Development re-zoning applications: Community Consultation
If you are planning to make a rezoning or development application to Saanich, please contact the MVCCA, even before you have selected a design. The role of the MVCCA is to meet with you; to ensure that you undertake appropriate community consultation, and to offer comments on your application. Genuine consultation with residents who live near your site can streamline the application process, by providing feedback early on in the process.
We invite you to contact us and to attend one of our regularly scheduled meetings, as well as provide as many meetings for the public as become necessary. The MVCCA will try to send a representative to any public meetings that you hold. Please provide two weeks notice and check that your meeting date is not in conflict with our scheduled meetings. see meeting information. The extent of your neighbourhood consultation will depend on the size of your project.
After your project has been reviewed by Saanich Planning department, they will send us the final site plans and a form letter that asks if we have any objections. Our reply will include notes on your presentation at our meeting, as well as a record of neighbour's responses and reports on any public meetings. A copy of our written remarks will be available for the developer. We will make every effort to ensure that a representative of the community association attends any relevant Saanich council meetings. Generally, we will also make an oral presentation, as may the members of the public.
Project presentation at MVCCA meeting
When you would like to make a presentation at one of our meetings contact us, and we will add the project to our agenda. You will be given 20 -30 minutes at the beginning of the meeting and your presentation should be provided on paper as
well as with white boards, if desired. Helpful information to bring with you:
Suggestions for public meetings
The developer is responsible for selection of a suitable venue and all costs related to public meetings. The meeting should be well advertised and a letter of notification should be mailed or hand delivered to all properties within, a minimum of 300 meters of your site. Special measures may be needed to reach owners of rental properties and residents of apartments or condos.
An Open House format is not appropriate for the initial consultation with the neighbours. Please structure the meeting so as to include: time for the public to examine the information, then a presentation, then a question and answer time.
Community concerns: Sample questions that have arisen in the past:
Categories of amenities
1. Site amenities - are those that apply to the residents and lease-holders of the site.
2. Local amenities - apply to improvements to the spaces near to the site
3. Community amenities - apply to the larger community for example affordable housing
4. Some Community Associations welcome contributions towards their ongoing activities.
Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) are amenity contributions offered by developers and agreed to by local governments, often but not exclusively as part of a rezoning process initiated by the developer. CACs typically include the provision of amenities, affordable housing, or financial contributions towards amenities, or some combination of these.
Some site amenities that add value to a development include:
Underground placement of utilities, secure bike lock up, car share program, electric car charging stations, electric bike plugins, open space, gardening area, children’s area, solar power or solar ready, outdoor space for employees to smoke, energy efficient construction, artwork, green roof.
Some local area amenities include:
- high quality privacy screening with immediate neighbours
- covenants (such as for hours of business)
- public plaza, benches, public art, mural, historical markers
- public right of way within site, pedestrian safe walking routes
- extra sidewalks beyond Saanich requirement, cross walks, traffic calming measures, traffic lights
- tree planting beyond that required by Saanich
- park or green space improvements
- signage improvements, such as for walking / cycling routes
- financial support for unspecified amenity to be developed by Saanich for that neighbourhood
updated December 2022
If you are planning to make a rezoning or development application to Saanich, please contact the MVCCA, even before you have selected a design. The role of the MVCCA is to meet with you; to ensure that you undertake appropriate community consultation, and to offer comments on your application. Genuine consultation with residents who live near your site can streamline the application process, by providing feedback early on in the process.
We invite you to contact us and to attend one of our regularly scheduled meetings, as well as provide as many meetings for the public as become necessary. The MVCCA will try to send a representative to any public meetings that you hold. Please provide two weeks notice and check that your meeting date is not in conflict with our scheduled meetings. see meeting information. The extent of your neighbourhood consultation will depend on the size of your project.
