Community Focus

Fall 2024

MESSAGE FROM YOUR COUNCIL 

Warmer weather has hopefully meant you were able to enjoy local food and events as well as time near our beautiful shorelines and in our parks. We are also in the season of infrastructure work, and while we are thrilled to see this important work being complete, we also note it can be an inconvenience at the end of a long day to wait in traffic. We wish to thank you for your understanding and your kindness to the crews. Upgrading our infrastructure work is critical, and we’ve been planning and saving for it for many years. We are approaching it in a unified way to minimize future costs of road improvements. This means coordinating the underground work, paving, and any active transportation improvements at the same time. In the coming months and years, you will see more work as we continue to replace aging infrastructure and upgrade sidewalks, bike infrastructure, and make road safety improvements. Please visit our website and subscribe for alerts to stay up to date. 

September is a busy time on the roads and we encourage you to give yourself extra time, and turn on a program you enjoy for the ride. Keep yourself and others safe.

Exploring Civic Redevelopment 

Focusing on adding amenities and minimizing costs

As the District moves forward with a need to replace municipal facilities, we are looking at how to use this redevelopment to incorporate other elements, such as recreation space, housing, services, and amenities. We are also working hard to keep the project financially feasible with a very minimal impact on taxpayers. Following initial public engagement, we will be developing concepts and financial estimates to present to the community in the New Year.

Subscribe for project updates and register for the online open house at LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca/CivicRedevelopment
We want your input! Share your ideas and help shape redevelopment.

Open Houses
Wednesday, September 11, 6-7pm – Virtual Open House
Sunday, September 15, 10am-12pm – Central Saanich Municipal Hall, 1903 Mt Newton Cross Rd

Recreation planning on the Peninsula

The Peninsula Recreation Commission will be conducting a sub-regional recreation facility planning process later this fall. More information to come!

Ground breaks on Multi Sport Box

Construction of the NEW Centennial Park Multi Sport Box begins in September, for more details on this exciting project, please visit panoramarecreation.ca 

Road safety as kids head back to school

All road users should be cautious and slow down

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Fall is a busy time on the roads. Here are some reminders: 

• Watch for school buses. When their lights are flashing, vehicles approaching from both directions must stop.
• School zones have a 30km/h speed limit between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on school days.
• Give yourself extra time in the mornings to prevent rushing. Watch for pedestrians—some children may not understand all road rules yet.
• Put away electronic devices and other distractions.

Did you know 79% of crashes involving pedestrians in BC happen at intersections. Be vigilant.

Butterfield Park expansion

The District is thrilled to be almost doubling the size of Butterfield Park and protecting 10 acres of heavily forested land. The purchase of the 18-acre parcel of land border will be made possible by selling the approximately 8 acres of unforested, bare land. Butterfield Park, at 8000 Thomson Place off Mount Newton Cross Road, was donated to the District after the passing of Hilda Butterfield. Hilda and her family were dedicated to the preservation of the native wildflowers and plants and wanted to see them protected. Central Saanich will be working with local First Nations and consulting with the community and local environmental groups as plans are made for the park.

Public bike locker available in Saanichton Village 

A new secured and covered bike locker with bike charger is available at the Municipal Hall. To use this facility, please register at CSaanich.ca/bikeparking. 

Improving commercial areas 

The District is seeking your input as we review zoning in the Keating Business District and three small commercial hubs: Moodyville, Turgoose and Island View at East Saanich Road. The goal is to support business opportunities and enhance the vitality of these areas. The District is also reviewing land use in Keating Business District with a focus on economic development and attracting businesses and emerging industries.

We want to hear from residents and local businesses—join us at an open house!

• Tuesday, September 17, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  Fire Station #1, 1512 Keating Cross Rd.
  Register at  LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca/EconomicZoningUpdate

Housing Action Plan

Central Saanich's provincial housing targets set

The Province recently announced housing targets for the District: 588 new homes of various types over the next five years. The targets are very close to the numbers determined during our Housing Needs Assessment, which is positive, as it means we have tools in place to add those units in a manner that is appropriate for our community, including respecting that more than 60% of our land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Residential zoning update
In November 2023, the Province of British Columbia introduced changes to the Local Government Act with the goal of increasing the speed and supply of new housing across BC. To achieve the requirements outlined by the province, Central Saanich’s previous neighbourhood residential zones have been replaced with two new zones inside the Urban Containment Boundary (UCB)

• The Residential Neighbourhood zone applies to the majority of lands in the urban containment boundary, and permits three or four units depending on lot size, in line with provincial requirements.
• The Residential Corridor zone aligns with the Main Corridor designation in the Official Community Plan, and permits either four, six or eight units depending on lot size.

