The same week Census numbers showed Sidney’s population on the decline, town council saw a presentation that could help reverse that trend.
“The difference is obviously it’s about retaining and having families move into Sidney. Here’s an opportunity to look at alternative housing forms and tenures,” said Randy Humble, the town’s director of development services and acting chief administrative officer.
According to Statistics Canada’s Census 2011 figures, Sidney’s population dropped 1.2 per cent since 2006, from 11,315 to 11,178.
Last Monday, Feb. 6, town staff released their draft zoning bylaw document. Within it are changes that could increase the opportunity for infill lots and subdivison, provide new options for secondary suites in residential areas, and provide special wording to remove bureaucracy for people who want to build detached secondary suites in the Orchard neighbourhood.
It’s like a gentle encouragement for residents of Sidney to diversify housing options in the community, Humble said.
Mayor Larry Cross agreed.
“There’s some changes in the principle behind the bylaw,” Cross said. “There are changes in terms of use and density. I urge every citizen who’s concerned to come in and take advantage of every avenue to give input.”
To that end, the town is hosting two public houses for people to learn more about the changes and give feedback before council votes on whether to ratify the document.
“It’s affording rental housing opportunities,” Humble said of the document. “Everything is urban infill [now], so we have to be creative in terms of density. … What’s happening in response to the zoning is it’s really something Sidney is doing to deal with housing choice and tenure. People on their own are not developing rental apartments.”
He added if the bylaw is approved by council, which could happen this spring, zoning on current residents’ properties could change automatically, if changes apply to their land. For example, some properties zoned R1 at the north end of town could become R2, which might allow a neighbour to build a duplex, if their lot is of the right size.
Have your say
Attend one or both of Sidney’s open houses to speak your mind on the proposed changes, or learn more about the zoning document. Both open houses are held in the Myfanwy Pavelic Gallery at the Mary Winspear Centre.
• Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 7 from 5 to 8 p.m.
For more information, call 250-656-1725 or email developmentservices@sidney.ca
A regional need for housing options?
While Sidney ponders its zoning document, the Peninsula’s two other communities are considering changes that could add a diversity of housing options.
In Central Saanich, council is getting public feedback on its densification study that could add infill development.
In North Saanich, council is considering embarking on an official community plan review, which might include language about various housing density options.
On Feb. 9, in response to the Census numbers, Ian Brown, spokesperson for an organization called Workforce Housing, sent a letter to the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, asking its members to attend North Saanich’s Feb. 27 meeting to encourage council to add housing options for working people.
“As you are undoubtedly aware, one of the significant challenges facing Peninsula businesses is the availability of reasonably priced local housing for their employees,” Brown wrote. “And in all cases our community loses because it’s the young – young men, young women and young families – the very people who hold the future in their hands – who are turned away. … This might just be the opportunity to get the ball rolling towards a solution for this difficult problem.”
