Central Saanich council voted to bring the proposed affordable housing development in Saanichton to a public hearing on Dec. 9.
On Monday (Nov. 25) council voted 5-2 in favour of a public hearing for the revised proposal submitted by Aryze Developments for the five properties at 7551 East Saanich Rd. and 1934 – 1966 Hovey Rd.
Since the last council meeting on Nov. 4, Aryze has revised its proposal reducing the west building's height from six storeys to four, which they say is directly in line with the official community plan bylaw. To guarantee that the residences are within the means of low-income seniors, the developers say the Legion building will remain at six storeys.
Couns. Zeb King and Robert Thompson opposed the motion sharing concerns about amending the OCP for the development adopted in 2023.
"My problem is that I don't think a project this high and dense is suitable for a residential street in a residential neighbourhood," Thompson said. "This is not to say that a public hearing shouldn't be held on a proposal."
Noting the overwhelming feedback from the community – through emails, letters and social media posts, to name a few – that gave little opportunity for council to respond, Coun. Sarah Riddell says a public hearing is a chance to level the playing field and ensure all council members are basing future motions related to the project and their decisions on the same information, a view shared by Coun. Gordon Newton.
"It's been a while since we've seen something like this come forward to council," Newton said.
The same sentiment was expressed by Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Ravi Kahlon.
"When you have projects like this, where you've been working for years to bring it to this point and it's rejected, these types of projects won't come again," Kahlon told the News Review in a phone call on Monday morning.
The motion to take the proposed development at 1934 Hovey Rd. to a public hearing was initially shot down by council during its first reading on Oct. 21.
"At the last iteration of this proposal, I spoke in opposition to moving forward with the readings and a public hearing on the OCP amendment bylaw," said Mayor Ryan Windsor. "I still have significant concerns about this site, specifically."
Windsor was referring to an additional motion discussed during the meeting regarding a rezoning amendment and development permit application for the development project, which council agreed to bring to a separate public hearing on Jan. 13, 2025.
The mayor said the last time Central Saanich made some amendments to the OCP for a significant project was over a year ago.
"I'm not entirely convinced it's changed enough in the landscape of the changes that we've already adopted; that said and with those concerns clearly expressed, there's no guarantee that I would support an amendment post-public hearing," he said.
One resident, who walked out of the council meeting immediately after the vote, agreed with the mayor, but questioned why after spending so much time and resources making an OCP, council still voted to move the amendment bylaw to a public hearing.
"If the project doesn't align with the OCP, it should be just shut down right now, otherwise why have it in the first place?" he said.
The building, proposed by Aryze Developments, was planned in collaboration with the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation, the South Vancouver Island Housing Society, and the Royal Canadian Legion.
Luke Mari, Aryze principal of development said they are happy to see an amending bylaw move forward. "It brings this important affordable housing closer to reality.
Mari said the project is supported by many of the OCP policies. "We’ve used this important document to guide the project in delivering specific housing for seniors, veterans, health-care workers, and First Nations."
According to Kahlon, the provincial government requires all local governments to update their OCP by the end of 2025.
"Central Saanich will need to do that just like every other community," he said.
But the minister added that doesn't mean, that when a project comes forward and it doesn't fit the OCP the council should consider it.
"They should hear from the public, but they should also consider the fact that the community desperately needs health-care workers and housing for seniors and veterans," Kahlon said.
