A trio of tall buildings containing 555 rental housing units is set to rise from the old Mayfair Lanes bowling site in Saanich.
The long-vacant property at the corner of Tolmie Avenue and Oak Street was once home to a busy 10-pin bowling alley originally built in 1963. Loblaw purchased the property in 2005 and the building was torn down the next year. The 13,670-square-metre lot has remained vacant since.
“This is going to be something that we talk about in the future – the old bowling alley that now houses 555 people, individuals, small families,” Coun. Mena Westhaver said during the Oct. 28 council meeting where Saanich approved first three readings of the required series of bylaws.
“People will be able to live and work in the same proximity,” she added, voicing strong support echoed around the table.
The latest application by Townline to develop the site started in December 2022, proposing the three towers of 21 to 24 storeys, mixed-use residential (555 units) and commercial development with a Real Canadian Superstore serving as anchor.
“I guess we could say this application is the equivalent of bowling a strike, it ticks all the pins I was looking for in this situation. I think there’s a lot of layers of social value here,” said Coun. Zac de Vries. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of the more amenity-dense projects in the province.”
He noted it brings rental housing of a variety of sizes to an area that has commerce and activities.
The site is close to a major shopping centre, the planned rapid transit on Douglas Street and a planned protected bike lane on Tolmie that would connect to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail.
It got an “enthusiastic thumbs up” from Coun. Karen Harper, who made the motions required to rezone the property at 760 Tolmie Ave. The project also requires variances for parking, parking space width, loading, driveway width and excess services.
During the public input process started last year, the community voiced concern over plans for Cecelia Creek and potential daylighting of the waterway in the area.
Harper said she appreciated those concerns, but noted the district biodiversity conservation strategy identifies high-priority areas for restoration, and this was previously developed. It doesn’t look at “creating a natural state out of an area already heavily developed.”
The development doesn’t preclude daylighting of the creek in other parts of the neighbourhood, council heard during the Monday meeting.
“It’s a site that’s very much in an urban area. I know what we’re talking about is basically developing a piece of land that has already been developed before .. it will be a big step forward for the community in a positive way,” she said.
“I always ask one fundamental question: Is this the right location for this type of development? and it absolutely is.”
While voting in favour of pushing the proposal closer to completion, Coun. Nathalie Chambers cited concern over the project’s exemption for community amenity contributions.
As full rentals, the project is exempt from mandated community amenities. However, the proponent plans to put $315,000 towards the future infrastructure needs of Oak Street; $15,000 towards signal timing optimization studies for various intersections in the area; and $20,000 towards cycling infrastructure beyond the frontage of the development site. The contributions would form part of the development’s works and services agreement.
Find the full application online at saanich.ca.
