Re: Housing on the breakfast table (Our View, Feb. 22)
According to the 2006 Census 38 per cent of the dwelling units in Central Saanich consist of suites, duplexes, town-houses, condominiums and apartments.
The corresponding numbers for the other rural municipalities in the CRD are: Highlands – eight per cent, North Saanich – 14 per cent, and Metchosin – 20 per cent. (The 2011 Census dwelling unit numbers aren’t available yet, but I doubt they have changed significantly.)
In Central Saanich 18 per cent of all the dwelling units are rentals. The corresponding figures for the other rural municipalities in the same order are six per cent, 10 per cent, and 14 per cent.
Clearly, Central Saanich, as a rural municipality, stands head and shoulders above the other rural Capital region municipalities in providing a range of housing options including affordable housing. This begs the question as to why Central Saanich is even doing a densification study.
In my view, Central Saanich is dense enough. Those in the community and on council who have housing concerns should take them to the other rural municipalities and get them to boost their numbers before turning Central Saanich into an anthill or a beehive.
Fred Peet
Brentwood Bay