SOOKE
NEWS MIRROR
ECO SPOKESMAN
Editorial
David Suzuki concludes his cross-Canada bicycle tour. Page 4
GOING WITH THE FLOW Page 6
Entertainment
Page 26
Your guide to martial arts in Sooke, Part 2
Sports/stats
Page 29
Page A 16
Agreement #40110541
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Your community, your classifieds B12 • 75¢
Sidewalks still a distant dream Britt Santowski Sooke News Mirror
Judy Burgess photo
Dinner time! A photograph of a Cooper’s Hawk, taken this week in our plum tree on Broom Hill. The Cooper’s Hawk is one of the smaller hawks. Beautiful but deadly — if one happens to be a Pine Siskin. This Cooper’s Hawk waits near our bird feeder to catch meals, often an unaware Pine Siskin. His hunting skills are fast and effective. We call him “Zap.” Sad for the small bird, but Zap has to eat!
The Land Use and Environment Committee held their monthly meeting on Monday, March 18. The first item for discussion, the impact of logging on Strata 5352, presented by Dr. Parvez Kumar. The neighbouring land is owned by Beecher Bay First Nations, also known as Scia’new, and there is some indication that logging might occur. It came up during this conversation that Sooke does not have a Steep Slop Development plan. By the end of the discussion, members of the Strata were encouraged to start a dialogue with the Beecher Bay First Nations to discuss their concerns. Maja Tait made the motion that staff should investigate a steep slope bylaw for presentation to council so that council can follow up with this. The motion was seconded and it passed. The next item on the agenda was the Silver Spray development in East Sooke. A presentation was made by Michael Thornton, where he requested approval for a temporary cottage to be built on a rocky area within the required 15
metre horizontal setback, subject to an engineering assessment. Council agreed with his proposal. Once the presentations were done pre-application meetings with potential developers and property owners was discussed. Randy Clarkston, a Sooke resident who owns and runs West Coast Design and Development Services, said that the Sooke process is immature and cumbersome, and that he advises his clients to wait until Sooke matures as a municipality. One time, said Clarkston, it took eight months for a variance request for one inch in a garage to be sent out, from the time of application. Council a g re e d that the conversation needs to continue. The discussion of Bylaws 65 and 70 was tabled for another meeting, possibly a special meeting, as this committee meets only once a month. There was also some discussion on the requirement of amenities that developers are required to bring into a development (sidewalks, services and other amenities). The issue of amenties was ultimately referred back to staff for more research and input.
Langford on Millstream Creek !! $289,000 Family pets! Tell your owners about a great condo alternative! A small but well proportioned & tastefully updated duplex home. Flat fully fenced yard, brick patio for summer BBQs or sunworship & Millstream Creek meandering & murmuring through the park bordering your backyard. Private & affordable. Well kept in a wonderful neighbourhood walking distance to schools, restaurants, shopping & Thetis Lake... trails almost at your doorstep. RV Parking. Why look at condos? For the same price, come home to … well, a HOME.
Shelly Davis
250.642.6361
www.ShellyDavis.ca
Email: ShellyDavis@shaw.ca