What is a 'unit'?
It is important to note that four 'units' is not equal to four buildings nor is the number of permitted dwelling units a guarantee of achievable density. On the average residential lot, only two buildings will be permitted, but they can contain suites.

What about outside the UCB?
Outside of the UCB, where residential uses are permitted and site conditions meet requirements, one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit is permitted. On ALR land currently only secondary suites are permitted.

Visit CSaanich.ca/Housing for more information.

Making Central Saanich more age-friendly and inclusive 

A community well-designed for older adults, is a community designed for all ages and abilities

Since Central Saanich adopted our first Age-Friendly Community Plan last year, many actions have been taken thanks to partnerships with local organizations;

• sponsoring the CARE Fair;
• providing funding for a local Better at Home program;
• providing more print materials and in-person opportunities to engage on District projects;
• providing local businesses with materials about how to be more age friendly; and 
• applying an age-friendly lens to the built environment, (such as reviewing transportation policies, park and trail accessibility, signage, housing and more)

Community Resource Office hours - Cultural Centre, 1209 Clarke Rd 

• Beacon Community Services Volunteers
  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 

• Central Saanich Police Services Volunteers
  Saturdays and Mondays, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

District Sponsored free Lunch N' Learn Sessions  - Centre for Active Living 50+, 1229 Clarke Rd 

• Emergency Preparedness 
  Tuesday, October 29,  11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

• Navigating Supports and Services in the Community
  Tuesday, November 26, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

  Register for the free sessions: 250.652.4611

Climate Action Update

Expanded home energy savings programs offers new rebates!

• Funding and rebates are available to all homeowners for home upgrades including heat pumps, electrical service upgrades, energy-efficient windows and doors, insulation and ventilation.
•  Interested in solar panels?  Up to $5,000 rebate is now available from BC Hydro for gridconnected solar panels.  Generate your own power and reduce energy bills!

Learn more: CSaanich.ca/homerebates

New infrastructure paves way for an active community

Many of the highest-priority Active Transportation Plan projects are getting underway in 2024 and 2025. Current projects about to kick off include:

• A path connecting the Lochside Trail and Lochside Drive is being upgraded. Construction starts in September.
• A sidewalk connecting Brentwood to Stelly's Secondary School on Wallace Drive will provide a safer route to school for students and other pedestrians.
• The District has entered into an agreement to purchase a small parcel of land to create a trail next to Stelly’s Secondary School, pending the Agricultural Land Commission's approval. A multi-use trail will connect Stelly’s Cross Road with Wallace Drive, providing an additional route for many types of users.

See a list of all updates at CSaanich.ca/Projects

Bike road markings
Our growing cycling network includes road markings to make it safer for people who are cycling, walking, and driving to share our streets and pathways. 
Learn how these markings and signs work at CSaanich.ca/ActiveTransportation.

Drafting next year’s budget starts now!

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Each fall, budget planning kicks off with Council’s adoption of budget guidelines for the upcoming year. Departments then review the services they provide and compile budgets while analyzing the needs and desires of the community. Staff and Council are guided by the Community Satisfaction Survey and recent plans outlining community improvements, (developed with your help through extensive public participation). Regardless of whether the District increases services, nondiscretionary increases (such as wages, insurance, technology costs, construction and more) occur every year. The budget process continues until May, when the plan is adopted by Council.

The District works to balance increases to property taxes against services provided and long term planning for infrastructure replacement. Learn more at CSaanich.ca/Budget.

What’s happenin’ around town 

• Jump on your bike this fall

  • Sunday, September 15, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Learn bike skills on a community bike ride hosted by Capital Bike. For ride information and to register see CapitalBike.ca/CentralSaanich.

  • Participate in Fall GoByBike week from September 23 to October 6; register at GoByBike.ca.

• Tree Appreciation Day
  Saturday, September 28, 2:00 p.m. Chatterton Park at 6716 Woodward Dr. Come out to plant trees, pull ivy, and meet up with your neighbours. Enjoy the playground and refreshments!

