April 9, 2008
Jordan River Land sale still pending
March has come and gone and developer Ender Ilkay’s bid for 2,532 hectares of land stretching along southern Vancouver Island from Jordan River to the Sooke Potholes is still pending.
“It (the deal) has been extended… it’s open-ended somewhat,” said Ilkay on April 1. “We’re still watching the process — seeing what’s happening.”
Currently the land sale is basically sitting in limbo, while the Ministry of Transport deals with a Juan de Fuca Electoral Area land-use bylaw amendment which would see restrictions on the number of dwelling that can be built on rural properties. The proposed amendment would see lot sizes under eight hectares remain the same while rural lots over eight hectares limited to 120 hectares, and forestry lots limited to 120 hectares with one residential dwelling per lot.
These amendments could severely restrict what any development company or individual could do with the properties in question.
“The bylaw will have huge impacts,” said Ilkay. “A lot of people are getting hurt in the process.”
He said he would like to sit down with the Capital Regional District (board) and work collaboratively.
“I haven’t felt any welcome in that way,” he said.
April 11, 2007
‘Sack the plastic’ campaign launched
Environmental concerns are not new but the awareness of eco-related issues has probably never been as acute as it is now. News reports on topics including global warming are daily staples of the media. And there are even accounts of whole countries banning the use of old fashioned incandescent light bulbs.
The move to ban non-biodegradable products is picking up steam and a local resident is jumping on the bandwagon — exhorting her neighbours in and around Sooke to say no to plastic bags.
There is a serious move afoot to rid communities and wilderness of ubiquitous plastic containers, and the grocery bag is only one on the list.
Lesley Saddington has decided she’s had enough, and feels a boycott of the bags is an easy and meaningful step ordinary people can take in helping their environment. Saddington says it is not easy for average folks to give up their cars, travel or certain foods that may have been transported from far-away areas, but everyone can opt for reusable bags for their trips to the supermarket.
April 14, 2004
Sooke receives another grant
The District of Sooke shot and scored. Three times.
Tuesday morning, David Anderson, federal Minister of the Environment and senior minister for B.C., announced Sooke will receive $1.9 million for upgrades to two kilometres of Highway 14 through the community core from just west of Atherley Close to Charters Road.
It is the third grant the municipality has netted under the Canada-B.C. Infrastructure program in the past year. Sooke also received $11.6 million last May for the community sewer project and $1.9 last month to build part of a parallel route to Highway 14. All three were applied for in 2001.
“We have the hat trick, as they say,” an elated Sooke Mayor Janet Evans said Tuesday morning on a cellphone after the grants were announced at Saanich’s Pearkes Community Centre.
She said the projects funded by the trio of grants will work in concert Highway 14 will be dug up for the main artery of the sewer system and the recent grant will help make the community’s core safer and look better afterward.
“This sort of brings everything together,” said the mayor. The other road project will help with traffic flow.
April 9, 2003
School district must trim $1.87 million
April Fool’s Day didn’t deliver a lot of jokes last week, when the Sooke school district brought its budget consultation to Journey Middle school.
The school district must shave $1.87 million off its $57.6 million 2003-04 budget.
“Let’s not kid ourselves,” Sooke school district superintendent Dave Drummond said at the opening of the 2.5-hour budget struggle. “The exercise we are going through tonight will reduce service in the schools.”
One of the most popular fiscal solutions discussed was the institution of a user-pay system. The proposal calls for every bus-riding student to pay $10 per month to get to and from school, adding $270,000 in annual revenue.
Sooke school district trustee Don Brown said charging riders wouldn’t work. Families on welfare couldn’t afford it and administrative quagmires would result.
A family rate, provincial support and Parent Advisory Council subsidization for those in need were suggested aids.
