A new Saanich official community plan that lays the foundation for 18-storey residential towers along the McKenzie corridor near Gordon Head Road, among other changes, will head to a public hearing this spring.
Council voted unanimously Monday to send for public comment the tweaked version of its new community plan, which also incorporates new provincial legislation increasing allowable building heights around transit hubs and allowing single-family lots to be replaced by denser housing forms such as houseplexes of three to six units, townhomes or small apartment buildings.
Village plans for Cordova Bay and Cadboro Bay are also part of the revised OCP.
Amendments made Monday night to the document, which was given first reading on December, would mean three properties owned by the Capital Regional Housing Corporation at 1821 McKenzie Ave., 1827 McKenzie Ave. and 3936 Gordon Head Rd. could one day support up to 18 storeys of not-for-profit housing. Currently those sites are zoned for up to six storeys.
Mayor Dean Murdock said allowing for 18 storeys means the district will be prepared for future needs.
“Why would we miss the potential opportunity based on a gut instinct about how tall they should be?” he said, noting limiting the potential to 12 storeys, as some councillors had wished, would “effectively be closing the door on more affordable housing.”
“This is a long-term document — the last version of the OCP was largely unchanged for 15 years. I think McKenzie will look very different 15 years from now.”
https://www.timescol...ckenzie-8367026
Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 February 2024 - 06:10 AM.