• Emergency preparedness starts with you!
  Earthquakes are common in British Columbia—around 4,000 are recorded in the province each year. If there was a big on, are you prepared? You may already have everything you need at home! Find out more by:

  • Attending a workshop on October 15, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Fire Station #1. Register at CSaanich.ca/GetPrepared
  • Taking part in the annual Great ShakeOut Earthquake drill on October 17 at 10:17 a.m. Learn more at ShakeoutBC.ca

• Review draft priorities for the Parks and Trails Master Plan
  After collecting community input, we have drafted priorities and actions for the Parks and Trails Master Plan. Please come out and help shape the plan!

  • Thursday, October 24, 2:00-7:00 p.m. Municipal Hall, 1903 Mt Newton Cross Rd
  • Tuesday, October 29, 4:00-7:00p.m. Fire Station #1, 1512 Keating Cross Rd
  • Saturday, November 2, 2:00-4:00 p.m Centre for Active Living 50+, 1229 Clarke Rd
  • Tuesday, November 5, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Virtual

Learn more and register for updates at LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca/ParksandTrails

• Halloween Bonfire & Fireworks
  Thursday, October 31, 7:30 p.m. (Fireworks at 8:00 p.m.) Centennial Park, 7500 Wallace Dr.

• Remembrance Day
  Monday, November 11, 10:55 a.m. in HEL,HILEȻ Park, West Saanich at Clarke Rd, Brentwood Bay.

• Agricultural actions and upcoming work
  Do you own or run a farm? 
  Share your recent experiences with us at our second Agricultural Open House, we will have displays on housing in the ALR, drainage updates, and much more.
  Thursday, November 21, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Fire Station #1,1512 Keating Cross Rd. Learn more at LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca/AG

Connect with Council 

Meetings of Council are open to the public and are conducted in a hybrid in-person and virtual format. To view meeting calendar, agendas, watch or participate in meetings, see::  CSaanich.ca/CouncilMeetings.

MESSAGE FROM YOUR COUNCIL
Welcome to the spring/summer edition of the community newsletter. This is an exciting time of year as we see infrastructure projects, community events and more ramp up. This year, we will see an unprecedented amount of activity and this edition of the newsletter is dedicated to updating you and pointing out where you can learn more.
This edition also dives into what the new Provincial housing legislation means for Central Saanich. The legislation requires Central Saanich to update what we allow to be built, streamline development processes and more (see below for details). This growth will be within Central Saanich's Urban Containment Boundary, which you can learn more about at CentralSaanich.ca/Housing. 
As you may know, Central Saanich is in the process of redeveloping civic facilities. As many buildings are due for replacement, the District is carefully looking at financial models to ensure a minimal impact on residents. The District is in the process of acquiring property and is looking at the best utilization of land to provide more amenities and services for our community, such as recreation, daycare, commercial and medical space.  This opportunity to re-imagine public spaces only comes around once every 50+ years.  
Our Council is committed to continuing to inform and engage the community about changes in the district, and we encourage you to visit CentralSaanich.ca to learn more, view meeting information, and contact staff or Council.

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A beautiful day in the neighbourhood
This spring, more than flowers will be popping up around town
Lamppost banners will be brightening the streetscape through colourful banners along the main travel corridors. The banners showcase local images and art, and helps support local businesses by revitalizing the look and feel of village cores. The work complements other recent projects like the hydro box artwork in Saanichton and Brentwood and the recent mural at the Cultural Centre.

Join a guided community bike ride
Brush up on your cycling skills and practice routes to popular destinations
The District has partnered with Capital Bike to offer six guided community rides a year for the next few years to help residents gain bike skills, such as navigating roads, and get comfortable on popular routes in Central Saanich. 
Community rides are an excellent way of learning new skills in a safe environment of a small group of riders with experienced riders showing you the ropes—all while having fun and meeting new people.
To learn more about Capital Bike’s courses and programs see CapitalBike.ca. 
Watch our website for upcoming rides CentralSaanich.ca/CommunityBikeRides.

