45 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Saanich is pursuing another somewhat underhanded move to repurpose residential land currently facing a wetland scenario in the Hastings area. They claim it's a wetland, but they approved the subdivision of the lands into residential lots, for which they are charging taxes. You can't build on those properties, meanwhile, and there is no evidence the land was historically a wetland. Instead, the theory is there is a man-made drainage issue caused by development elsewhere (the drainange originates from quite far away, i.e. like the Vic General Hospital) which ends up pooling in the 'wetland.'

 

To untangle this mess would require some big legal dollars, and Saanich is hot for the creation of a park with people's private property.

[Victoria Watcher]

 

 

saanich should try one of those floating villages like they have in vancouver.  or delta or richmond or whatever.  i can't find it on google now.  but all the homes are run down and attached via piers and boardwalks.

 

 

 

finn slough!

 

http://www.finnslough.com/

 

 

 

 

http://www.finnsloug...h_heritage2.htm

 

finn slough.  on dyke road.  can't make this stuff up.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 February 2021 - 08:51 AM.

[North Shore]

Saanich is pursuing another somewhat underhanded move to repurpose residential land currently facing a wetland scenario in the Hastings area. They claim it's a wetland, but they approved the subdivision of the lands into residential lots, for which they are charging taxes. You can't build on those properties, meanwhile, and there is no evidence the land was historically a wetland. Instead, the theory is there is a man-made drainage issue caused by development elsewhere (the drainange originates from quite far away, i.e. like the Vic General Hospital) which ends up pooling in the 'wetland.'

 

To untangle this mess would require some big legal dollars, and Saanich is hot for the creation of a park with people's private property.

 

Is that this area, Mike?  https://goo.gl/maps/3QWgES7yKrHZwMHo9

[Spy Black]

Saanich is pursuing another somewhat underhanded move to repurpose residential land currently facing a wetland scenario in the Hastings area. .....

There are also legal lots in the Panama Flats area that they won't let you build on because they're flood-plain... but which occasionally come up for sale for ridiculously low prices ... which makes sense since all you can do is park your RV on the lot for a few months each summer (if you can even do that ... I"m sure there's a by-law against it).

 

Still gotta pay your taxes on it though!

 

https://www.google.c...m/data=!3m1!1e3

Edited by Spy Black, 24 February 2021 - 01:17 PM.

[Mike K.]

Yes that’s the area.

It never used to be a flood plain. As the radius around it developed, it became one, according to local lore.

[Victoria Watcher]

There are also legal lots in the Panama Flats area that they won't let you build on because they're flood-plain... but which occasionally come up for sale for ridiculously low prices ... which makes sense since all you can do is park your RV on the lot for a few months each summer (if you can even do that ... I"m sure there's a by-law against it).

 

Still gotta pay your taxes on it though!

 

https://www.google.c...m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

[Jackerbie]

There are also legal lots in the Panama Flats area that they won't let you build on because they're flood-plain... but which occasionally come up for sale for ridiculously low prices ... which makes sense since all you can do is park your RV on the lot for a few months each summer (if you can even do that ... I"m sure there's a by-law against it).

Still gotta pay your taxes on it though!

https://www.google.c...m/data=!3m1!1e3

Richmond has about 600 lots with no road access so can't issue building permits for any of them. People still buy and sell them for "cheap" but you can't do anything but farm them (if you can even get to it).They were planned subdivisions but got locked into ALR and so the roads were dedicated but never built.

[Mike K.]

I believe the code requires at least two corners of the home to be on solid ground, so you can’t have a home on the flats like the one depicted in the image above unless it’s along the edge.

Several homes in the Hastings area were built that way, by fill being delivered and eventually they could build.

[Victoria Watcher]

Panama Flats focus switches from agriculture to recreation and wildlife

 

 

 

 

A 10-year-old plan for managing Panama Flats is about to get overhauled.

 

The idea is to replace the 2014 Panama Flats Concept Plan, which was heavily focused on agriculture, with a plan more reflective of what the space has become — a significant recreational destination and wetland home to a variety of wildlife.

 

“This is an opportunity for us to engage stakeholders, all those users and say: ‘Are we still on the right track?’ ” said Mayor Dean Murdock.

 

Saanich acquired the 25.26-hectare area in 2011 with the idea of providing public space for flood-plain management, creating a new park and trails, and enhancing food security.

The land, on the Colquitz River floodplain, had been used since the 1870s for agricultural purposes.

 

 

https://www.timescol...ildlife-9118828

 

 

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 June 2024 - 04:38 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

I’m not sure about this.

10 years of inaction has caused some “return to nature” but you might also say that wasn’t the plan and there could still be some other uses here.

