On July 17, Urban Systems, a company that is a paying member of the UDI development lobby, advised Saanich on policy regarding community amenity contributions (CACs), density bonuses and cash in lieu. They also mentioned that land-lift/upzoning could increase value by 50%.

As reported in the Saanich B次元官网网址, council approved a reduction in the CAC rate by 60% that night.

The UDI has lobbied Saanich extensively for reductions in CACs and DCCs (development cost charges) and one UDI member company has offered some pretty lowball figures for cash in lieu of payments for dozens of potential tree removals, despite that the local action plan states quite clearly: B次元官网网址淩etain existing tree canopy cover where possible.B次元官网网址�

Urban Systems was paid by Saanich on the B次元官网网址淐ommunity Amenity Housing ProgramB次元官网网址� and the B次元官网网址淒CC Bylaw Program Review and DevelopmentB次元官网网址� over $469,000 combined total over the last five years.

I could have saved the district that entire amount with a bit of free advice: donB次元官网网址檛 give developers and speculators a bunch of discounts, they arenB次元官网网址檛 the ones who need it.

Instead, Saanich looked to a development lobby member for advice on these issues at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars, when the same lobby was already offering similar advice (and a lot of it) for free!

When I recently asked a councillor to clarify the meaning of cash in lieu, I was informed: B次元官网网址淐ash in lieu usually refers to a situation where instead of meeting the requirements of a policy the alternative is to provide cash in lieu.B次元官网网址�

Notwithstanding the undefined term being left in its supposed definition; if that is the case, IB次元官网网址檓 left wondering what the point of having policies actually is, if they can in some instances be circumvented through monetary contributions.

The fiscal future for Saanich does not look optimistic. To quote from a 2022 Saanich Financial Report carried out by KPMG: B次元官网网址淭otal debt is projected to increase from $52 million in 2022 to $263 million in 2031, representing an average increase of 41% per year.B次元官网网址� What do you think will happen to your taxes then?

Sasha Izard

Saanich