Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association
Just another WordPress site
Saanich Engineering has advised QCHCA that it is “currently in the detailed design phase” of a crosswalk improvement project on Braefoot at Harrop, with construction anticipated to begin in late 2020.
The project includes wheel chair accessible curb drops at the existing crosswalk, a raised intersection, and pavement markings and signage.
For updates on this project, please visit www.saanich.ca/currentprojects.
The Cedar Hill Park Management Plan 2020-2040 will be going to Saanich Council for approval at its regular meeting on October 19. The report from Parks is part of Council’s agenda package and the item will be last on the evening’s agenda.
QCHCA wrote to Parks to share its views on an earlier draft and will speak at Council on the 19th. Members of the public are invited to phone in to the Council meeting to share their views but must register beforehand by emailing Council@saanich.ca or calling 250.475.5501 and stating your name, address and the date of the meeting at which you wish to speak.
As per Saanich’s website, “you must have access to a telephone, provided a telephone number that can be used to contact you, and an email address where instructions can be sent to you. Registration deadline is 12:00 p.m. noon on the day of the meeting.
Public input is also accepted via email at council@saanich.ca or received in the Municipal Hall mailbox up until noon on the day of the meeting.
An opportunity to phone in during the meeting will be available, please watch the web stream for details. All meetings are streamed live on https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes.html”
Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association received word this morning from Wesbild, the owners of University Heights Shopping Centre, that “Regrettably, Wesbild has made the decision to “pause” this $230-million renewal project”. They go on to say, “Since our last group “zoom” discussion on August 18th, and subsequent presentation to Council on August 24th receiving First Reading (and, thank you to those who shared input with Council leading up to this milestone), our team at Wesbild has been working hard to resolve some outstanding critical issues with our existing tenant – Home Depot. (The decision) to “pause” this $230-million renewal project (was made) due to an impasse regarding requests for expansion and other financial concessions. We certainly did not come to this decision lightly, and it was important to us that you hear the news from us, directly.”
Wesbild offered “sincere gratitude to each of your organizations (and to you as individuals) for all the time, effort, thoughtful commentary and support over the last three years of planning, and community engagement (and) is doing all it can to address Home Depot’s requests and is hoping a final round of discussions can resolve the outstanding issues”. They will be keeping QCHCA and the other CAs informed “if things shift on this front”.
They conclude by saying, “We do not take for granted that the people of Saanich (our neighbours, our site visitors, local housing and transportation advocates, etc.) have been generous with their time and input in helping to shape this proposal. It is our earnest hope that this significant project can ultimately continue.”
Mayor Fred Haynes has asked that we share a letter from him to Saanich citizens re the “significant progress . . . made on developing the parameters for the pilot project that would set the default speed limit to 40 km/h on streets without a continuous yellow center line”.
The letter includes interesting supporting data from other countries and municipalities that have made similar changes.
The Mayor goes on to say that “in October or November staff from the regional municipalities will be bringing forward a Council update asking their respective councils for a motion to participate in a joint application. Unfortunately, the unexpected Provincial Election has impacted the project schedule and we will not see the application period for these Pilot Projects open in late October as initially anticipated. It will take some time for the new government to form and set their priorities before potentially opening the application period, so for now we should expect a 3-6 month delay in the potential implementation as a result of the election.”
The full text of the letter is here.
From Rebecca Newlove, Manager of Sustainability, Saanich
The District of Saanich would like to get your input on the Draft E-Mobility Strategy, available here.
The Draft Strategy aims to support a rapid transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and electric bikes (e-bikes) in Saanich. It has been based upon extensive research on electric mobility, input from stakeholders and the public, and reflects what we heard about the proposed actions from our last round of public engagement in Spring 2020, where many of you may have provided feedback. The Draft Strategy contains background information about electric mobility followed by an Action Plan in Section 8.
We encourage you to complete the survey available here to provide your feedback on the Draft Strategy. Alternatively, you can email feedback to sustainability@saanich.ca. The survey will be available until 27 September. Please also pass this on to your members where appropriate and others you think would be interested.
Feedback from this survey and via email will be used to finalize the Electric Mobility Strategy before it is presented to Saanich Council for approval later in 2020.
Thank you to all of you who have contributed to this project so far and for your continued input.
Rebecca Newlove
Wesbild’s redevelopment proposal for University Heights will go before Council on Monday, August 24. Wesbild’s final plans can be seen on their website here http://universityheightsvictoria.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/UH-RevisionPkg-Aug2020.pdf
You can find Saanich Planning’s report to Council on the proposed development here https://saanich.ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=1&event_id=710&meta_id=27650
Saanich has provided the following message re community engagement during the pandemic:
Due to COVID-19 measures, Saanich is unable to accommodate the public for any Council, Committee of the Whole, Advisory, Board or Foundation meetings while maintaining the limits on large gatherings due to the public health order.
As per the Order of the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Emergency Program Act, Ministerial Order No. M192, public attendance at the meeting is not required if it cannot be accommodated in accordance with the applicable requirements or recommendations under the Public Health Act.
To register to participate by telephone in the Public Input portion of the Agenda, please email council@saanich.ca or telephone 250-475-5501 and state your name, address and the date of the meeting at which you wish to speak. You must have access to a telephone, provide a telephone number that can be used to contact you, and an email address where instructions can be sent to you. Registration deadline is 12:00 p.m. noon on the day of the meeting.
