Mayor Haynes has circulated a draft poster with information on student rentals to QCHCA and other CAs, as well as student societies, for feedback before it’s published. Please have a look and address any comments to Mayor Haynes. Thank you!
Community Living Victoria development proposal update
Some of you may be aware that Community Living Victoria has applied for rezoning of its property on Cedar Hill Crossroad to construct a 41-unit affordable housing complex with 20% of the units allocated to people with intellectual disabilities. The proposal, which includes the relocation and redevelopment of the old Cedar Hill School and seeks heritage designation, has been put on hold awaiting award of CMHC funding. For more information on the proposed project and timelines, please go to https://www.
Mayor Haynes’ annual address to Saanich Citizens
Mayor Haynes has asked Community Associations to pass along his 2020 Annual Address in which he “describes a series of highlights achieved in Saanich this past year and then takes us on a journey over some of the tremendous opportunities that lay ahead in 2021. These opportunities are aspirational. They are ones to explore and perhaps deliver during the next two years of our mandate.” Click here to read the whole Address.
Notice of Public Hearing on Non-medical Cannabis Store Licences
Saanich will be holding a Public Hearing on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15 at 7PM to allow the public to make verbal or written representation to Council with respect to proposed applications for non-medical cannabis retail stores at 3669 Shelbourne Street (DBA Cloud Nine Cannabis) and at 4144 Wilkinson Road (Costa Canna Corp). Details on submitting a written response or speaking to Council virtually are laid out in this notice from Saanich.
Naming the new park
Saanich Parks has asked us to provide input into the naming of the new property donated by Mr. Brian Patriquin in his will. Our input is requested by mid-December so please share your comments and suggestions by emailing qchca3003@gmail.com no later than December 10.
The family has requested the name be Jenkins Pond and Saanich Parks has suggested Jenkins Pond Park. The actual park area will also include two further sections of land behind the four homes on the east side of Ascot adjacent to the Pond. Given the sensitivity of the ecosystem and the habitat and corridor it provides for wildlife, QCHCA and the Friends of Cedar Hill Park believe the ultimate name should reflect these facts – i.e. use of the words nature reserve or similar.
Thank you for taking the time to share your views!
Braefoot’s The Great Adventure
Braefoot’s ‘The Great Adventure’ is a photo scavenger hunt around Saanich and the surrounding municipalities with teams of up to six people. The funds raised are used for bursaries given to deserving post-secondary students “who show leadership through service to the community” and toward Barefoot Summer Camp Programs. The contest ends on Sunday, December 6 at 4 pm
For more införmation or to register, go to https://www.braefoot.ca/great-adventure.
Know what to flush
Did you know? CRD Environmental Services is asking citizens to be aware of the types of items we should not be flushing down our toilets as they can clog drains and/or cause harm to our marine environments. These include:
* Wipes and other “flushable” products – disposable wipes (baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, personal wipes) and other items marketed as “flushable” are not actually meant to be flushed.
• Stringy things and plastic – the stringy things you find in the bathroom, like hair and dental floss, can tie together other unflushable waste in the sewer system, creating a big mess. Plastic items like condoms, contact lenses and tampon applicators should go in the garbage, not the toilet.
• Medication – if you flush expired or unwanted medication it can have a negative impact on the marine environment. Medications should be returned to a pharmacy for proper disposal.
To find out more . . .
Crosswalk improvements on Braefoot at Harrop
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.
Cedar Hill Park Management Plan going to Council October 19
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”
University Heights renewal project to be ‘paused’
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.”
