Once again North Saanich is reviewing it’s housing strategy. It’s time to learn some lessons from the last review.
We spent lots of money but the process had weak direction from mayor and council, very few residents turned out to the public consultations and the process became difficult and thwarted especially when discussing anything regarding housing options.
Consultants and staff need clear leadership from mayor and council. The residents need a friendly, interactive and transparent process encouraging the cautious, the innovative visionaries and the developers to take part.
North Saanich residents have an opportunity to step up and be part of a consultation process.
There are a few pockets of potential density re-zoning up for discussion, let’s all have our say. This community needs to come together to engage in a design exercise.
Collectively, if the process is done right, we can agree on suitable options for a few mixed use neighbourhoods in-keeping with a modern efficient rural theme without selling our souls to the developers. We need to join the communities who are doing this and attract a unique element of tomorrow’s workers and families.
Let’s not continue down the road where only the same old same old ad-hoc sort of development seems to occur.
Heather Goulet
North Saanich