PENINSULA
NEWS REVIEW
Terminal deal done
Rare rocks
B.C. Assessment and B.C. Ferries reach a deal on property values that will last five years, page 11
One Peninsula curling team sure has the stones — all eight of them, in the house, page 12
Watch for breaking news at www.peninsulanewsreview.com
Friday, February 22, 2013
District amenities not bribes North Saanich still working on development impact contribution policy Steven Heywood News staff
Faced with development pressures the likes of which the municipality hasn’t had before, the District of North Saanich is in the process of creating a policy that would have builders contribute to the upkeep of local infrastructure. Called an amenities policy, it is not yet complete and how it’s being applied at this stage to individual rezoning and housing development applications, is rasing concerns in the community. Reacting to a staff report outlining the district’s request for an amenities contribution of $16,500 for a proposed lot subdivision — and the owner’s counter offer of $10,000 — some citizens wondered aloud whether the payment amounts to a bribe paid to the district to speed up the approval process. Heather Gartshore spoke to council on Monday, Feb. 18, questioning the amounts on the table and asking where the numbers came from in the first place. Springfield Harrison also wondered about the amenities contribution, which he said looked a lot like “a large cash payment to the district to further the application process.” The implication was clearly made that some people in the audience at the meeting thought this payment amounted to something of a bribe — a charge council denied.
At the
Heart of our community The annual Hearts of the Community volunteer awards were handed out yesterday. Read about the people and groups who work to make the Peninsula a better place. Stories start on page 3.
Devon MacKenzie photo
PLEASE SEE: District policy is unclear, page 2
Julie Harman has offered her time as a volunteer to help children and families on the Peninsula through her work with the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock event that raises money to help fight cancer.
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