By Carlie Connolly/PNR staff
The Keating Cross Road business area in Central Saanich has been the subject of debate for quite some time, and District council wants to review the potential of future development there.
Plans to review the area are preliminary and council is beginning to outline the terms of reference in its strategic plan and are directing municipal staff to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) from consultants.
In February, council turned its mind to what exists on Keating Cross Road, why highway access may be needed and the sort of interconnectedness of various elements. Letters have come in from the public — with businesses also coming forward — querying about what might happen in the future. Council then determined at the start of this mandate at their first strategic plan in February, they would make this a priority.
Stage one of that was to do what they call a business case analysis, which is happening right now. The terms of reference are complete and set into motion the request for proposals.
Council is now going through the RFP process which seeks proposals from professionals to go out and conduct the research and analysis for the Keating Cross Road area to bring back to council for review.
Councillor Niall Palitiel said the plan is really about listening to business owners and residents who are there in that community. He said those are the folks who are adding vitality and creating employment opportunities there.
Palitiel noted he hopes the process to allow council to understand, from a customer-based and tax-based perspective, what council can do better.