[Victoria Watcher]

The District of Saanich is holding an open house, inviting the public to discuss the future concept plans for Panama Flats.

After the district purchased the land on which Panama Flats sits in 2011, the municipality had a vision of a natural area with agricultural space.

In 2014, the district developed those plans, with much of the land earmarked for agriculture, but that plan failed after the infrastructure costs for the necessary drainage were too high.

 

“The community really find Panama Flats to be a social gathering place,” said Hollis Hodson, president of the Carey Area Residents Association (CARA).

After a vote last year, the district, community groups like CARA, and First Nations began discussing how the park can best serve the community.

Now, the district wants to present those plans to the public. Hodson’s hope is that much of the park is preserved.

“I think a minimalist approach, getting the ring trail, preserving and making sure there’s habitat for the birds,” said Hodson.

 

https://cheknews.ca/...-flats-1262902/

 

 

I think you have to put a boardwalk across it, that makes it much more interesting than just a ring trail.

[Victoria Watcher]

Parts of Panama Flats to be designated as park to protect birds, off-limits for dogs

Starting next year, staff is set to begin updating trails, fencing and signage in the area to create a dedicated area for migratory birds, waterfowl and rare plants.



https://www.timescol...r-dogs-11382610

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 October 2025 - 01:26 PM.

[Blair M.]

I live near-by, and consider this a pretty good outcome for the future of Panama Flats - not ideal, but not terribly off point.

 

Reality sets in when you consider that at least 50% of what is considered parkland "Panama Flats" is under a couple of feet of water for at least half the year, something the currently approved plan seems to have taken into account.

Saanich's plan for flood mitigation isn't intended to get rid of that couple of feet of water, rather it's designed to deal with those few times a year when the flats currently flood to a depth of up to 5 or so feet, something that occurs after every major rain event. 

 

That Saanich has decided to put up a few signs, improve a few trails, install a couple of benches, and do a bit of PR for the park seems appropriate. 

With a very low cost estimate total of around $500,000.00, it's apparent that, in reality, Saanich isn't really going to do very much at all beyond what's already there. 

[Victoria Watcher]

I like the boardwalk idea.

[Mike K.]

Does this mean no ice skating any more?

[Victoria Watcher]

Does this mean no ice skating any more?

 

No, the article says the infrastructue will actually support ice skating.

[Mike K.]

Ok cool!

[Victoria Watcher]

For the birds: Saanich looks at full off-leash dog ban for Panama Flats

 

Read more at: https://vicnews.com/...r-panama-flats/

[Victoria Watcher]

Last week, Saanich’s council endorsed a plan to rezone Panama Flats as a bird and nature sanctuary and pushed back a decision on what that means for dogs in the park.

That’s got a group of dog advocates saying they feel “blindsided” and “betrayed.”  

“They’re a lot upset,” says Eulala Mills of the CRD DOGG Society—that stands for Dog Owners (and Friends) for Good Governance Society, which, along with its associated Facebook page, Happy Dogs in Sanich Park, counts 2K members.

“We thought we had an agreement,” Mills says.

In October, Saanich’s council approved a concept plan that would prohibit dogs from certain areas of the flats but would allow them to be on-leash on designated trails and, most notably, leash-optional on an eight-foot-wide pathway that is bordered with bushes and runs less than a kilometre between Hyacinth Park and Roy Road.

Almost two dozen groups representing community associations, interest groups, and First Nations spent the better part of a year developing the plan for Panama Flats—a 26 ha (65-acre) natural area between Interurban and Carey that Saanich bought in 2011.

https://www.capitald...aw-postponement

[Victoria Watcher]

I am writing to express my disappointment and displeasure at the way Saanich council has chosen to deal with dogs and Panama Flats. I am a member of Happy Dogs in Saanich Parks. Our group consulted with council in good faith, and we achieved a good compromise with respect to dogs at Panama Flats.  Then, in a way that can only be described and disingenuous and disrespectful, they ignored the agreement and made a different agreement with others while we were not even present to present our point of view. So much for negotiation! They are not to be relied upon.  We have been negotiating with council in good faith for years now, in the hopes of preserving off-leash spaces for dogs in Saanich. We have been open to compromise, open to making sure that all points of view are represented, open to making sure that all the people of Saanich can have their needs met. We have never adopted a my-way-or-the-highway perspective. We have never insisted that we have everything and others have nothing. We have properly presented our points of view and listened respectfully to others, working towards compromise in every instance. And this is how they have chosen to treat us: As if we matter not at all.

 

Read more at: https://saanichnews....-saanich-parks/