Residents spoke and Saanich council heard, said Mayor Dean Murdock.
After a tumultuous start to the previous round of public engagement, residents are now invited to share their views on the updated draft Quadra McKenzie Plan (QMP).
Saanich is launching an additional round of public engagement sessions where folks can review the new plan, complete an online survey via HelloSaanich and attend webinars, open houses, or pop-up events, starting Sept. 10.
The updated plan aims to address key changes that respond to previous public input and council direction, said Murdock.
“The council has responded to that by requesting that staff revise the plan to address some of the more controversial items, particularly removing the discussion around dedicated transit lanes on McKenzie,” he said. “That will now happen as part of a separate planning process that will be led by BC Transit.”
In addition to addressing traffic concerns on the plan’s busiest artery, the new document proposes a “more modest version” on building heights and density across the area, particularly in Quadra North. More parcels are now designated as urban townhomes and apartments (3 to 4 storeys).
Murdock emphasized that feedback from this engagement round is vital in crafting the final plan and invited all Saanich residents to speak up in shaping the future of their community.
“It's so important that everyone has the opportunity to have their say,” he said. “This is a planning process that will guide decision-making in Saanich for the next 30 years.
“So we want to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to weigh in on what that future looks like.”
Schedule:
- Webinars (online at saanich.ca/QMP)
• Wednesday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 11, 6–7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 16, noon–1:30 p.m.
- Open houses (Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Ave.)
• Wednesday, Sept. 17, 4:30–8 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 23, 4:30–8 p.m.
- Pop-up events: See saanich.ca/QMP for times and locations.
Using every tool at their disposal to connect with the public, Murdock invites everyone to share their thoughts on the QMP.
“We want to try and reach people in as many different ways as we can to ensure that they can be part of this process,” he said. “People have busy lives, and we get that, so it's so important that we have different mechanisms to try and engage people.”
For more information, visit Saanich.ca/QMP or HelloSaanich.
