District of Saanich

Recent public engagement explored adding more housing options to the Cadboro Bay local area plan. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

More housing opportunities could be on horizon for Saanich’s Cadboro Bay Village

Check-in report Aug. 22 to bring results of public feedback to Saanich council

 

The winners of Saanich’s 2022 Arts, Culture and Heritage awards gather with Mayor Fred Haynes in front of municipal hall. They received certificates of recognition Aug. 8 in the council chambers. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich Arts, Culture and Heritage award winners honoured by municipality

Community volunteers, non-profit group recognized for exceptional contributions

 

The new permit and development tracker lets Saanich residents follow development progress and view the status of applications. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

District of Saanich launches online permit and development tracker dashboard

Tracker designed to increase accessibility, transparency for public, applicants

 

Work will begin in August on protected bike lanes along Tillicum Road in Saanich. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich gets rolling on Tillicum Road protected bike lanes

Work to start this month with completion expected late this year

Work will begin in August on protected bike lanes along Tillicum Road in Saanich. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
Sand sculptors spent multiple days working on their sculptures at the Cadboro Bay Festival in Cadboro-Gyro Park. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Sand sculpting competition returns to Cadboro Bay

Sun, sand, singing and bouncy castles

Sand sculptors spent multiple days working on their sculptures at the Cadboro Bay Festival in Cadboro-Gyro Park. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
A Duke Street resident uses a garden hose to spray down a fire that started in Playfair Park late Thursday morning (July 28). He and a neighbour had the fire controlled by the time Saanich firefighters arrived a short time later. Afterward, the second resident dumped a bucket of water on a spot that had begun smoking after firefighters left. (Photo by Thomas Russell)

Saanich residents put the damper on park fire – twice

Playfair Park neighbours’ swift action, accessible hose make easier job for fire crew

A Duke Street resident uses a garden hose to spray down a fire that started in Playfair Park late Thursday morning (July 28). He and a neighbour had the fire controlled by the time Saanich firefighters arrived a short time later. Afterward, the second resident dumped a bucket of water on a spot that had begun smoking after firefighters left. (Photo by Thomas Russell)
Road work will begin in early August from North Dairy Road to Elm Street. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Construction to start on second phase of Saanich’s Shelbourne Street Improvement Project

Upgrades to be made along to busy corridor

Road work will begin in early August from North Dairy Road to Elm Street. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
A proposal for a six-storey mixed-use building with 372 apartments, 12 townhouses, commercial space and one level of underground parking is heading to public hearing Aug. 23. (Courtesy of District of Saanich)

Saanich proposal fits community, neighbourhood plans, but public input sought

Council unanimous on sending 6-storey proposal for Shelbourne and McKenzie to public hearing

A proposal for a six-storey mixed-use building with 372 apartments, 12 townhouses, commercial space and one level of underground parking is heading to public hearing Aug. 23. (Courtesy of District of Saanich)
Survey topics for the strategic official community plan update include new housing forms in neighbourhoods, land uses along major roads and building walkable communities. (Courtesy of District of Saanich)

Strategic OCP update to use input from survey of Saanich residents

District asking residents to participate during initial consultation phase

Survey topics for the strategic official community plan update include new housing forms in neighbourhoods, land uses along major roads and building walkable communities. (Courtesy of District of Saanich)
Saanich experienced a significant increase in park usage due in part to the district’s Natural Intelligence campaign. (Black Press media file photo)

Saanich parks featured for a first time in Canadian City Parks report

Municipality’s Natural Intelligence program noted for increasing park use

Saanich experienced a significant increase in park usage due in part to the district’s Natural Intelligence campaign. (Black Press media file photo)
Enthusiastic mountain bike riders traverse the newly opened Tripp Youth Bike Skills Park in Saanich. The facility officially opened Saturday (July 16) and is expected to be popular with riders of all ages this summer. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Busy bike park opening a sign of future success, Saanich hopes

