One of our favourite positive interests, the Shelbourne Community Kitchen, has recently been profiled by the Times Colonist newspaper, along with the SCK’s plans for expansion.
Look for SCK to start fundraising soon in support of that expansion.
The minutes of the February 9, 2023 meeting of the CCA board of directors may be found here.
The Vancouver Sun reports on the projected loss of tree canopy throughout Metro Vancouver, the negative effects of this, and the steps the Metro area needs to take to reverse this trend.
Almost certainly many of the same observations apply to the Victoria area and indeed to Saanich specifically, where developments – such as the recently approved “25-unit town-home project” undertaken by Abstracts Developments north of Swan Lake – will be removing many mature native tree species including Gary oaks.
An example of the tree loss suffered when single family dwellings are replaced with multi-family dwellings. We know additional housing is needed, but when we lose mature tree canopy we also lose the moderating effect its shade can have during extreme heat events.
We encourage Saanich and its planners to work toward increasing the tree canopy across all Saanich neighbourhoods, and to perhaps work more creatively to retain mature native species when redevelopment occurs.
Saanich has an Urban Forest Strategy (UFS).
It [the UFS] provides a comprehensive list of policies and actions to enhance our urban forest and address current and future issues.
UFS update -bulletin
Saanich is in the process of updating the UFS, with Phase 1 starting this spring.
Before phase 1, you can still contribute to the online mapping tool. Share natural places you value, help identify threats to these places, and let us know where things could be improved.
UFS update -bulletin
Within the geography of the CCA, we’ve had Saanich improve Browning Park and most recently do a refresh on Allanby Park; both efforts focused primarily on playgrounds for neighbourhood children.
The recently acquired Kings Road Community Nature Green Space, with its bounty of trees shading the trail alongside Bowker Creek, and its open spaces frequently used by dog walkers, could benefit in this UFS exercise by CCA residents highlighting its importance to them. We encourage you to take the time to use that online mapping tool to flag Kings Road Community Nature Green Space and to provide your thoughts on that space’s urban forest.
On Wednesday, February 1st, at the Kings Road Nature Space, an event sponsored by both BC Hydro and The District of Saanich occurred during which Lansdowne Middle School’s eco-education class helped to restore native plant habitat.
Here’s an update on what was accomplished.
The children planted a total of 233 plants including:
update on the event
Yarrow, Salal, Red-Flowering currant, Ocean Spray, Dull Oregon-Grape, Hedge-Nettle, California Brome, Columbia Brome, Nootka Rose, Snowberry, Sword Fern and Sea Blush
Please contact by email Deanna Pfeifer, or by phone (250) 514-2860 if you’d like to help at events like this or simply learn more about Kings Road Nature Space.
The minutes of the January 12, 2023 meeting of the CCA board of directors may be found here.
Saanich has issued an official notice that Council will be considering the application to have the subject Shelbourne Street addresses rezoned to accommodate the development proposed by Abstract Developments and posted about earlier here and here.
This email is the official notification that the Rezoning and Development Permit Application for 3385, 3399, 3401 and 3405 Shelbourne Street will be considered by Saanich Council at a Council meeting to be held on Monday, February 27, 2023, in Council Chambers, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, commencing at 7:00 p.m.
To speak at the meeting, you may speak in person, or register to speak via phone or weblink (MS Teams). If you wish to participate via MS Teams, please register by:
- Emailing the meeting date, agenda item you wish to speak to, and your phone number to council@saanich.ca; or
- By calling 250-475-5501 and specifying which meeting date and agenda item you wish to speak to.
Instructions will be emailed to all registrants on the afternoon of the meeting.
Written correspondence received up to 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration. All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.
- Send your comments to Council by emailing council@saanich.ca
- Mail your comments by post to Legislative Services, District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Avenue, Victoria, BC V8X 2W7.
- Leave your written comments in the dropbox by the main door at Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue.
The agenda package is available online, the Thursday before the meeting at Saanich.ca/agenda .
An opportunity to speak during the meeting will be available, please watch the webstream for details. All meetings are streamed live on Saanich.ca
If you have any questions concerning the report’s contents, please contact the Planning Department at 250-475-5471. If you have any questions concerning meeting procedures, please contact the Legislative Services Division at 250-475-5501 or by email at council@saanich.ca .
Feb. 9, 2023 email from Legislative Services Division, District of Saanich
On Wednesday, February 1st, at the Kings Road Nature Space, in an event sponsored by both BC Hydro and The District of Saanich, you can help Lansdowne Middle School’s eco-education class restore native plant habitat.
Native plant habitat restoration usually starts by identifying and removing non-native plant growth. This is followed by planting native species.
Tools and gloves will be supplied, and you may expect to get a bit dirty. Sturdy rubber boots may be appropriate.
All volunteers are welcome!
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
1 pm – 3 pm
1843 Kings Rd, Victoria, BC
Our Camosun community is being affected by the clear need for more housing that afflicts all of southern Vancouver Island. An example of the planned increase in housing density we have seen already and will continue to see is represented by the proposed rezoning, items B.1 and B.2 of this Notice of Public Hearing from Saanich, that will be discussed on January 24th at 7 pm.
Note that the proposed rezoning’s subject properties are not within the CCA geography. They simply represent the types of changes we will see as multi-unit housing stock is added to our District.
Interested in viewing or participating in District of Saanich Public Hearings or Council meetings? Check the details here to learn how to join and to participate in upcoming events. For the historically minded, archives of past meetings are also available, many with video of the event.
The minutes of the November 10, 2022 meeting of the CCA board of directors may be found here.
