sometime soon,B次元官网网址� Olynyk said. B次元官网网址淚f [Saanich] wants to negotiate [they can]. Keep in mind we act on behalf of ratepayers across the province, we do whatB次元官网网址檚 best for ratepayers.B次元官网网址�
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In other words, donB次元官网网址檛 expect any discounts from BC Hydro to turn the land into a park. It is not zoned as park, though many believe Saanich council will not pass up the opportunity to purchase it. The central area of the lot is zoned P2 for utility zone (which permits such things as an ambulance or fire hall, or underground pump station) while the street fronts along both Kings and Haultain are zoned for single-family lots. Speculation based on the zoning means the property will be into the millions. The question is if Saanich can afford it.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been arguing that CRD could contribute,B次元官网网址� Sterritt said. B次元官网网址淛ust because it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been done in the past doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean it canB次元官网网址檛 be done now.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淔or a lot of people who use this park daily, itB次元官网网址檚 a central issue for the upcoming [Oct. 20 election],B次元官网网址� Sterritt said.
Sterritt said organizers of the B次元官网网址淪ave Kings ParkB次元官网网址� group (note it is not a park) will be sending a note to all 2,500 people whoB次元官网网址檝e signed the petition, many of them from Saanich, to tell them which councillors and mayoral candidates are in support of protecting it.
B次元官网网址淲e have support that goes beyond the acquisition,B次元官网网址� Sterritt said. B次元官网网址淟ifeCycles Project has shown interest in having a community garden there, volunteers with the Bowker Creek initiative are excited, too.
B次元官网网址淲e have a deficit of green space,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淭his is a no-brainer, but at the end of the day we need that political will, itB次元官网网址檚 nice to see that building and growing.B次元官网网址�
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