A Central Saanich council meeting left the stakeholders of an affordable housing development confused after council shot down a motion to take the development plans to a public hearing, essentially killing the project in its entirety.
On Monday, Oct. 21, council members deliberated on the proposed development at 1934 Hovey Rd. which would feature 197 units in two five- and six-storey buildings that would house seniors, veterans and health-care workers.
The building, proposed by Aryze Developments, was planned in collaboration with the South Vancouver Island Housing Society, and the Royal Canadian Legion.
At the meeting, one neighbour of the properties said they didn't agree with "building two six-storey buildings on this land and cutting down 70 trees and demolishing five homes to do it, it's just not right."
Coun. Christopher Graham said he was concerned with moving forward as the development didn't yet have funding, though the applicant argued that provincial and federal governments typically provide funding after the development is accepted by municipal council.
"I do have some concerns about uncertainty for the neighbourhood because this sounds like this redevelopment is subject to financing from other levels of government and perhaps other organizations so that funding isn't secured yet," said Graham. "I'm far from being convinced that this is the appropriate development for this area."
Mayor Ryan Windsor and Couns. Zeb King Robert Thompson shared their concerns with amending the official community plan bylaw for the development, which was adopted in 2023, with Thompson explaining that the building density was not in accordance with the OCP.
"I think we are looking at further OCP work in the relatively near future and there's probably some uncertainty around that, but nonetheless the current OCP, as it was changed, already allows for additional density here and across the district and we do not know yet how that will materialize, so I struggle because it contains some important aspects, but like other members of council I am not at the moment prepared to move forward with the OCP amendment," said Windsor.
The motion was eventually defeated in a 3-3 vote, with King, Thompson and Windsor opposed.
Luke Mari, a representative of Aryze, said they were shocked the proposal was turned down so early in the process.
"As developers, every single time we do a project, the first thing we hear is 'How come this isn't affordable, how come it's not more affordable?' And then you put forth a project for affordable housing, and then you don't to a public hearing. It's pretty crazy, right?" Mari said.
The proposed east building, which would be owned and managed by the Legion, would offer over 60 affordable units to seniors and veterans, and the west building would offer 135 units for the local workforce, especially health-care workers who would work at the several clinics and hospitals in the area. There were talks with the health-care foundation to even have a shuttle bus for health-care workers to limit parking.
"When you read the district's own planning documents, they talk about a super high priority for health-care workers, even higher priority for seniors because the demographics of the district is constantly getting older every year and it's the number one identified housing gap," said Mari.
Mari also mentioned the OCP is a "living document" that is meant to be changed, and there is criteria which lay out requirements to amend it, and "we met all those criteria."
Rod Hughes, president of the South Vancouver Island Housing Society, said he thought the development was going to go through, but he suspects some local residents concerns with the project may have influenced council's decision.
"It was going to be a win, win, win, we thought, but it would appear that the local nimbyism has cut into the politicians," said Hughes. "They didn't really follow that the way it's supposed to progress. It seems like a crazy place to turn it off."
Hughes and Mari agreed, saying the argument that the development would affect nearby neighbours is nonsense, because they bought five of the properties on the street, so their nearest neighbours would be the Legion Manor, which is operated and supported by the Legion, and the housing society, and they have support from most of the residents of the block.
Overall, neither knows what the future of the project will be as they were never given any further guidance from council.
"I have never seen a project get outright denied. I've seen projects get referred back to staff and then, the council will convey... (and) refer the motion back to staff with consideration for height setbacks, parking, whatever it is that they're concerned about," Mari said. "They essentially lay out a road map for you to revise your proposal and get approval. [We were given] no road map, so we don't know what was the thing that killed the project."
