I am very glad North Saanich is having a sober second look at the Sandown proposal. Here are a few things I feel need to be considered.
A shaky business plan was made for the commercial part, but was extremely lacking in the ALR part. Land can be a gift, but can become a lead weight if there is no practical and financially sound use for it. The environmental costs scare me as they are upfront costs of which we would have no idea the full amount. A small community such as North Saanich would find it difficult to bear considering the current financial pressures. Besides, I feel this is owner Bill Randall’s responsibility, not that of the taxpayers and residents of North Saanich.
Like it or not, this is a business deal and Mr. Randall, I am sure, realizes this proposal is the best for him, but not for residents of North Saanich. He knows selling some of those front parcels will be very difficult and his cost for cleanup of the whole parcel will be significant, which is why this needs to be reviewed further.
I challenge North Saanich taxpayers to turn on their computers and review the ALC report and find a place where it states that we will have class A1 land at the end of this endeavour.
I hope council will look at this from all sides and not get caught up in the frenzy to save a race track posing as farm land.
L. Jack
Saanichton