June will provide another opportunity for the public to peruse a densification and intensification study in Central Saanich.
The residential densification study aims to examine possible forms and density of infill development in different areas of the community while gauging residents’ support and concerns. The goal is to draft recommendations to guide council and municipal staff in decisions on rezoning applications while giving direction to residents and potential developers.
The district will hold a second public input session, tentatively scheduled for June 21, council decided last week, after perusing the draft study presented by consultant Michele Cloghesy of HB Lanarc/Golder Associates.
The early draft showed support for carriage housing, small lot cluster housing and keeping density like townhouses on major corridors, Cloghesy told council, and there was concern over character and massing on new builds.
Council has spent about $20,000 so far on the study. The second consultation session is budgeted at $3,400.
Cloghesy noted that one area they didn’t get as much response as hoped in the February input session was a large diagram of the community that allows people to indicate where what kinds of infill would be appropriate.
“We would put more attention on that part of the puzzle,” she said.
The online survey, where input could remain anonymous, also drew a huge response in the first round of public input. Council opted to post the draft densification study online at www.centralsaanich.ca.