Details contained in a proposed draft of the Central Saanich

official community plan, prepared by consultants UMA Enginccring,

will not be reported in The Review.

Although the document was Icaked to members of the Association
for the Protection of Rural Central Saanich, and a copy was offered to
our news team, we believe that reporting the contents interferes with
1 the planning process, encourages already-rampant misinformation
| and promotes the cause of one particular interest group above others.

Other media chose to report selected parts of the proposed draft

and published comments from the APRCS executive. By doing so,
residents: of Central Saanich were left wondering what council’s
intention is and became further concerned, and perhaps confused,
about the future of their community. .

But council and council’s advisory planning commission hadn’t
even discussed the document. Granted, it wasn’t stamped “Confiden-
tial,”” but only limited copies were given to. council members, APC
members and staff, Nov.. 3.

The proposed draft was written by planners — who, incidenially,
1 wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for growth. Nevertheless, UMA based
| its proposed. draft on comments.and ‘information received to date
from the public in two public mectings and from a staggering amount
of public correspondence referred to them by council — working
within guidelines set in terms of reference drawn up by council some
months ago.

In their zeal-to promote minimal growth in Central ‘Saanich,
1/ APRCS members have refused to consider others in the community,
! have made alarmist statements backed by questionable statistics and

' f- failed to recognize current development trends i in the Greater Victoria

region.

APRCS members question where development pressure is coming
from, yet about 60 ‘development applications made to, Central |
Saanich have been referred to planners, who said about 40 |
| applications deserve more. detailed attention. UMA. successfully: }-
- offered’ synopsis and recommendations to the. municipality at exua |

cost to the community plan review. Three golf course development
‘applications are among them and many applications are from

long-time Central Saanich residents whig wish to: Gevelop Targe u tracts | |

of land.

| As well,.a Central. Saanich Business Association. 20- -page com- |
4 munity plan report, based partially on.a mémber questionnaire and

referred to planners, recommends growth continue.

- National facts gleaned. by APRCS. members from Agricultural !
I: Institute of Canada and Environment Canada reports, datcd 1986 and},

A19875, Stale abandoned areas of the: earth became. so: “because.

| insufficient attention’ was. given to Jong-term consideration. of food: |...
) production : ‘sustainability. and that 59- per cent of land’ converted: to, ie

-other uses had prime: ‘capability. to produce: crops:
Proposed soil capability studies will show that signifi icant tracts of

“Wand exist in: the municipality | that cannot be: farnied because of poor 4.

“soil quality, but remain in the: agricultural land-reserve. Public | financing and ignores the inevita-

ble sewer-generated rezoning to :
“- -quarter-acre lots. : :
"All: residents should ‘be ‘actively A
aware that the truly dangerous
costs, however, are inthe massive:
> land use changes that will occur as
oa ‘consequence. of sewer construc-
“tion.
It:has now been anigly iierhoni

‘information states: Central Saanich’ has. grown. by 150- 200. housing:
“units per year over the past five years at arate of about three per cent...
A two-year supply of residential lots remain, based on. current vacant
lots-and property that doesn’t require rezoning...
“The Review has been criticized for‘a lack of, official community

: plan coverage. We don’t think it’s warranted. Several stories appeared |. :

“before the process even. started, we promoted public hearings and.
encouraged public input, ‘then ceperies on the public hearings a and
continue to: follow the issuc.

We don’ t apologize for nor rushing out with a note pad every time |.
‘the association opens its mouth, but will: continue to cover the issuc |
| objectively, reporting all pertinent facts and opinions: at the |

| appropriate time. We understand. you can never, give special interest
groups too much press.

On development in general, a well- Known Central Saanich farmer
, perhaps said ‘it best during a recent council mecting,

“I've scen houses spring up in areas you couldn't believe, And y mn
thankful for the community plan and the ALR. But we can’t escape
it, We're in.a-very: vulnerable position, right. next door. oa
metropolis; That city has no where to go except north, cast or west.

“Planning is the only way to achieve (orderly growth). A lotof you.

aire sitting. on farm lands you didn’ Leven know existed. | wish you ‘ad
seen i045, years ago.

“We've made room for you and God willing we ‘I have to make
room for others,”

It's not just counc il that tells the planners where growth should 80,
it's the public ~~ which apelin developers and presersationists

™Review
Serving The Saanich. Peninsula .
7 Since 1912.

O78) Ind Stet ce
Sidney, BC V8L.APS
oar POY Box 2070 -
Sidney, BC VRE 355
Second Class Mail. Reg istration W028

656-1151

| Publisher: Vic Swan "Dilton Geore Lee
AN ISLAND PU REISHERS NEWSPAPER

as, ed Legg.  BGNA
. Se enn / ea : . e a a

Ad]
. aa
i Uaioe wants

Co eanemaitil

The great leak

AH! HUMBERTS! THATS A GCOD CHAP! I JUST WANTED To
TELL YOU HOW PLEASED ILAM (WOULD YOU MIND MOVING A
BIT CLOSER...UH..S0 I CAN SE5 You BETTER) WITH Your
WORK, HERBERTG! (A LITTLE TO THE LEFT) You've

| ‘Lobby awake

“defects in their

oC ommanity:
Cline! ce

cfs. your child riding: in ane. off
these? Tso, please: heed Ihe warns
ings ,

Editor: .

- Any: doubts as lo. the push of the’:
pro- -development lobby. behind the
’-North.Saanich sewer. bylaws. were
~ quickly-removed last. week. ‘with
- the publication of Sewering Facts, °
tion links to “areas ‘less ponent

—-ca:blaiantly. pro-sewer. pamphlet...
for. agriculture.

