Five years ago Saanich council likely wouldB次元官网网址檝e given the green light to a 16-home subdivision on protected agricultural land. But times B次元官网网址� and priorities B次元官网网址� certainly have changed.
A request to exclude a 1.64-hectare parcel of land was rejected unanimously Monday night by a council that called the proposed project B次元官网网址渞epugnantB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渙ffensive.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭his is borne out of 1980s development,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Dean Murdock of the single-family lots, straight out of suburbia. B次元官网网址淥ur regional growth strategy would find this issue repugnant.B次元官网网址�
Recently adopted official community plans set goals for the future of Saanich, including the promotion of high density projects in urban areas and food security through farming.
Neither of those issues were addressed in the proposal, submitted by the Alberg family, who have owned the land for decades.
B次元官网网址淚t all hinges on what our values are,B次元官网网址� Coun. Susan Brice said. B次元官网网址淔or us to support the removal of land from the ALR it would have to be such a compelling argument (and be) for the greater good of our community B次元官网网址� not the development of more houses.B次元官网网址�
A dozen neighbours of the property, at 1516 Mount Douglas Cross Rd., spoke against taking the land out of the ALR. Despite the findings of an agrologist, hired by the applicant, who reported that the soil on the site is of poor quality, many speakers were adamant the land still be used for farming.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been farmed in the past,B次元官网网址� said neighbour Pat Summers. B次元官网网址淵es, itB次元官网网址檚 not being farmed. Does that mean they couldnB次元官网网址檛 farm it in the future? No. You might not be able to plant potatoes, but you can amend the soil. ThereB次元官网网址檚 lots of things that can happen.B次元官网网址�
Councillors agreed with neighboursB次元官网网址� sentiments that the agrologistB次元官网网址檚 findings donB次元官网网址檛 tell the whole story.
B次元官网网址淭hese decisions rely heavily on the science, the history and the policy surrounding the property,B次元官网网址� Mayor Frank Leonard said. B次元官网网址淲e have standards to keep, so my recommendation is that we, essentially, get a second opinion.B次元官网网址�
His concern is that there are a handful of similar small properties remaining in the municipality that are surrounded by residences, but have yet to come forward to be excluded from the ALR. He anticipates they will all eventually be brought before council.
B次元官网网址淔arming and local food production has changed. To say itB次元官网网址檚 too small or itB次元官网网址檚 not feasible in todayB次元官网网址檚 reality is not true,B次元官网网址� Coun. Judy Brownoff said.
Despite staffB次元官网网址檚 recommendation that council approve the exclusion of land from the ALR, the application failed.