Central Saanich ranks top for resiliency and lowest serious-crime rate in BC
Central Saanich was recently ranked as having BC's lowest rate of serious crime (according to the Crime Severity Index for 2021 and 2022) and was named BC’s most economically resilient city by BC Business Magazine. It's no secret we're committed to supporting a resilient local economy, working to add diverse housing options, and dedicated to the safety of our community. Thank you for making Central Saanich a great place to live, work, play, and do business!

Provincial changes encourage more diverse housing types
District plans align well with the new legislation
By June 30, 2024, properties inside the Urban Containment Boundary currently zoned for a 
single-family and duplex home will be permitted to accommodate up to three or four units, depending on lot size. Central Saanich recognizes our housing options need to be more diverse, and we are working to ensure the housing we add to the community includes the types of housing units that are needed. This includes encouraging more secondary suites, rental housing, missing middle housing (carriage houses, apartments, townhomes, duplexes, etc.), below-market housing, and more. 
The Province’s new housing legislation contains a number of measures to streamline the development approval process to speed up housing construction by reducing the length of time it takes for applications to go through the rezoning process.  Another significant change is there cannot be public hearings where housing development applications are consistent with the Official Community Plan. 
With a recently updated Official Community Plan, as well as new Residential Infill Design Guidelines, Central Saanich is well-positioned to increase housing supply in a manner consistent with our community vision. 
To prepare for more infill housing, we are:
•    updating our Infill & Densification guidelines
•    reviewing parking standards, tree bylaw and site design guidelines to help mitigate impacts of infill development
•    streamlining development processes to be consistent with legislation, our guidelines, and bylaws
•    updating our bylaws concerning the fees collected from developments for community amenities and costs

Looking for more information?
If you’d like to learn more about the new housing legislation, visit the Province’s website at StrongerBC.ca/Housing

Frequently Asked Questions
How will this impact the small-town charm?
60% of Central Saanich is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and we have an Urban Containment Boundary that ensures development is contained. More housing will better enable residents to stay in the community by offering a variety of housing options, which will maintain the social connections so key to Central Saanich’s character. Diverse housing options will also help our much-loved small businesses. We anticipate more housing that aligns with infill policies will maintain the character of the community. The District’s Infill and Densification Guidelines, a project we began in 2018, is paving the way for a smooth transition to ensure there is more diverse housing options in Central Saanich to support the types of housing our residents and businesses need. 
What will the financial impact of new housing be?
To support municipalities, the Province has expanded the list of services municipalities can include in 
their Development Cost Charges and Amenity Cost Contribution Bylaws, which developers are required to pay to help with the impacts of new growth. More housing will also help disburse the costs of running the community amongst more households, and hopefully see our commercial sector thrive, which also contributes financially.
Can the public have input into these changes? Although these changes are not optional for municipalities, there will be an opportunity to view them this spring when the draft Zoning Bylaw is shared with the public. The Planning Department has also been working on a broader Zoning Bylaw update following the recent adoption of a new Official Community Plan. The community will be invited to provide feedback on the new bylaw.
What can I do with my property? 
You can check the size of your property by using the online application at CentralSaanich.ca/Maps. To make an appointment to talk to one of our planners, please email planning@csaanich.ca or stop by the Municipal Hall.

Protect your home from wildfire
Book an assessment today
Homes and neighbourhoods within Central Saanich are set amongst a patchwork of areas at risk of wildfire. Your risk can be reduced by following simple, preventative steps like adding a few FireSmart actions to your yard work routine.
The District’s FireSmart Coordinator, Ryan Vantreight, is a certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and is performing free, confidential assessments. We are also developing a Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan, which will help educate the community and enhance its readiness 
for wildfires by taking a comprehensive approach to towards wildfires. This plan will include risk reduction and resilience strategies
Email ryan.vantreight@csaanich.ca or call 250.415.8066.

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Volunteer Spotlight
A community is as strong as its residents, and we are fortunate to have active and supportive residents dedicating their time. Ginny Alger has been a devoted volunteer for over  25 years with the Brentwood Community Association.  She has been instrumental in pulling residents and businesses together to create the successful Brentwood Festival; was a part of the team to lead fundraising efforts to construct the Brentwood Performance Stage in HEL,HILEȻ Park; and she also helps coordinate Music in the Park every summer. 
The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce awarded Ginny the Hearts of Community Award in 2002 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 for her volunteerism on the board.
Interested in volunteering?  
Find the right role for you at CentralSaanich.ca/Volunteer.

