A motion to reconsider the contentious development at 1934 Hovey Road in Central Saanich was passed by council this week.
This motion came before council after the matter became somewhat of a controversy.
Initially, Central Saanich council shot down the motion when it was brought to them in late October. Their main concern was the project’s density.
The building was meant to provide affordable housing geared towards veterans, seniors and healthcare workers.
Victoria-based Aryze Developments proposed to replace five single-family homes with a six-storey building featuring 62 rental units for seniors.
Another four-storey, 130 rental unit building was to be constructed with 13 units of below-market homes.
This development is being built adjacent to the Legion Manor retirement community and is meant to primarily offer affordable housing to veterans, as well as healthcare workers.
After it was initially defeated by council in a three to three vote, it came back to council for reconsideration after backlash from the community which prompted even Mayor Ryan Windsor to speak out on social media.
By the end of the November 25th council meeting, council had changed their tune surrounding the building and voted unanimously in favour of sending the development to a public hearing, which is the next step in the building process.
At the public hearing, Central Saanich residents will be able to receive more detailed information regarding housing needs and targets, approved versus built units as well as the development’s unit breakdown, including size, level of affordability, rental status and unit type.
BC’s Minister of Housing, Ravi Kahlon told Victoria Buzz that this is exactly the type of project the Saanich Peninsula needs to see be built.
“We are in desperate need of affordable housing, not only because we have veterans who find themselves in situations of homelessness, but also, we need healthcare workers and the biggest challenge we have while recruiting healthcare workers is the availability of affordable housing,” Kahlon explained.
“If you have a project like this coming forward that meets that criteria to help us serve an aging population, certainly in that region, it is a win-win.”
Central Saanich is one of the many communities to have been singled out by the Province to build at least 588 new homes in the next five years, and Kahlon says this project would help the community get significantly closer to their target.
If every community does a little bit, that means one community doesn’t have to do all of it,” Kahlon said.
“That was the purpose of the housing targets, was to ensure that all communities are doing their part to make sure we have affordable housing.”
Now that the development is moving forward, a public hearing for residents will be held on January 13th. More details about the hearing will be released closer to the meeting date.
