Sidney’s policy is to allow growth within their own city border in order to promote rural lifestyles in adjacent municipalities. The OCP states, “The Town will promote industrial and commercial growth, and by permitting responsible residential densification, the Town will help ease the pressures of growth on rural communities.”
Why then do some councillors try to take away the rural lifestyle in North Saanich we residents need and appreciate? Instead of following their own agenda they should look with an open mind what is best for the community, not favour those who are eager to change the rural character of North Saanich.
More density will create more urban sprawl, more people, more noise, more pollution, more vehicles and more traffic congestion on our already over- burdened road and highway system. In addition, residents can expect higher taxes — contrary to what developers want to tell us — to pay for infrastructure and servicing costs to provide the necessary road upgrades and other services like emergency and police.
Before council is eager to push more density through, they should listen what the majority of residents want and study their own OCP.
Hildegard Horie
North Saanich