Tripp Youth Bike Skills Parks offers options for all ages

Enthusiastic mountain bike riders traverse the newly opened Tripp Youth Bike Skills Park in Saanich. The facility officially opened Saturday (July 16) and is expected to be popular with riders of all ages this summer. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
District of Saanich planner Nadine Kawata and manager of community planning Cameron Scott accepted a Silver Award from the Planning Institute of B.C. on July 6 for the municipality’s housing strategy. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich housing strategy wins provincial award for excellence in planning

Award category recognizes development of leading-edge, visionary planning policy

District of Saanich planner Nadine Kawata and manager of community planning Cameron Scott accepted a Silver Award from the Planning Institute of B.C. on July 6 for the municipality’s housing strategy. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
A plan to convert to biomass boilers at Saanich Commonwealth Place aims to reduce the facility’s greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich Commonwealth Place conversion to biomass fuel will dramatically cut GHGs

District’s largest rec centre and emitter could see a 90-per-cent reduction

A plan to convert to biomass boilers at Saanich Commonwealth Place aims to reduce the facility’s greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
Saanich is investigating the possibility of allowing onsite stormwater disposal systems for residential lots not connected to municipal services. (Fred Haynes/Twitter)

Saanich to look into onsite stormwater disposal for unserviced lots

Garden suite requirement prompts investigation; will include all residential additions

Saanich is investigating the possibility of allowing onsite stormwater disposal systems for residential lots not connected to municipal services. (Fred Haynes/Twitter)
A 25-unit townhome project proposed for 630 Gorge Rd. West was approved by Saanich council July 12 after a public hearing. (Courtesy of Abstract Developments)

Loss of Garry oaks not enough to derail Gorge Road development in Saanich

Council votes 7-2 to approve waterview townhome project

A 25-unit townhome project proposed for 630 Gorge Rd. West was approved by Saanich council July 12 after a public hearing. (Courtesy of Abstract Developments)
Rendering shows the southwest view and rear apron of the proposed new Saanich Fire Department No. 2 station at Royal Oak and Elk Lake drives. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich looks to the future, approves new $26.6-million Royal Oak fire hall

No. 2 station will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to be carbon neutral

Rendering shows the southwest view and rear apron of the proposed new Saanich Fire Department No. 2 station at Royal Oak and Elk Lake drives. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
Children of all ages will have opportunities to do jumps, twists and other tricks at the new Tripp Station Youth Bike Skills Park in Saanich off the Lochside Trail. It opens to the public Saturday, July 16. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

New Saanich bike skills park rolls into action this weekend

Tripp Station Youth Bike Skills Park opening with lots of summer riding time left

Children of all ages will have opportunities to do jumps, twists and other tricks at the new Tripp Station Youth Bike Skills Park in Saanich off the Lochside Trail. It opens to the public Saturday, July 16. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
A property at 630 Gorge Rd. W., currently home to 19 units in multiple configurations, is the subject of a public hearing Tuesday, July 12, starting at 7 p.m. (Google streetview)

Gorge Road property redevelopment topic of Saanich public hearing Tuesday

Townhomes would replace existing 1950s-era 19-unit rental apartment complex

A property at 630 Gorge Rd. W., currently home to 19 units in multiple configurations, is the subject of a public hearing Tuesday, July 12, starting at 7 p.m. (Google streetview)
The southwest corner of Shelbourne Street and McRae Avenue will see a six-storey condominium project, after council approved Abstract Developments’ application for the site following a lengthy public hearing on July 5. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Six storeys it is for Shelbourne Street development in Saanich

87-unit market condominium project approved by council after 4-hour hearing

The southwest corner of Shelbourne Street and McRae Avenue will see a six-storey condominium project, after council approved Abstract Developments’ application for the site following a lengthy public hearing on July 5. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Mayor Fred Haynes joins other Saanich councillors in serving up strawberries at a previous Saanich Strawberry Festival in Beaver Lake Park. The 2022 edition of the community event goes Sunday, July 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Family fun and fruit on tap Sunday at Saanich Strawberry Festival

Annual community favourite runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 10 in Beaver Lake Park

Mayor Fred Haynes joins other Saanich councillors in serving up strawberries at a previous Saanich Strawberry Festival in Beaver Lake Park. The 2022 edition of the community event goes Sunday, July 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Courtesy District of Saanich)