After your project has been reviewed by Saanich Planning department, they will send us the final site plans and a form letter that asks if we have any objections. Our reply will include notes on your presentation at our meeting, as well as a record of neighbour's responses and reports on any public meetings. A copy of our written remarks will be available for the developer. We will make every effort to ensure that a representative of the community association attends any relevant Saanich council meetings. Generally, we will also make an oral presentation, as may the members of the public.
Project presentation at MVCCA meeting
When you would like to make a presentation at one of our meetings contact us, and we will add the project to our agenda. You will be given 20 -30 minutes at the beginning of the meeting and your presentation should be provided on paper as
well as with white boards, if desired. Helpful information to bring with you:
- A detailed site map for the area under discussion.
- Options you have considered or a may be possible to consider.
- Existing zoning / zoning requested (if known).
- Results of discussions with immediate neighbours.
- Size and description of lot(s).
- Artist’s rendering that includes the surrounding properties.
- Any innovative features or ideas.
- Description of covenants being offered and variances that may be sought, depending on final design.
- Community Amenity Contributions you would consider.
Suggestions for public meetings
The developer is responsible for selection of a suitable venue and all costs related to public meetings. The meeting should be well advertised and a letter of notification should be mailed or hand delivered to all properties within, a minimum of 300 meters of your site. Special measures may be needed to reach owners of rental properties and residents of apartments or condos.
An Open House format is not appropriate for the initial consultation with the neighbours. Please structure the meeting so as to include: time for the public to examine the information, then a presentation, then a question and answer time.
Community concerns: Sample questions that have arisen in the past:
- How does the construction impact the space immediately around it?
- Character and design suitability to the neighbourhood, use of vision corridors, siting.
- Privacy, use of window placement and fencing
- Existing soil and infill, - history of contaminates, disposal procedure.
- Who owns the property? Are there options on the sale of the property? When was the property last sold? Have there been previous rezoning applications for this property?
- General idea of timeline of applications to Saanich and the beginning of construction.
- Variances that may be sought. (i.e. height, resident parking, guest parking, set backs etc.)
- Materials used in construction and purchase of materials locally
- Will an effort be made to recycle existing materials on site?
- Landscaping - use of native plants, maintenance of existing trees or features, need for tree survey
- Estimate of number of people that will be working at any businesses
- Value-added features to attract businesses to locate here
- Increased traffic, street parking issues, noise, use of trucks for business
- Businesses hours of operation and after hours delivery trucks
- Layout – fostering green space or pavement,
- Covered bicycle space, secure bicycle lock up, motorcycle space
- Use of roof space (white roof, patio, solar power, green roof) - features above roof line
- Roof equipment – noise mitigation, screening, appearance
- New technologies in heating and lighting
- Light pollution reduced from windows or signage
- Amount of pavement needed, use of alternatives
- Commercial signage, size and location
- Green certification sought or other sustainable practices
Categories of amenities
1. Site amenities - are those that apply to the residents and lease-holders of the site.
2. Local amenities - apply to improvements to the spaces near to the site
3. Community amenities - apply to the larger community for example affordable housing
4. Some Community Associations welcome contributions towards their ongoing activities.
Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) are amenity contributions offered by developers and agreed to by local governments, often but not exclusively as part of a rezoning process initiated by the developer. CACs typically include the provision of amenities, affordable housing, or financial contributions towards amenities, or some combination of these.
Some site amenities that add value to a development include:
Underground placement of utilities, secure bike lock up, car share program, electric car charging stations, electric bike plugins, open space, gardening area, children’s area, solar power or solar ready, outdoor space for employees to smoke, energy efficient construction, artwork, green roof.
Some local area amenities include:
- high quality privacy screening with immediate neighbours
- covenants (such as for hours of business)
- public plaza, benches, public art, mural, historical markers
- public right of way within site, pedestrian safe walking routes
- extra sidewalks beyond Saanich requirement, cross walks, traffic calming measures, traffic lights
- tree planting beyond that required by Saanich
- park or green space improvements
- signage improvements, such as for walking / cycling routes
- financial support for unspecified amenity to be developed by Saanich for that neighbourhood
updated December 2022