Our next meeting will be Tuesday Sept. 18th   7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
                             Colquitz Middle School - Foods Room
                                         draft agenda  posted
                      Please note that effective Sept. 2018, our meeting night
                                will change to the third TUESDAY of each month.

Nigel Valley
 A PUBLIC HEARING will be held in the SAANICH MUNICIPAL HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 770 Vernon Avenue, on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 at 7:00 P.M., to allow the public to make verbal or written representation to Council with respect to the  Nigel Valley re-development.
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    The MVCCA is preparing a list of questions to send to the candidates prior to the municipal election.
If you would to submit a question please contact us. The answers will be posted on the website.
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Take the Saanich Climate Survey!
Saanich residents, businesses and visitors are invited to complete a survey to help shape the new Climate Plan for Saanich.  Saanich Council recently committed to becoming a 100% renewable energy community, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, and to continue preparing for a changing climate. A public engagement process is underway to develop a new Climate Plan to deliver on this commitment and we would like your help!  Surveys may be completed online by visiting www.saanich.ca/climateplan, or on paper by contacting the Saanich Sustainability Department at sustainability@saanich.ca or 250-475-5494 x 3448.

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All Candidates Events          For Mayor and Councillor candidates only

Thursday, September 20, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.   Doors open to the public at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Gordon Head United Church (Upper Church Hall), 4201 Tyndall Ave. Sponsorship Organization:  Gordon Head Residents' Assoc.


Monday, September 24, 7 p.m.  Doors open to the public at 6:15 p.m.
Location:  Prospect Lake District Community Association, 5358 Sparton Road
Sponsorship Organization:  Prospect Lake District Community Assoc.


Wednesday, September 26, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.    Doors open to the public at 6:30 p.m.
Location:  Cadboro Bay United Church, 2625 Arbutus Road Sponsorship Organization:  Cadboro Bay Residents Association


Tuesday, October 2, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   Doors open to the public at 6:15 p.m.
Location:  Claremont Secondary School (Theatre), 4980 Wesley Road
Joint Sponsorship Organizations:  Broadmead Area Residents' Assoc.,  Cordova Bay Assoc. for Community Affairs & Blenkinsop Valley Community Assoc.


Thursday, October 4, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.   Meet and Greet begins at 6:30 p.m.
Location:  Garth Homer, 813 Darwin AvenueJoint Sponsorship Organizations: Quadra Cedar Hill Community Assoc. & Mount View Colquitz Community Assoc.

Note:  These events have been arranged and scheduled by the sponsorship organizations.
  If you have any questions, please contact them directly.



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Construction has begun on the Campus of Care affordable housing  - 3816 Carey Road 
                      Development details are online at www.crd.bc.ca/crhc    

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                                                            Re: Nigel Valley Development
 
Notes on presentation to council  by BC Housing on 13 July 2018
      The meeting was well attended with representatives of four community associations expressing general support for the project. Council voted to proceed to the public hearing, likely to be held in September. It is my understanding that in order to proceed with the current plans, the applicant requires a rezoning of 16 stories for the market building. The Nigel Square will be in shadow during the winter and there may be paid parking on the site. No roof top sound barriers will be required.
     There are a few smaller concerns that could still be addressed by council with regards to this site:
Council could request that the applicant put in solar powered lighting in Nigel Square to make it less dark.
Council could request that the Administrative Traffic Committee look into ‘Resident Only Parking’ on Darwin Ave.
      The most important change that council could make would be to not allow the market building parking variances to be written into the bylaw. The bylaw is a legal document and any concessions in it can not be revoked. This situation is a pre-zoning, and it is important to note that the development permit aspect does not have any time limit. Various levels of government have a role to play in the expansion of services generally in the Saanich Core
  Some ideas expressed include
     -  widening and lighting that section of the Lockside trail      
    -  sidewalks and traffic light planning in preparation of the increased density
      -  creation of community public space at the Saanich Hall
      -  planning for the increased elementary school enrollment
      -  planning for facilities such as a full sized library, community hall and other public use facilities  
      -  update the Saanich noise bylaw to include mandatory noise barriers on the roofs of institutional buildings
     -  that Saanich work with BC Transit to ensure that the Uptown transit hub meets the needs of the residents
 
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   Regina Park                        see news Sept 7th  Saanich News
  For the latest information on the Regina Park encampment.    see Saanich website

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Carey Road and Highway #1                                                                
     At article in the Saanich News  June 13, 2018  indicates that access to Carey Road
from Hwy #1, will be permanently closed and the intersection of Douglas St. and Saanich Road will be upgraded.            article at Saanich News

      Bus Lanes on Douglas
     For current information see:   Better Transit Alliance of Greater Victoria

     The Seaton Tunnel will be closed for about two months during the bus lane construction.
   portion of email received  Aug 16   "I've confirmed that through the existing construction project, the underpass tunnel will reopen with new and improved lighting; 21 new light fixtures and a standard highway side luminaire on each side. Our maintenance crews are also going to remove the vegetation prior to the reopening as well." Ryan Evanoff

Garden Suites Study

The District of Saanich is embarking on a study to explore potential regulations for garden suites as part of a larger effort to expand housing choices for residents. The public is invited to share ideas and concerns about garden suites at upcoming open houses and through a community survey.  Input will be used to help inform potential regulations.        information at  garden study


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Saanich Police  2018-2022 Strategic Plan

Please follow the link below to access the digital copy of the plan. Link to the plan:
www.saanichpolice.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1236:2018-strategic-plan&catid=38:uncategorised
 Link to just the videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Xd_w1vH5W6gzuYD6NpsSZe40o5JRT0b
 A hard copy of the plan is available as well and can be mailed directly to you or your association. If your Community Association is interested in having an officer attend one of your meetings to discuss the plan, or if you would like a hard copy of the plan, please email strategicplan@saanichpolice.ca.
                                               information provided by:  The Strategic Plan Steering Committee

          
 Saanich Heritage Register

     Our guest speakers at the January meeting spoke about the value of the many heritage buildings in our part of Saanich.  A heritage designation usually applies to only the exterior of the building. If you feel that you have a house that has
architectural, historic or contextual value, application forms are available from the Legislative Services at the Saanich Municipal Hall.  For information about local history contact Saanich archives
  
 
Draft Strategic Facilities Master Plan
 
Staff will be conducting a final round of public engagements located at various locations, mostly through our recreational facilities between January 15 and January 25, 2018. After compiling the input from the public, staff will be presenting the final document to Council sometime in February or March. The dates and times of these engagements can be found on the website.
Residents can visit the site and directly contribute by taking an on-line survey which will provide staff with the necessary input required to further advance the document for Council's consideration in the next few months.
The document as well as supporting information can be found at the following location:  Saanich facilities

Mural for Seaton Street Tunnel

On June 26, 2017 Saanich Council authorized the installation of a mural on the retaining wall at the north entry to the Seaton Street tunnel. Constable Lisa Bruschetta of Saanich’s Community Bike Squad arranged funding and Jessie Campbell supervised the youth artists from the Native Friendship Centre.
                                         

 
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        New technology to study traffic

A drone vehicle can provide traffic and street use information by either stationary, time lapse photography
or video. The residents of Arlene Place illustrate their traffic problem with this YouTube video:
Arlene Place traffic problem