ItBԪַs hardly surprising that the Urban Development Institute, a group of developers with a high-minded label, has issued a BԪַreportBԪַ promoting wholesale construction in North Saanich; BԪַdevelopmentBԪַ is the instituteBԪַs middle name.
But what is surprising BԪַ and has so far gone unmentioned BԪַ is the fact that the report was written in response to the districtBԪַs solicitation, and was submitted to the districtBԪַs project team on May 5 at the districtBԪַs invitation. Two weeks later, it still awaits councilBԪַs attention.
But having read it myself BԪַ and also seen the project teamBԪַs truly horrific May 19 BԪַEmerging ConceptsBԪַ Zoom presentation BԪַ itBԪַs become graphically and painfully apparent what the district plans for our future BԪַ triplexes in Deep Cove? Four storeys on McTavish? - and ever more clear where theyBԪַre finding their inspiration.
On April 29, district planner Brian Green summarily dismissed a membersBԪַ survey from the North Saanich ResidentsBԪַ Association, writing BԪַBԪַwe only use input that is gained from engagement activities that the project team has developed BԪַBԪַ
In contrast, district communications manager Rebecca Penz welcomed the UDI report when quoted in these pages on May 20: BԪַThe Urban Development Institute feedback will be considered as part of the BԪַ engagement.BԪַ
See a difference?
Truth is, developers have always been involved in this OCP review; theyBԪַve been characterized as BԪַstakeholdersBԪַ from the start. At least two companies were invited to attend a closed May 18 Zoom design workshop even as the public BԪַ and all recording devices BԪַ were shut out. And the project teamBԪַs written materials are reliably skewed toward development. But the question of bias has been repeatedly raised to council and repeatedly dismissed.
So perhaps thereBԪַs nothing left to do but remind our representatives that the citizens of North Saanich won this battle in 2007 and BԪַ turning the last development-driven council out in 2016 BԪַ overwhelmingly won it again. Councillors: YouBԪַre better than this; please remember why you were elected. Citizens: Go to , review their mind-boggling plan, then step up again and save North Saanich.
Don Enright
North Saanich