- Sewering: Facts,. authored: by -
“Friends of: North. Saanich,” who...
“were without. the: ‘intestinal’ ‘forti-

‘tude ‘to affix: their. names, raises
“unrealistic: expectations as.to-

strated that the pro-development

lobby is not aslecp, and may have:
‘friends. on. your council, who, for.
“their own questionable reasons,

care ‘nothing about locking the

° laxpayers into a $7.9-million debt,

“John C, Lapham

Editor:

doam writing ‘As a community
heal purse dn the ares and asa

‘member.of the Cc RD injury control
—COMMILCE,

Buckling up has become almost
a habit Yor all motorists, however

parents who are buckling up their
Children mayonot be aware of the
var seats, Recently

ICBC has collected a list of defee.
live Car seats, Which is posted-at
Health Services
2AO Sidney Ave.

The safety. of your ehilaren iss?

our Wmiost concerns.
Glenda P.
Community Wealth Nurse
sidney Mei With Oftice

Safety and food

 Rditors

Without que ston, utilizing wr
ipabiliy to produce food as the

most anporiiat contibdtion Cen
trit Saanich can make to our

Capital Remonal District,

SERVED Vou CONSTIT-
UENTS WELL (BACK AN

INCH )...
SCANDALS...

EL

oo North Saanich,
- Defective
car seat list

No ETHNIC: JOKE

iTS TIME You (A

YIEZE SUITABLY
RENARDED!

If we are to maintain: this agri-
‘cultural base, it is crucial that we
‘take the pressure for development

away from the Peninsula. -

coursc,. be made safe. But that is

all. The. Provincial Government's © ie ae z
real task is to. improve transporta- an a
é pest-laid plan 6
‘Thanks  to- media ‘coverage, we Editor: nae
“are all becoming ‘better informed’.
Jon environmental. ‘issues: The’
importance: of: the. preservation of...
Our - agricultural land reserve is no-
Sxcepuion,:

“Brenda May
a Central Saanich

Sewer not

panacea —

Editor: |
I. have experienced ‘the. disa:

strous effect that a ‘‘solve all your -
sewer system can have -
‘on an unsuspecting community.

problems”

In my expericnce actual casts

were well in excess of projections -

with the: inevitable result that.a

larger tax base was required. As a
result, more lots. were developed
which increased requirements in.

terms of schools, police and
municipal services + all-of which
increased (arcs.

“Over a period of 18 years the
sewer lines were
beyond the oriyinal |
rea,

‘problem
There remains continual

pressure on that community to.

approve more subdivision of prop-.

aries, ‘Phis: pressure is most offen,

directed: at. farmland: as: flat,

‘ancleared: land is the most profit -

eto develop into tightly packed
= subdivisions.

Narth
lifestyle provided its residents cons

SOTIHIONS to community problems,

: Atready, many “residents: who are
sensitive to community problems. -

oo Already, many residents who are.
Ashton .

sensitive to community: values
have installed alternate. systems

owhichoare safe and functional
proving That heality. viable anions
OO NESL,

Our community does not have to

fallow the spiralling path: that

other areas have iad: where costs

rate taxpayer end toa need fora
larger tax base which resalts in
areMer
Wh,

extended far.

costs and so-con ad: iatini-

No municipality has ever low- —

ered taxes as the number of houses *

increases but all have seen the |
= erosion of. farmlands and the lifes- .
- The Pat Bay Highway must, of - tyle attached to ‘those areas. ef
Gill Pugh =f
North Saanich oe

“Despite. any. assertions: to. ‘the

schools, water and sewers, to. be

-planned. John Lapham, who as an

Alderman was: one. of the archi-
tects of that plan, could. corrobogp.
ale this.) °

“The original plan proposed i

phased control-growth manage-
ment and. consequently planned
for sanilary sewers serving the

‘Southeast Quadrant to be fully |
“operational by 1988-1992 (Phase

3).. The present council's plan can
be best. described as a short-term:
litany of hope (nota growth:
control vehicle) that. leaves a
legacy of pressure upon Putirey.
counvils to develop our farmland,
Tn regard to sewage disposal, Ne
original plan points. out that,

1977, the septic tank system in ®
-North §

Saanich: had- operated for
considerable time; the final dis-
posal is tothe ground which basa
limit tothe amount it ean absorh.

—Sinve that time many tots, particu:
Saanich has an. opportu: 7

So mity, to Sustain its nique rural:

larly cin the Southeast Quadrant,
have reached ints limit or are

“approae hing, it,
Hine. 10 seek: ecologically sound >

This is, in same nicasuiis dich t We
runoff from the developed Git

“Still developing) higher areas. The :

condition poses a. thre

awe ta the

health and wellare of our residents.

ONotconly would) community

sewers resolve. this: problem: but»

they WOU OFF Set development, a
pressures over the rural and ape:
‘cuttiral areas. Growth should: be

Channeled ita regions THOSE Capa:

ble of absorbing new deve lopment ©
Sand away from: the large eontral

vor of ALR lands. Stagnation
slow growthshas been found to he
ie nerally. i’ sp AXIVe. AS IS (OO rapt

Continged on Tage 7

.

contrary, the best community plan =|:
prepared for North: Saanich was #

‘the first.onc in’ 1977. of
_. The council of that time, inf.
conjunction | with our residents, }-
after many -public..mectings
= molded and adopted the plan. The: .
policies, and the recommended ©.
methods and standards. for their...
implementation, .allowed public.
facilities such as roads, parks,

wae pamemgabtctcntine Mair eeaPrws