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LETTERS North Saanich project is market housing On Oct. 4, the North Saanich Residents Association organized a public meeting to discuss plans for increasing housing density in selected areas of the municipality. One application, at 9395 E. Saanich Rd., requests a reduction in lot size to 300m2, a 350 per cent increase in lot density. It was felt by the NSRA the scale of change inherent in the current applications warranted a public information meeting. It was standing room only in St. John’s Church and expertly convened by Geoff Orr, the NSRA president. Several attendees were quick to con-
gratulate the NSRA for a balanced and fact-based meeting. The topic of workforce housing, also termed affordable or attainable housing, quickly drew comments from many. A predominantly Sidney-based industry group has made a case for increased workforce housing in North Saanich as many of their employees endure long commutes. Although many agreed workforce/ affordable housing may be needed, they also questioned whether $400,000 dwellings were truly affordable for non-managerial workers or whether they would be
actually occupied by employees from the industry group. Perhaps the development at 9395 should just be more accurately termed market housing. The high turnout at this meeting, which included several councillors, and the nature of the questions and comments, indicates a strong desire by residents for more background information and discussion before these significant changes are fast tracked through council. Springfield Harrison North Saanich
Readers respond: Growth, homelessness and wages Affordable housing is not affordable
Ignorance is bliss, but foolish Re: Woodwynn Farms’ homeless housing. Creating hopefulness — words evoking a dreamy fantasy designed to pull at the heartstrings. And surely anyone who has a heart would jump at the chance to contribute to righting the wrongs of this world, especially in our own neighbourhood.
Public wages far above private sector Re: Wages need to match inflation (Our View, Sept. 19) While this endorsement is an admirable idea in light of tough economic times, one really needs to consider what is developing globally. In Europe economies are falling like dominoes, the U.S. our largest trading partner is still mired in a deep recession and China is catching its breath. B.C. and Canada are not isolated from this contagion. World banks and bond companies are beginning to take a long hard look at all levels of government borrowing and here in B.C., our debt will reach $56.7 billion by March 2013. The interest on this debt will be $2.55 billion. This represents six per cent of the province’s expenditures and will limit the amount used to help pay for health and education. The public in B.C. can not afford any more burden on the provincial or municipal debt load. Appoint a provincial and municipal ombudsman whose role is to expose these excesses and make our leaders and elected politicians accountable. Danny Parker Saanich
Jazz at St. John’s An Evening of Jazz Vespers featuring...
Round Midnight October 14th - 7:00 pm 10990 West Saanich Rd., in Deep Cove For more information, call Bernadette @
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Events October
Calendar
12, 13, 14 Sidney Fine Art Show 13 David Wilkie and Cowboy Celtic 17 & 18 Blood Donor Clinic 19 Meet Your Mentor: With Rick Silas 19 & 20 Hotel California 26 Storyoga presents: Girls Night Out (8 - 12yrs) 27 Elvis 28 Victoria Toy Show
November 2, 3, 4 3&4 4 5 9 10 14 & 15 18 20 24 30
Storyoga Weekend Workshop First Chance Christmas Craft Fair Remembrance Concert Lorne Elliot Meet Your Mentor: With Rick Silas Aerosmith Rocks Blood Donor Clinic Vintage, Retro & Collectibles Show Palm Court: Downton Abbey Unforgettable: A Nat King Cole Tribute Storyoga presents: Girls Night Out (8-12yrs)
December 1 5 7, 8, 9
Jim Byrnes Rat Pack Peninsula Singers A Christmas to Remember 8&9 Last Chance Christmas Craft Fair 12 & 13 Blood Donor Clinic 15 Prism 26-31 Peninsula Players - Cinderella
January 18 & 19 Randy Elvis Friskie
February 19
Palm Court: Rhapsody in Blue
Monthly Meetings/Classes Established 1912
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Presents
This week in history ■ 1932: Stacey’s Hall on Fifth Street is completed after a couple of months construction. It’s the largest hall in the area, at 17 ft. by 50 ft., without pillars or obstructions of any kind and laid with 1 ¼ inch flooring. The stage is 24 x14, three feet high. ■ 1942: The Bank of Montreal starts conducting its business in the Sidney Trading Co. store, between the hours of 1 and 3 on Saturday. The Bank turnes 125 this year.
at the
Winspear
Let’s be clear about the 9395 East Saanich / Canora Road development. At the Oct. 4 NSRA (North Saanich Residents Association) meeting, the developer stated he wanted to provide affordable housing for young families. He then stated North Saanich moms and dads can come up with the five per cent down payment so the kids can buy a home. Say what? These proposed houses aren’t affordable at all. In my book, if you can’t come up with a mere $20,000 to buy a house, it’s not affordable. If the starting house price is 10 times the developer’s stated average income of these workers of $40,000, it’s not affordable. As house prices continue to slide, all it takes is a further five per cent correction and these families will be crushed, owing more to the banks than their house is worth. This is what sunk housing in the U.S. and it’s what will crush these young North Saanich families. Ask any realtor. Listings are up against a backdrop of falling sales and prices. Yup — there’s plenty of resale housing stock at similar prices now on the market on the Peninsula. Retirees are moving out of their family homes into condos and smaller homes (perhaps these ones). This is turning existing neighborhoods back into vibrant streets where there’s actual parks, and a nice mix of old people, young people, kids, dogs, scooters and trikes. The real motivator here is for the developer to make money building Langford-style subdivisions. Let’s not let this happen at the expense of some of our most vulnerable members of society — lower income young families. Ty West North Saanich
Such is the power of words. Am I the only person perplexed by what has not been put into words? The facts. Who are these investors? Who would put up $6 million for a 192-acre hay farm — ideally sited by in the ALR — then neglect maintenance of the farm buildings and fields? Where’s the return on the investment? Is this altruism or a canny business venture with a housing development in mind? Who is Richard LeBlanc? What are his credentials and what has become of monies donated over the years? The public deserves full disclosure. Ignorance is bliss, but foolish. Susan Wells North Saanich
St. John’s United Church
PENINSULA NEWS REVIEW - Wednesday, October 10, 2012
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■ 2002: Her majesty the Queen visited Victoria this week, and after her plane landed at Victoria International Airport, she was greeted by North Saanich Mayor Linda Michaluk and Sidney Mayor Don Amos.
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