Saanich councillors want to use helium balloons to help make their job easier.

The balloons were a suggestion last Monday night from council regular Ken Whitcroft, an Inverness Road resident concerned about how much of a view he and his neighbours will lose if a six-storey condo is built down the road.

He wants height markers B次元官网网址� helium balloons, as discussed by council B次元官网网址� raised on the property to demarcate how high the proposed buildings will be and to get an idea of what skyline will be blocked out.

B次元官网网址淲ho doesnB次元官网网址檛 like balloons?B次元官网网址� joked Coun. Dean Murdock. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 worth having a look at how high these buildings might be.B次元官网网址�

The buildings are part of a planned condo complex at Inverness and Quadra Street that would see two five-storey and one six-storey condos erected.

Council has seen multiple proposals come forward for this lot over the last seven years including plans for an eight-storey condo, plans for 10 townhomes and a four-storey condo and, most recently, plans for three six-storey condos.

But public consultation and concerns about building height spurred applicant Jim McLaren to reduce the height of his proposed buildings.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e listened and listened and tried to incorporate (neighboursB次元官网网址�) ideas into it,B次元官网网址� he told council. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to do everything we can to mitigate the problems, but IB次元官网网址檓 at a loss for things to do to make this work.B次元官网网址�

Though there remain concerns about the heights of the three buildings that make up the 92-unit complex, council unanimously supported the proposal and moved it to public hearing.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e zeroed in on some of the main features. B次元官网网址� Now weB次元官网网址檒l have to make up our our minds, as a council, to move forward on this or not,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Wayne Hunter.

Mayor Frank Leonard asked the applicant for geodetic mapping that will provide a more concrete diagram of the building heights because, as Coun. Judy Brownoff pointed out: B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 windy, balloons wonB次元官网网址檛 work.B次元官网网址�

No date has been set for the public hearing or when the helium balloons will be set up on the property. Brownoff stressed that thorough public notification should be done to inform neighbours of when it happens.

Though the idea of B次元官网网址渓ong poles on a tripodB次元官网网址� was also suggested, by Coun. Vic Derman who said itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渋mportant that people get a sense of how high (the buildings are).B次元官网网址� Coun. Leif Wergeland acknowledged hot air balloons may be the easiest option.

B次元官网网址淎ll we need to do is buy balloons and have some politicians blow them up.B次元官网网址