News

TheReview Wednesday, December 23, 1992 — A22

sidewalks and housing worry residents

Requests for better sidewalks,
affordable housing and preserva-
tion of Central’s Saanich’s rural
atmosphere dominated comments
at a recent review of the draft
Brentwood area plan.

An estimated 150 to 200 resi-
dents attended the public open
house, filing past posters outlining
the main points of the plan and a
map outlining the proposed zoning
for the area, before filling out
questionnaires, Nov. 25.

Consultant Tom Becker of UMA
Engineering, who drafted the area
plan with council direction, said
residents called for more parkland
in the area and were curious about
the proposed residential multi-
family development block near
McHattie Road.

When sewer service is available
to the area, a future cluster town-
house development is suggested
for the property.

Any project would be designed
to preserve some of the slope with
the existing trees, Becker said.
Density would be eight to 15 units
per acre, he added.

He noted people are neither
Opposing nor supporting the pro-
ject but wanted more information.

Conflicting views were expre-
ssed by those who suggest higher
density development on West Saa-
nich Road, such as townhouses or
apartments, in order to make better
use of land adjoining the road —
and those who want the area to
remain rural.

In addition to filling out ques-
lionnaires, residents were invited
to put their comments on a sheet
posted at the front of the hall.

One series of comments dealt
with sidewalks, starting with a
single call for elimination of side-
walks in favor of wide verges on
roadways.

But the majority of writers
wanted actual sidewalks.

“Pedestrians have as much nght
to travel on a decent surface as
motorists,’ one respondent wrote.

Another suggested more side-
walks on such highly travelled
roads as Sluggett, Wallace and
West Saanich, especially near
schools. Bike lanes are also
needed.

On rural residential roads bor-
dered by mailboxes, there is no
where for pedestrians to walk
when buses come along, one per-
son noted, suggesting that buses
should be banned from such roads.

A walkway on Stelly’s Cross-
road between West Saanich Road
and Wallace was suggested while
another resident pointed out side-
walks are for pedestrians, not
cyclists.

Two comments called for retain-
ing the rural atmosphere and one
recommended a balance between
accommodating slow growth and
retaining the rural feeling.

All of the council members were
present at the meeting: prompting

Vandals hit
new building

Vandals poured gasoline and oil
on the floor, destroyed sheets of
drywall, then threw tools around a
building under-construction in
Sidney.

RCMP said the culprits entered
the building on Hedgerow Drive
sometime between 5 p.m. on Dec.
12 and 9 a.m. on Dec. 14.

Persons having information
regarding the matter are asked to
contact Sidney RCMP.

SIDNEY

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South Saanich

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OCTOBER 1992

FEW CHANGES from present zoning are seen on the
map accompanying the draft Brentwood area plan.

one respondent to suggest council
members identify themselves with
name tags.

“Tm surprised there hasn’t been
much literature available,” Jim
Carrie of Brentwood remarked
after viewing the display. In order
to get a copy of the plan from
municipal hall, some people will
have to take time off from work, he
added.

‘| think the fear of
all of us is that this
area will be
destroyed within
our lifetime in an
effort fo support
the economy’

Housing was the major concem
for Carolyn Herbert, who said
innovative ideas will be required to
preserve the beauty of the area
while providing affordable hous-
ing.

“Population growth needs to be
accommodated but not at the cost
of the beauty of the area,” she
said.

She feared future developers
would strip all the trees off prop-
erty, build and then landscape with
immature trees.

“J think the fear of all of us is
that this area will be destroyed
within our lifetime in an effort to
support the economy.”

On Saltspring Island, Herbert
said she has seen some creative
use of land with smaller houses
build around existing single-
family homes.

She favored small group clusters
of home, ideally with on-site sew-
age treatment.

Modular homes might be
another option, she said.

She noted many of the condo-
miniums sold to retirees are not
designed to meet the needs of
seniors as they age, since they
often have no provision for wheel-

chairs.

Another proponent of more
creative use of land for housing
was Barry Jensen of Brentwood.
He suggested small cluster houses,
such as four small units built on
two lots, could provide excellent
housing for seniors while preserv-
ing the residential area.

He questioned the dividing of
the community into ‘blocks’ of
zoning, Saying it might be better to
examine the needs of the commun-
ity and then make individual zon-
ing decisions.

He also opposed the ban on
live-aboards in marinas. He noted
the live-aboards provide security
for the marina and offer an alterna-
tive lifestyle.

Residents of live-aboards
usually support businesses in the
area, he said. Problems raised by
opponents — such as fears of
pollution and non-payment of resi-
dential taxes — could be resolved,
he said.

“Tt is better to resolve problems
rather than ban an alternative lifes-
tyle which contributes to the com-
munity.”

Noel Richardson wants more
parks and more trees planted in the
Brentwood village core.

No more marinas should be
allowed in the environmentally
fragile Saanich Inlet, she said, and
the Tod Inlet area should be pre-
served as a park and not developed
into condominiums and a golf
course.

Joan Spooner of Brentwood
favored subsidizing farmers so
they can keep their land. In the
future, when California “dries up”
and a shortage of fossil fuel halts
truck shipments to Canada, local
farmland will be required to feed
people, she said.

All of the comments submitted
by residents will be considered by

Central Saanich council members -

when they review the draft plan.

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