District funds new and returning community programs
The District recently finalized several multi-year agreements with local organizations to provide valuable services to local community groups, such 
as environmental research, cycling education, youth cooking classes, art and senior programs.  If you’re interested in learning more about these initiatives, visit CentralSaanich.ca/CommunityPrograms

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Climate Action Update
Our fleet is going electric
The District’s Electric Vehicle and Electric-Bike Strategy outlines ways to help achieve our goal of seeing more low-emission transportation within the District. We currently have nine electric vehicles (25% of our light duty vehicles) in our fleet, and this year we’ll be adding four more. 

Cut down a little to save a lot
Improve your health and greenhouse gas emissions by taking fewer trips by vehicle.   By making choices like walking, biking and going electric, we can bring down our #1 contributor (more than 60%!) of the community’s greenhouse gas emissions. 
What you can do:
1.    Think of one regular trip you make each week by car—commit to walking, rolling or taking the bus.
2.    Go together—ask neighbours and friends if they want to commute together.
3.    Mix walking or biking into your commute. To build endurance, drive to work, but stop short of your workplace (walkers, try a half-mile; bikers, try two miles). Then bike or walk the rest of the way, gradually increasing the distance each week.
4.    Challenge your friends and family to reduce their carbon footprint.
5.    Join us at a Celebration Station during Go By Bike week (details in What’s Happenin’).

Find more information on climate action at CentralSaanich.ca/ClimateAction

Updating the Zoning Bylaw to support the local economy
The District is reviewing permitted commercial uses and other regulations to support economic activity. The key opportunities to be addressed are child care facilities, home-based businesses, and industrial lands. The goal is to support business opportunities in the Keating Business District and small commercial nodes in the Verdier, Island View, and Turgoose commercial areas. 
Stay tuned as we will be seeking public input later this Spring for proposed changes to the Zoning Bylaw and other regulations. To find out more, visit LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca/CommercialZoningUpdate.

Project Updates
Brentwood sewer replacement
Construction has started on one of the largest capital projects the District has undertaken.  It is expected that work along Wallace Drive at Centennial Park will take place over the next several months. During construction, there will be minor detours and traffic impacts. Impacted property owners will receive notification.  
Stay up to date at CentralSaanich.ca/BrentwoodSewer
Active Transportation projects
The District was awarded $400,000 from the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant to upgrade a critical road crossing that will provide better access to the Lochside Trail and a safe route between Saanichton Village and SȾÁUT ̱W
(Tsawout) First Nation.  Phase 1 will create new bike lanes at Mount Newton Cross Road and Lochside Drive. Construction is expected in 2024. Phase 
2 will create a separated multi-use trail along Mount Newton from the highway up to Saanichton Village—Construction is expected to begin in 2025. 
See all updates: CentralSaanich.ca/Projects

Reminders
Property tax deadline
Property owners: Pay by July 2 
Please expect your tax notice by mail around the end of May; if you have not received it by early June, contact us at 250.544.4206. To learn more about ways to pay, the property tax deferment program and how to claim your home owners grant, visit CentralSaanich.ca/PropertyTax or visit the Municipal Hall. 

What's happening around town
Brentwood Festival - June 1
Lions pancake breakfast, a parade, stage entertainment, display booths and vendors throughout HEL,HILEȻ Park.   
Visit BrentwoodBay.info for more information!
Music in the Park - July & August  
Wednesday nights in HEL,HILEȻ Park.   
Visit BrentwoodBay.info for the schedule!
Peninsula Country Market - Starts June 1
Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm, at the Saanich Fairgrounds. peninsulacountrymarket.ca
C.A.R.E Fair - Seniors Expo June 6
Mary Winspear Centre, Sponsored by the District of Central Saanich.
GoByBike Celebration Station - June 8
Newman Beach Park, 8000 block Lochside Drive
Join us from 11am-1pm along the trail!  
Spring go by bike week is June 3 -9.  Be sure to register and track your kms at GoByBikeBC.ca 
Backyard composting workshop - June 19
Interested in learning how to make compost for your garden and reduce waste?  See letstalkcentralsaanich.ca/events/composting-basics-workshop for details and how to sign up.

January 2024 Community Focus

September 2023 Community Focus

May 2023 Community Focus