17 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

The District of Central Saanich is expropriating a parcel of land on Hovey Road to redevelop municipal facilities in need of an upgrade.

The district said in a statement that it tried multiple times to purchase the 0.9-hectare property, at the corner of Hovey Road and Wallace Drive, for market value before taking the step of expropriating the land.

Expropriation was considered a last resort, the district said.

It’s a legal process that allows governments to acquire privately owned land to build or make necessary changes to infrastructure. The land owner is paid fair market value as determined by an independent third-party appraiser.

The district’s appraised value of the land is $3.1 million.

https://www.timescol...h-owner-8589260




I don’t like this at all. It’s one thing for road expansion or even if the property were adjacent to other facilities.

But this just appears to be the municipality looking at a map for the cheapest land to buy / expropriate.

This should not be allowed.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 April 2024 - 01:51 PM.

[max.bravo]

People in Central Saanich should protest this. Government is getting much too comfortable with their authority. This is kind of insane...

[Victoria Watcher]

People in Central Saanich should protest this. Government is getting much too comfortable with their authority. This is kind of insane...

 

I do not like the excuses used.  Too much ALR property and the only suirtable land.

 

It's only 0.9 h.

 

They could simply buy up some commercial property or some with - yes, houses on it - to willing sellers.

 

 

 

 

 

April 10, 2024

The District of Central Saanich has commenced the process of acquiring a critical parcel of land on Hovey Road to support the goals of redeveloping civic facilities, including municipal offices, fire and police facilities, and possibly other community and recreation amenities. The District considers this strategic acquisition of ‘Lot A’ Hovey Road (no address) as key to moving forward with civic facility development. The approximately 2.2-acre property is currently zoned A-1 (is not in the Agricultural Land Reserve) and is in the Urban Containment Boundary.

Through the Municipal Facility Feasibility Study, a significant land analysis was completed of bare land in the District. This acquisition was determined to be financially necessary for the project.

The District is expropriating the land, however before taking this significant step, the District first made multiple attempts to purchase the property for market value. The District’s appraised value of the property is $3.1 million.

“With limited bare land within the Urban Containment Boundary, the District determined this property is a critical acquisition for the future of the community,” Mayor Ryan Windsor.

Due to the central location and proximity across the street from Centennial Park, this property is a rare parcel in a key community location. In addition, it is on a main roadway serviced by transit.   

Considered a last resort, ‘expropriation’ is the legal process by which a government is permitted to take private interests in land for a public purpose when the government and owner are unable to reach an agreement. The process is governed by BC’s Expropriation Act and the process and timelines for notices, approvals, payments and possession dates are directed by the Act.

This is the first step in a long-term approach to redeveloping facilities. The District will be engaging partners and the wider community as it develops concepts for future facilities.

 

https://www.centrals...-lot-hovey-road

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 April 2024 - 02:39 PM.

[max.bravo]

It's a beautiful lot - I often shortcut down Hovey road if I want to avoid the 4 way stop (which is really an 8 way stop) at Mt Newton/Saanichton village. 

 

The municipality already has a huge parcel at the corner of wallace dr - more than enough space for a new city hall and fire hall. This is really insane.

[Victoria Watcher]

This also seriously affects the property/property owner next door.  Might be the same owner, do not know.

 

But it stinks that they just choose a plot and decide that's what they want.

 

Maybe they will hire a lawyer to oppose.

 

I do not seehow this plot is more desirable than many others in the municipality.   And it also stinks of poor planning.   They had 5 or 10 or even 15 years to acquire land as it hit the market, it's not like this snuck up on them.

 

Again, if it was for road works, or an expansion of a current facility, I could see it more.  But not in this case.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 April 2024 - 02:54 PM.

[Nparker]

At what point did all levels of government lose the narrative that they should only exist to serve the people, and not themselves?

[max.bravo]

That US Constitution contains a lot more wisdom than Canadians realize. This is wrong. The bureaucrats don’t even care.

[Nparker]

The bureaucrats care, it's just that they care about the wrong things.

[Victoria Watcher]

This also seriously affects the property/property owner next door.  Might be the same owner, do not know.

 

 

Well, well, well, look who owns both properties:

 

 

 

 

 

The owners of property being expropriated by the District of Central Saanich are urging the municipality to reconsider.

 

Park Place Seniors Living has owned the 0.9-hectare parcel of land on Hovey Road since 2006 with the intention of developing long-term care facilities.

 

The land, across the street from Centennial Park, was identified years ago by the Capital Health Region, now Island Health, as a desirable location for a long-term care facility, but the health authority didn’t have the money to purchase the land when it was for sale in 2006, said Lina Saba, senior director of brand communications and marketing at Park Place Seniors Living.

 

The company bought the land along with an adjacent parcel, totalling two hectares, and has been holding them for the development of a long-term facility for nearly two decades.

 

Park Place has been ­waiting for Island Health to issue a request for proposals for a ­provider to build and operate a long-term care facility. “We’re just waiting for Island Health to come forward to say we’re looking to build and then we would respond to it with the land that we have there,” Saba said.

 

But the district announced this week it had started the process to expropriate the land to redevelop municipal facilities in need of an upgrade. Expropriation is a legal process that allows governments to acquire privately owned land to build or make necessary changes to infrastructure. The landowner is paid fair market value as ­determined by an independent third-party appraiser.

 

The district’s appraised value of the land is $3.1 million.

 

“It’s mostly disappointing more than anything else, just because there’s a very obvious need for care,” Saba said.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...of-land-8596150

 

 

 

The company rejected two offers by the district to purchase the two lots and a third offer to purchase the single lot now being expropriated, she said.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 13 April 2024 - 02:44 AM.

[max.bravo]

All while the municipality has a perfectly good lot in a good location already. The nerve!

It’s official: property rights mean almost nothing in Canada.

[dasmo]

They should take the money and not leave. Set up a tent and start selling drugs.

[Nparker]

So more or less become a hospital?

[dasmo]

Exactly. What are they going to do? Kick them out? They would be homeless then!

[dasmo]

I hope they fight it. Make them force you….

[Victoria Watcher]

I suppose they have the means to fight it if they need to.  Or at least to present a strong case at arbitration if they can't cancel it.

[dasmo]

The law says they have to be compensated for the cost to fight it.

[dasmo]

Consult professional legal advice, but it appears like those costs would fall under “disturbances” https://www.bcexprop...nd-Exposure.pdf

[Mike K.]

There is more development coming to Hovey Road. At East Saanich Road and Hovey east of East Saanich Aryze is partnering with the seniors facility to build a project: https://victoria.cit...oad-hovey-road/