Growth in North Saanich?

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In 2003 North Saanich, as a member of the Capital regional district (CRD) agreed to adopt the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS).

The number one initiative of this plan was, and still is, to keep urban development compact.

Allowing a couple of developers to make a quick buck by building a few subdivisions in areas not serviced for that purpose flies directly in the face of the RGS and North Saanich’s Official Community Plan (OCP). One of the purposes of North Saanich council as a member of the CRD is to keep to the plan.

The proposal to have developers pay the District $16,500 as a contribution to necessary infrastructure upgrades is a joke. The true cost to our community of building and maintaining infrastructure for these new subdivisions is going to be much higher for the taxpayers.

I propose that if a developer wishes to build a development that does not conform to either the RGS or to the OCP then the issue should go to the community in the form of a referendum, paid for by the developer. As to the costs of altering the local infrastructure, the entire cost should be borne by the developer.

While the above may make it seem that I am anti-development, the truth is I am not. I do support following plans and strategies that are democratically made. I do want development to happen, just where it was intended to happen, ie: Sidney or Saanichton.

The OCPs of those regions make it clear that development is welcomed and encouraged. North Saanich residents should not have to assist in the profit of a few developers by helping them with infrastructure and other costs.

Eric Diller

North Saanich