Context
Central Saanich is home to many areas of great natural beauty and environmental significance. Residents and visitors enjoy an abundance of municipal, regional and provincial parkland, waterfront and beach access, a network of trails, and a wide range of recreational opportunities that promote physical activity, community connection and climate resiliency. The District’s parks, trails and open space contribute greatly to our rural and small-town community character by providing residents access to nature, rural and agricultural vistas, community gathering space, and more. Protecting and enhancing these public spaces is central to maintaining the health and wellbeing of our community and the environment into the future. The Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Regional Green/Blue Spaces Strategy and Panorama Strategic Plan should be viewed as key companion documents to this Official Community Plan. Stewardship of Central Saanich’s natural landscape areas should be prioritized in collaboration with W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, particularly the restoration and protection of ecologically and culturally sensitive areas.
A. Active and Healthy Community
Support an active, healthy community by providing a variety of parks, trails, and recreational facilities that are safe and accessible to all ages and abilities.
B. Collaborative
Work with adjacent jurisdictions, the CRD, and BC Parks to create linkages between parks and open spaces that connect to regional amenities and form corridors for multi-modal active transportation.
C. Culturally Sensitive
Collaborate with W̱SÁNEĆ Nations to identify, protect and restore ecologically and culturally sensitive areas within the District, including within the Parks and Trails system.
D. Environmentally Sensitive
Protect and enhance biodiversity, habitat, and environmentally sensitive areas within the Parks and Trail system, particularly related to the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem.
E. Considerate Growth and Expansion
Continue to expand and develop the Parks and Trail system to serve existing and future needs of the community in an environmentally sensitive manner that protects a diversity of species and ecosystems.
F. Climate Action
Recognize the role of natural areas within parks, trails and open spaces in climate resiliency, and consider climate action in park design and maintenance operations by applying landscaping strategies that decrease water use, enhance habitat, and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
G. Improved Waterfront Access
Improve the quality and quantity of public accesses to the shoreline and support non-motorized recreation opportunities in key waterfront locations.
1. Apply principles of universal design when designing parks and trails to ensure accessibility for all ages and abilities, including adaptive playground equipment.
2. When designing or improving parks, continue to apply the British Columbia Landscape Standard for parks, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) playground standards.
3. Design and build park infrastructure to minimize impacts on trees and the environment while supporting active uses.
4. Improve biodiversity and habitat within parks through design by protecting and identifying habitat trees; enhancing wildlife habitat; and ensuring minimal light pollution.
5. Consider climate-resiliency in park design by utilizing native and climate adaptive plants to support local biodiversity and minimize irrigation needs, incorporating areas for heat relief, such as shaded areas and water-features, and identifying areas for intensive tree planting.
6. Support community garden sites within the park system and on public land within the Urban Containment Boundary where there is supporting infrastructure (i.e., public washroom, water services, parking) and the site is easily accessed by active transportation or public transit.
7. Explore the creation of First Nations traditional and medicinal gardens in municipal parks in collaboration with W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, and include interpretative signs to educate the public on these important features.
8. When planning the scope and scale of outdoor amenities for parks, consider if the proposed amenity would function as a regional ‘destination park’. Consider how that may affect usage of the park and align with broader recreational services provided by the Panorama Recreation Centre.
9. Ensure that as population increases adequate park space and park improvements are provided to ensure access to outdoor natural areas and children’s play areas to support mental and physical well-being.
10. In collaboration with W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, enable access to park land through a formal agreement for traditional harvesting and gathering of plants for food, medicinal, or cultural purposes and revitalizing Indigenous food systems, which may include temporary closures to respect culturally sensitive events.
11. When the dedication of park land is required at the time of subdivision in accordance with the Local Government Act, the dedication of park land rather than acceptance of cash-in-lieu shall be considered where the proposed park land would meet any of the following criteria:
- a. Be adjacent to an existing park, trail, or open space and would improve park function;
- b. Include and protect an environmentally sensitive area or habitat;
- c. Be consistent with the Parks Master Plan or located within an area otherwise identified as a high priority for new parks, including linear parks;
- d. Would provide for trail connectivity as identified in the Active Transportation Plan;
- e. Would provide for a new, or expand an existing, public beach access or beach area;
- f. Would provide for a new park as part of a development that includes a significant increase in density; and
- g. The proposed park must be of an amount (up to 5% of the land being subdivided) and in a location acceptable to the District.
12. Explore innovative means to acquire park land, obtain the use of private land, or to protect land to meet parks and open space needs. These could include land gifting/bequests, amenity contribution at the time of development, land leases, coownership, conservation covenants, and community foundations.
13. Enhance the natural ecosystems in the parks and trail system by enhancing biodiversity, managing invasive species, and protecting tree canopy.
14. Consider future maintenance costs when planning for park upgrading or acquisition. A maintenance budget should be included along with any capital budget expenditure.
15. Continue to partner with Sidney, North Saanich and the CRD on providing recreational services through the Peninsula Recreation Commission and support the enhancement of recreational facilities both within the District and at the Panorama Recreation Centre.
16. Support the Panorama Recreation Centre in continuing to promote a healthy community and ensure that facilities are welcoming to people of all ages, abilities, and incomes through fully accessible programming, and financial accessibility through the LIFE (Leisure Involvement for Everyone) initiative.
17. In collaboration with W̱SÁNEĆ Nations and the Peninsula Recreation Commission, develop culturally inclusive programming that promotes W̱SÁNEĆ sport, recreation, and culture at the Panorama Recreation Centre or other suitable locations.
18. In collaboration with public agencies, non-profit organizations and private businesses, deliver recreational and leisure programs throughout the District, including within parks.
19. Where the District may wish to pursue additional recreational facilities within the community, explore options that may involve private-public partnerships or a separate agreement between the District and CRD/ Panorama Recreation Centre.
20. Continue to work with School District 63 (Saanich) and other suitable partners to meet any future demand for ball diamonds and soccer fields and/or upgrades to parks and recreation facilities.
21. Maintain and enhance existing accesses to the shoreline in a manner that does not put sensitive shoreline ecosystems at risk. Continue to use the 2001 Beach Access Report as a basis to prioritize the enhancement and development of beach accesses.
22. Continue to operate and maintain municipal docks to provide safe public access to marine waters and maintain relationships and agreements with different user groups utilizing the docks.
23. Strive to provide uninterrupted beach access along the foreshore and encourage community docks for public use and shared private docks over individual private docks and moorage facilities.
24. Develop a Parks Master Plan to guide the acquisition and management of Parks and Trails within the municipality.
25. Develop a Tree Strategy for managing public trees and improving the tree canopy.
26. Develop a Parks and Trails Signage and Promotion program, including the development of informational guides and materials.
27. Develop a policy regarding the use of public spaces, including parks and trails, for various commercial uses, including but not limited to the following considerations:
- a. The types of commercial uses supported and selection process;
- b. Legal agreements and requirements; and
- c. Required conditions to mitigate negative impacts.