Saanich residents got a first-hand look at the facility the district says is in need of a $150-million revamp.
The gates of the Saanich Operations Centre (SOC) swung open to the public on May 24, allowing residents to tour the 13.2-acre McKenzie Avenue site developed between the 1950s and 1970s.
On May 21, Saanich launched an alternative approval process (AAP) to seek public support to borrow $150 million to redevelop the site. If over 10 per cent of electors oppose the project before June 25, a referendum will be required to move the plan ahead.
In the shade of a tucked-away shed, attendees also had the chance to check out a series of poster boards breaking down the project’s costs and benefits.
District representatives were there to answer the public's questions.
“When you see these buildings, you can see how they've been built in an ad-hoc nature. They're in very poor condition,” said director of engineering Harley Machielse.
“They don't support the health and safety of our workers, and they aren't efficient. A new facility wouldn't just improve the culture and the morale of our staff, but it's going to allow us to more efficiently serve our residents.”
The open house attracted many opposed to the project.
Mehdi Najari, a resident and member of Save Our Saanich, expressed concerns about the revamp's price tag and how it would affect taxes.
According to a recent report, the average homeowner will see their taxes increase by 0.85 per cent per year for four years if the revamp moves forward. They will also face annual increases of $3.60, $4 and $1.70 to their water, sewer and solid waste services utility bills for four years, respectively.
“How many of these things [is it going to take] to break our backs and force us out of our homes because we can't pay," said Najari.
"Seniors like myself – we have limited income.”
Stacy McGhee, the district’s manager of strategic facilities planning, stressed that despite unpopular tax increases, the SOC nevertheless needs work.
“I'm a Saanich taxpayer. I don't like seeing my taxes increased to a point where I'd ... wonder what's going on, but at the same time, I know this has to happen,” he said.
Machielse added that the district has already “considered a process to slowly increase and introduce new taxes.”
Others stood against plans to offer part of the property to a private developer to raise apartment buildings.
“Why are you taking public land, giving it to developers ... while we can build on public land real affordable housing,” said Najari.
Saanich says a partnership with a private developer will help offset the cost of the operations centre, while increasing its housing stock.
Tanya Litton, another member of Save Our Saanich, argued against the way the district is looking to fund the project.
“I just feel like the AAP is a sneaky way to do it,” she said.
“Not many people know about it. It's very difficult to find information about it on the website. I would say it needs to be a referendum.”
While Machielse said that referendums are costly, McGhee explained he doesn't believe the issue is a matter of discretion.
“Do we want to give citizens the opportunity to say, ‘Well, I'd like to avail myself of worrying about roads and traffic and the fact that, when I flush my toilet in the morning, water removes waste’?”
For more information, visit: saanich.ca.
With files from Olivier Lauren.