Public input is also accepted via email at council@saanich.ca or received in the Municipal Hall mailbox up until noon on the day of the meeting.
An opportunity to phone in during the meeting will be available, please watch the web stream for details. All meetings are streamed live on https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes.html
The report from Saanich’s Director of Planning on the Garden Suite Study – Bylaw Amendments and Additional Information Related to Garden Suite Regulations – Bed and Breakfasts and Occupancy Requirements will be considered by Saanich Council at a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, August 17 commencing at 7 pm.
Due to COVID-19 measures, Saanich is unable to accommodate the public for any Council and Committee of the Whole meetings while maintaining the limits on large gatherings due to the public health order. Therefore, you will only be able to attend the meeting via electronic means.
As per the Order of the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Emergency Program Act, Ministerial Order No. M192, public attendance at the meeting is not required. Verbal public input can be provided via teleconference. Please see the meeting agenda for details on how to register to speak at the meeting.
Written public input for the Special Committee of the Whole meeting will be accepted at the Saanich Municipal Hall, via mail or via email at council@saanich.ca. Written correspondence received up to 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration. All correspondence submitted to the District of Saanich in response to our notification of meeting, will form part of the public record.
The report and agenda package will be available for viewing at:https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes.html as of August 13, 2020.
If you write to Council on this topic, QCHCA would appreciate being cc’d on your communication so we are aware of the issues and concerns of community residents. You can cc us at president@qchca.org.
Start your week off in a fun and productive way! Join us in cleaning the QCHCA mural on the northeast corner of Quadra at Tattersall. We will be there at 9 am on Monday, August 10 and welcome anyone to join us!
Bring your soft bristled brushes and any containers of water as possible. One suggestion is to bring it in old four-litre milk jugs. We will also need some warm soapy water for the initial washing. The mural-washing team ask you to please use your imaginations on how to transport without spilling!
Hope to see you there!!
Your QCHCA mural-washing team!
In the dry summer months, water use in the region nearly doubles due to outdoor watering of lawns and gardens. As the most common residential landscape, lawns are the thirsty culprit, accounting for the most excess water use. Unfortunately, about 50% of outdoor water is wasted due to evaporation, improper irrigation design and over watering.
Water wise lawn alternatives like native plant and vegetable gardens can save you time and money, on top of your water savings. Forget mowing and costly lawn treatments. Native plants are adapted to our local climate and wildlife, requiring little to no watering once established and no herbicides or pesticides. They can also create an oasis for local birds, pollinators and beneficial insects.
Vegetable gardens with efficient irrigation use up to 66% less water compared to traditional lawns and provide fresh and delicious food on your doorstep. They also save the energy that’s required to transport produce to the grocery store, and then to your home.
Convert areas of your lawn into garden with this quick and easy no dig method:
1. Add a layer of light excluding mulch material such as brown cardboard or three layers of newspaper on to your desired piece of yard. Make sure the cardboard or newspaper overlaps by several centimeters as weeds can sneak through any gap.
2. Water the cardboard/newspaper layer to help kill the grass and weeds.
3. Add a 10 cm layer of lightly patted down compost. Leave an edge of cardboard surrounding your new garden bed to prevent grass and weeds from growing back in.
Now you’re ready to plant! Vegetables and herbs like kale, chard and parsley can be planted in the summer for fall and winter harvest. Native plant seeds can be planted in the fall for a spring bloom.
Contact your community association for FREE vegetable or native plant seeds from the Capital Regional District.
Extend water wise practices to your lawn and go golden. Lawns naturally go dormant in the summer and will bounce back to green with the fall rains. To stay green, lawns only need an inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, even in the driest conditions.
The Sooke Lake Reservoir, our primary water source in the capital region, supplies over 418,000 people with clean and protected drinking water. The reservoir also provides protection against wildfire events and droughts and supports a vital habitat for many endangered species. Be water wise and convert your yard this summer.
Thank you for your continued water conservation efforts in the capital region!
 |
Abstract Development has submitted a rezoning and development permit application for 3839 Quadra Street on the southeast corner of Palmer. The rezoning requested is from RS-6 (single family dwelling) to a new site-specific zone. The development permit application is to construct a 6-storey, 77 unit strata-titled apartment with underground and surface parking. Variances are also requested. Abstract has asked us to let community members know they will be hosting a presentation on their updated application. This is happening today, August 5. One presentation happened at 1 pm and another will take place at 6 pm. If you missed the opportunity to see one of the presentations, please email Abstract to schedule a new date/time and cc QCHCA at president@qchca.org. Abstract will also put recordings of the information session on their websites so you can view them at a later date. QCHCA will be responding to Saanich Planning’s request for input by August 20. If you have not already done so, please forward any comments or copies of your communications to Planning or Council to president@qchca.org so we can be sure to incorporate your thoughts into our feedback. QCHCA submitted a response to Planning based on an earlier Abstract submission. You can read our letter here https://qchca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Letter-to-Planning-re-3839-3861-Quadra-Mar-13-2019.pdf
In Abstract’s letter to QCHCA, they state that: “In response to the comments we received at previous public Open Houses, from the Advisory Design Panel and Planning Staff, we have incorporated the following positive changes to our proposal for 3839 Quadra St:
|
