The slippery slope, thin edge of the wedge, toe in the door fears are high in Central Saanich. Residents are concerned about the precedent a proposed 18 townhouse development would set on Prosser Road. They voiced those concerns during the public hearing, to address the bylaws that would allow the development, dubbed Stonehouse Lane, to move forward.

The proposal would require the district to change the land use designation of the property from residential to multi-family residential and amend the Official Community Plan development permit map to designate the property as a development permit area for multi-family residential uses. In the OCP it is currently within the urban containment boundary and is identified for residential use but is zoned agriculture and would also require rezoning to residential attached. However, many don’t want to see 18 townhouses proposed for the site. The Advisory Planning Commission, who discussed the plan, was generally supportive of all of those requests during its June meeting.

The original plan of 20 units was dropped to 18, with two of those proposed to remain as rental units to provide some attainable housing in the complex.

The proposal would also require a development variance permit to reduce the rear yard set backs from the required 7.5 metres to 1.5 metres and to reduce the minimum vehicle maneuvering aisle width from 7.5 metres to 6 metres.

“Supply of land with this designation is limited,” said spokesperson for the development, Phil Williamson. The area was reconfirmed within the urban containment boundary during the OCP review last year, he added. The property is ideally located close to a bus stop, is within walking distance of many services and is near Centennial Park.

“Multi-family residential would ruin the area that is now designated single family residents,” said one Hovey Road resident. “This development, if it goes ahead, will destroy the neighbourhood.” He said council should keep such development to the north where there are already a number of multi-family residences.

“It’s quite ironic to call it Stonehouse Lane,” said Lynn Willbond, whose family built and owned the Stonehouse for decades, of the project. The developer does propose to use the stones from the existing residence to add character throughout the project.

“The community wants to keep the stone house,” Willbond said. “I would be in favour of a much lower density place.”

Willbond calls the density of the proposal “atrocious.”

“The Town of Langford is doing enough of this for the whole area … Langford’s a pretty good place to live,” she said, adamant the quality of life in Central Saanich would be damaged if the proposal moves forward. “They’re not needed and they’re not wanted.”

David Hill agreed, adding that a previous proposal in the area was soundly defeated. “You shouldn’t be putting high density next to agricultural land,” he said. “It’s a foot in the door.”

Traffic was cited as a main concern by some at the public hearing.

“I have nightmares about an extra 40 to 50 cars coming out of there in the morning to get to work,” said Billy Willbond, who agreed other properties in the area could be next. “Once the toe is in the door, it will be precedent-setting … you’ll have 108 town houses.

Even those opposed weren’t all in agreement on what they feel would be appropriate use of the property. Some felt keeping the historic home and adding a few single family homes would be fine, while others wanted to see the property kept in farming condition.

However, it wasn’t a clear cut crowd; there were those in favour of the proposal.

“I think this is a fantastic development. It’s everything I’ve been looking for … for me it’s attainable,” said a Central Saanich renter looking to buy. “Change I think, is hard for anybody … my business is here on the Peninsula. I find it very hard to move to Langford … this is where I want to be.”

The public hearing closed after an hour and a half of comments from the crowd that overflowed the council chambers at municipal hall.

reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com