Higher taxes on tap Popular beer growlers hit with higher liquor levies this April. Page A3
NEWS: Armed bank robber on the loose /A6 ARTS: Irish Rover sings of homeland /A14 SPORTS: Saanich star hits v-ball national team /A20
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Braves slide out of playoffs Saanich Braves forward Sam Johnston keeps an eye on the puck as he’s checked by Victoria Cougars defenceman Brandon Egli during Game 5 play at Archie Browning Sports Centre on Sunday. The Cougars won 5-2 and eliminated the Braves from Vancouver Island Junior B playoffs. See the story on page A18. Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Saanich residents call for wider Shelbourne Street Thumbs-up for bike lanes, but not at expense of traffic flow
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Kyle Slavin Reporting
f consensus created the most viable results, big changes would come to Shelbourne Street. Instead of a narrow four-lane road, with pencil-thin sidewalks on either side, most Saanichites would prefer four lanes for vehicles plus wide sidewalks, bike lanes and grassed buffers. The widened road – increasing from
its current 20-metre right of way to 26 metres – would require Saanich to make big investments, buying street frontage along kilometres of Shelbourne to make that dream a reality. But until it can do that, a friendlier corridor will remain a dream deferred for the foreseeable future. “We’re not going to be able to satisfy everything that everybody wants,” said Harold Stanley, a Saanich planner who’s taken the lead on the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan. “The crux of the whole thing is trying to incorporate the different forms of transportation into the narrow right of way.”
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The plan has set out to create a 25-year vision for the four-kilometre stretch of Shelbourne Street north of Hillside Centre. Of the 334 people who gave feedback online and at open houses late last year, the majority supported keeping the street four lanes for vehicles, with the majority preferring a wider road for bikes and better sidewalks. To widen the street, Saanich would need to purchase land from property owners along Shelbourne, which could take years. It would be a willing seller, willing buyer process. “When we identify several homes
that we would like to convert to either park or road, we don’t go down the street and simply force the purchase,” Mayor Frank Leonard said in an interview earlier this year. “We approach the homeowners and say ‘If and when you’d like to sell, we’d like to be the first in line.’” In the meantime, Stanley points to positive feedback on creating a northsouth “greenway” using designated side streets as a cycling thoroughfare, similar to what is seen in Vancouver. PLEASE SEE: Action on Shelbourne, Page A4
Updated with Separate Suite OPEN HOUSE Sat., March 16 - 12-2pm 3918 Cedar Hill Cross Rd Recently renovated top to bottom in popular Maplewood. From two new kitchens and appliances (laundry up and down too), to flooring, bathrooms, roof, drains, doors, windows and landscaping... it’s all been done. Two bedroom suite makes this is an excellent first home or next step. Move in and enjoy, or collect rent! $514,900
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