Saanich council greenlit a 93-unit housing project in Gordon Head on Tuesday (Oct. 8).
After a two-day public hearing, held over two weeks, where neighbours voiced concerns about the project's impact on the area and potential traffic issues, Saanich council approved the development at the corner of Gordon Head and Feltham roads.
Proposed by Abstract Developments, the four-storey building is set to include 70 units, ranging from studios to four-bedroom apartments, along with 23 townhouses. The complex will also feature a commercial café and provide a total of 120 parking spaces.
Garnering majority support, seven council members voted in favour of the nearly 6,400-square-metre project, while two expressed their disapproval.
Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff introduced the motion, thanking the public for sharing their input and concerns during the process. He acknowledged a sense of “development fatigue” in the neighbourhood, a sentiment he sympathized with. However, he emphasized the project's importance in offering diverse housing options.
“I want to let folks know that I feel you,” Bondaroff said. “I live down the street, and we’re getting a ton of new projects in the neighbourhood, and that can be very frustrating, but it’s also a sign that we’re currently tackling the housing crisis.
We were elected to address a real concern in our community, and when you’re tackling the housing crisis, it means that you are building housing, and that can be somewhat disruptive.”
Coun. Susan Brice acknowledged the community's concerns and “skepticism” about the major development in a neighbourhood primarily composed of single-family homes. However, she emphasized that similar projects in other areas have proven to be “delightfully positive over the years in other neighbourhoods.”
Equally supportive, Couns. Zac de Vries and Mena Westhaver stated that the new housing complex would enhance the community with its proposed café and new residents. Coun. Karen Harper added that the project would make good use of the vacant land.
Coun. Colin Plant supported the motion, adding that the era of single-family homes as the dominant housing type has come to an end.
“The economics of housing are not going to support single-family homes for the majority of our residents and future residents especially,” said Plant. “I say that with sadness because I have four [children] who would like to get their own housing.”
Couns. Nathalie Chamber and Judy Brownoff were the only two who opposed the motion, citing the lack of affordable options offered as their main concern.
“I do find this one challenging,” said Brownoff. “We need to have affordable units everywhere in Saanich [and] I would have been happier if this applicant would have thought about some affordable units in this building.”
Abstract Development has been asked for $289,920 in community amenity contributions to improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and support the affordable housing fund.
