Sooke is getting more parkland.
The developer of View Pointe Estates, realtor Michael Volk, is buying a land parcel approximately 2,100 square feet in size and giving it to the District of Sooke for a park.
“It’s a very uncommon situation to be dedicating park back to a municipality,” Volk spokesman Jared Steingard told Sooke council.
The land, located next to View Pointe Estates, would be ideal for a dog park, Steingard added.
“It seems to fit well with having open space [concept] with the park that’s already been dedicated,” he said.
Along with the 140 housing units being built at View Pointe Estates, which is located along Grant and Rudd roads, a sizeable park and trail system is being set aside on the land for people and wildlife to share.
RELATED: Park and trail system will form part of major housing development in Sooke
“The developer would like to donate lands to the district for a dog park area to complement the existing park area. The neighbourhood is in need of such a park and the developer has purchased this property for this reason,” Steingard said.
The land became available when a neighbouring developer didn’t need it for his project.
Volk plans to landscape the park by removing large rocks and debris, hydro seeding and planting a cedar hedge on the border with the residential property.
“We would like to turn it over as a complete and developed manner as possible,” Steingard said.
Council accepted to park donation, but with one caveat from Coun. Rick Kasper: “There should no perceived ideas that this is going to be or not be a dog park. It will be entirely up to council. We should approach this with a specific use.”
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