Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith says housing took centre stage in the Town of Sidney's agenda in 2024.
In the first half of the year, Sidney updated its zoning bylaw through in-person conversations with the community to ensure the bylaw aligned with the recently updated official community plan (OCP) as well as new provincial housing legislation.
“We were pleased by how many people made time to connect. More than 350 people came to these events and many sat down with staff for in-depth conversations,” McNeil-Smith said.
Council members voted in favour of a zoning amendment and a development permit for a new Beacon Avenue housing project that would offer 140 new apartments for the town. It was approved in June.
In November, as part of the provincial requirement, the town released an Interim Housing Needs Report looking at expected 20-year housing demand.
The forecast estimates nearly 3,000 additional dwelling units will be needed in Sidney by 2045 to accommodate expected population growth.
“We are on the right track to meeting this goal,” the mayor said.
By the end of 2025, the province requires municipalities across B.C. to update their OCP and zoning bylaws to reflect the most recent housing forecast.
Town employees are currently reviewing the current zoning bylaw and OCP to see what changes may be necessary to accommodate the anticipated population growth. Additional community engagement will take place if adjustments are needed.
"We are working hard to balance the needs of residents with the demand for new housing, while also meeting provincially mandated goals."
In 2024, council approved approximately 300 new dwelling units, including a purpose-built rental building on 2180 Beacon Ave. with 20 per cent of the 140 rental units planned for below-market rental.
“This building represents the last two acres of vacant land available for development in Sidney. We know that land is scarce in our compact community and housing will continue to be a challenge in 2025,” McNeil-Smith said.
He is hopeful the town’s provincial and federal applications for subsidized housing will be approved.
In addition to housing efforts, the mayor is proud of the ongoing improvements made to amenities and infrastructure in Sidney.
These include the completion of the Beacon Avenue West roundabout, new public washrooms near Beacon Park and upgrades to the West Side Multi-Use Path.
Among these projects, McNeil-Smith cites the construction of a new playground in Philip Brethour Park as “inspiring.”
On June 18, Philip Brethour Park opened an inclusive playground with features that support children and caregivers with physical disabilities, including a fully rubberized surface, friendship swing and a We-Go-Round, which is the first wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round of its kind on the Saanich Peninsula.
“It was wonderful to see children of different ages and abilities playing in the park and to see this quiet green space come to life with laughter and excitement.”
2024 also came with its own set of challenges for Sidney.
Recent legislative changes across numerous sectors, including emergency management, fire safety and building codes, have also resulted in “significant” new responsibilities for local governments.
“It is a challenge to keep up and meet the provincial timelines."
According to the mayor, most, if not all of these new responsibilities are important pieces of work, however, the rate at which they have been applied to local governments is “unprecedented.”
In 2025, the mayor says council will continue its work on housing, improved community amenities, protecting the environment and supporting local businesses and community organizations.
“We’ll continue to engage the public when significant projects come forward and we look forward to keeping Sidney a great place to live, work and visit,” he said.
