It has come to my attention that Saanich council is scheduled to again consider the rezoning and development permit application at 4085 Quadra St. and 945 Nicholson St. at a special council meeting on Aug. 18. That this proposal is to be considered again by council is a surprising and disturbing development. It is my understanding that council recently just “hit the pause” button on development proposals for the Quadra-McKenzie corridor – especially those that clearly required extensive rezoning beyond the subject property zoning allowances.
This development proposal requires site-specific zoning to permit a 12-storey monstrosity slapped right within what is currently a neighbourhood of mostly single-family residences in what is also a sensitive nature corridor linking Blenkinsop Valley through to Christmas Hill and Swan Lake. As a member of the North Quadra Community Association board of directors, it was my understanding that council had agreed that density for this area would be limited to structures of no more than six storeys. It is particularly alarming with regard to this proposal that it is located on the outer perimeter of the traffic density circle designated as a transition zone. Therefore, by council’s own policies, this proposal fails to comply in any way, shape, or form with that policy and should not be subject to special consideration at a special meeting of council.
I call on mayor and council to make clear that they are not going to attempt to sidestep the new stated policy through singular exemptions that will enable developers to defeat the policy through a program of development creep whereby one exemption enables a move toward more exemptions via site-specific zoning changes.
Mayor and council said recently that they had heard what “folks” were saying about the Quadra-McKenzie corridor. It is one thing to acknowledge having “heard” but this is a moment when mayor and council need to make clear that they have also “listened” and accordingly are rejecting this proposed rezoning rather than attempting to slip it through the approval process by the sleight of hand of a special meeting.
Mark Zuehlke
Saanich
