The company that built Dean Park Estates did not foresee a library at the site of Panorama Recreation Centre when it donated the land to the District of North Saanich in 1975.
Bylaw No. 188 states B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™the Developer shall irrevocably dedicate to the Municipality for use as park and recreation land only all its right, title and interestB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™ in the block of land now occupied by Panorama.
That donation was in lieu of the developer building trails or parks within the Estates. As a result, all residents of North Saanich now enjoy not only the indoor facilities of Panorama but also the outdoor tennis courts and most especially, the delightful Eric Sherwood Trail.
A library in the northwest corner, as proposed, would ruin this trail, destroying the native hedgerow and forest canopy that makes it such a treasure. Eric Sherwood himself (former North Saanich mayor and alderman) would be horrified to see whatB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s being proposed.
If the District wants a library in North Saanich, the property across from Panorama at 1800 Forest Park Drive, is the obvious choice. ItB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s empty, tree-less and unused. Patrons could park at Panorama and walk over on the crosswalk that already exists.
I urge people to email their objections to admin@northsaanich.ca by noon on July 13, in time for the public hearing.
Suzanne Morphet
North Saanich