31 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

A development concept for the 4500 block of West Saanich Road aims to pre-zone district-owned land across from the Royal Oak Shopping Centre.

The main targeted site includes four parcels (2.7 acres) adjacent to Patricia Bay Highway.

 

https://www.vicnews....meeting-7902040

 

 

 

 

 

This has been blank land as long as I can remember, why now, 119 years later, is Saanich moving to develop it?

 

 

 

 

 

The subject properties include five parcels adjacent to Highway 17 (Patricia Bay Highway) with four parcels fronting West Saanich Road. The group of four parcels have a consolidated area of 1.1 hectares (2.7 acres) and will be the primary site for development. The remnant parcel, 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres), to the north, owned by Saanich and part of the original assembly, will not be considered for development, but will be considered as part of the concept plan, as it holds significant ecological value that will offer benefit to the overall development scheme and community. The owners of adjacent lands and agencies such as BC Transit and the Ministry of Transportation may also participate in bringing plans and proposals forward as part of the process. The District may consider entering letters of understanding to facilitate collaboration and planning.

The intention is to market the lands for sale and/or lease by way of a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) process, evaluate proposals against criteria approved by Council, with a preferred proposal placed under contract subject to the municipal real property disposition policy.

The preferred proposal will be selected according to the approved evaluation criteria by a staff lead evaluation team with non-disclosure of all negotiations and agreements by all parties until final approval.

 

https://www.saanich....anich-road.html

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 27 March 2025 - 06:55 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Here is a bit of history nearby:

 

 

 

Today, it is hard to imagine that the busy intersection at West Saanich Road and Wilkinson Road was once farmland with a mere trail connecting the history of two houses in that area.

The history also connects five pioneer families of considerable note: the Yales, the Mansons, the Peers, the Grants and the Maynards. One of the houses was built around 1912 and the other between 1920 and 1925. It is a somewhat long and meandering tale, but one more than worthy of telling and it begins well over 160 years ago.

The land on which the house at #1 – 4580 West Saanich Road stands today dates back to the 1850s. That land was inherited by Aurelia Manson (née Yale) from her father, James Murray Yale, who was the Hudson’s Bay Company Chief Factor of Fort Langley for some 30 years. The town of Yale on the mainland was named for him.

That land and the surrounding acreage on West Saanich Road was then known as Colquitz Farm and the farmhouse that once stood there was lived in by Aurelia’s older sister Eliza and her husband Henry Naysmith Peers, who both died in the 1860s. Aurelia and her husband John Manson, a well-known butcher by trade, then took over the farm. Aurelia’s father, James Yale, lived just to the north of them along West Saanich Road at Stromness Farm, until his own death in 1871 at which time Aurelia inherited all the land.

It wasn’t until around 1912 that the current house (4580) was built on this land by a plumber named Irvin Fairburn Carruthers who did not live there for very long.

 

 

https://seasidemagaz...oneer-families/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 27 March 2025 - 06:58 PM.

[lanforod]

Perhaps they’re trying to defray some big capital costs by selling that land. Like the huge costs for the new firehall and upcoming new public works yard.

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich proposal would bring 4 towers to district-owned land in Royal Oak

 

 

The redevelopment on district-owned land may potentially add up to 400 units to Saanich’s housing stock

https://www.vicnews....yal-oak-7933054

 

[Victoria Watcher]

This is a funny way to proceed.

[Mike K.]

Here’s the Saanich site:

https://www.saanich....anich-road.html

[lanforod]

I wouldn't have thought that would fit 4 towers!

[aastra]

 

I wouldn't have thought that would fit 4 towers!

 

Just think of all the people who have driven past that site over the past several decades and asked themselves, "Why aren't there some highrise buildings on that property? Wouldn't that property be the perfect place for some highrise buildings?"

 

I'd estimate at least one or two people have probably asked themselves that question at some point during the past hundred years.

[Mike K.]

I still think that was once planned as a bus exchange. Am I imagining that?

[aastra]

Highrise bus exchange, I think it was.

[Mike K.]

So where was the bus exchange planned, with direct highway access? Surely I’m not imagining that.

[aastra]

One of the usual suspects was promoting a rumour about it back in 2023.

 

There was also talk of a Carey Road exchange back in 2012.

[Victoria Watcher]

We don't need more fancy bus exchanges.  Effective transit keeps people moving, not waiting for that connecting bus in a posh centre.

[aastra]

The only posh exchanges we really need are the exchanges of clever ideas that occur inside the posh members club at VV headquarters, amirite?

[Mike K.]

Definitely not talking about the Facebook page.

You need to answer a simple math question to join this forum.

[Victoria Watcher]

Royal Oak Shopping Centre calls on Saanich to expand rezoning vision

Hansbraun Investment calls for collaborative approach as Saanich plans housing on nearby municipal land

https://www.vicnews....-vision-7963555

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 April 2025 - 12:22 PM.

[lanforod]

I'm in the Royal Oak plaza almost daily. Great neighbourhood shopping and services area, but it needs some work to fix some issues.

Hansbraun ought to do something to revitalize their own land. They have very solid, long term tenants and some nice new restaurants too.

 

But... they've got that middle plaza style strip that is completely useless. I would suggest they rip out the concrete there, put in grass, a playground, maybe some water features or splash pad, and require the businesses there to open those sides up or lose the access to some stalls.

 

Parking and traffic is really bad, there needs to be a better solution for truck deliveries such as the nearly daily ones to Cobs (Country Grocer at least has a loading dock).

 

Partnering on a development across the road is a good idea, but maybe look at yourself first...

Edited by lanforod, 25 April 2025 - 12:40 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Hansbraun sort of specializes in this type of shopping plaza.

I don’t know.

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich’s Economic Development Advisory Committee is asking council to prioritize hotel development for a parcel of undeveloped district-owned land in the 4500-block of West Saanich Road.

 

At its April 3 meeting, the committee voted to recommend that council “highly encourage” hotel use as part of the upcoming Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) process for the site. An RFEOI is a step in which the district invites potential developers to share ideas and interests before submitting formal proposals.

 

The decision followed a presentation from Destination Greater Victoria highlighting the growing need for hotel space across the region, as “Victoria attracts millions of visitors annually, including over 900,000 cruise ship passengers.”

 

By the same token, committee members noted that hotel development could help diversify Saanich’s economy, support tourism, and take advantage of a North American hotel boom.

 

The 2.7-acre area under consideration currently has no buildings, and committee members acknowledged a limited supply of suitable locations for hotel development in the municipality.

 

 

https://www.vicnews....ak-site-8007039

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 May 2025 - 11:41 AM.

[lanforod]

This all seem like a mess to you, how Saanich is going about this? So weird. I wonder if theres some palm greasing going on to get stuff rezoned before they sell it...