Being a resident of Elk Lake Drive, and having retired after many years in real estate, I would like to offer my opinion on the proposed Doral Forest Park development.
I am not against development for the sake of development. The proposal put forth to council looks very appealing. However, it is just too big for the site. Not only is the height of the complex too high (11 storeys) but the amount of traffic to be added to the already overloaded roadway is going to be too excessive. Elk Lake Drive is already getting to be a drag strip with drivers looking for quicker access to either highway route. No one travels the speed limit and the situation is only getting worse. It is no wonder that the Ministry of Transportation advised against the new proposal. The existing road is at capacity.
Through a former realtorB次元官网网址檚 eyes, what I interpreted from peopleB次元官网网址檚 statements regarding more affordable housing was not realistic. With the increase in lumber costs and real estate values, even with a B次元官网网址�15 per cent less than appraised valueB次元官网网址� the B次元官网网址榓verage JoeB次元官网网址� expecting a good deal may not even qualify for a mortgage.
The dreamers out there expecting Saanich to provide them with B次元官网网址榯heir break in real estateB次元官网网址� just arenB次元官网网址檛 being realistic to themselves or anyone else. The municipality and Saanich taxpayers are under no obligation to provide cheap accommodation just so that you donB次元官网网址檛 have to move away.
Are we to understand that if another development comes along that exceeds height restrictions, hasnB次元官网网址檛 got enough available parking, is recommended not to proceed by MoTI, that council will just disobey such recommendations and precedents and once again seemingly rubber-stamp such proposals? And we havenB次元官网网址檛 even mentioned the protection of trees, birds and bees.
I do not think that council as a whole acted for B次元官网网址榯he will of the peopleB次元官网网址� but am grateful that Couns. Chambers and Brownoff expressed their concerns and disapproval.
John McVie
Saanich
