Saying he was “torn” and unable to make a decision, Central Saanich Mayor Jack Mar agreed to defer the vote on a controversial community plan change.
Central Saanich council was debating third reading of the bylaw that would allow Peninsula Co-op to build a supermarket on property it owns on West Saanich Road, Monday night. The district held a public hearing May 4 to listen to how residents feel about amending the Official Community Plan to allow for the building. Many pros and cons were heard during the six hour hearing.
Central Saanich councillors are divided in their opinions on the proposal. While each agreed that Peninsula Co-op is a good corporate citizen and employer in the community, they disagreed on the use of the West Saanich Road land.
Councillors Adam Olsen, Susan Mason and Alastair Bryson were against approving the bylaw, while councillors Terry Siklenka, John Garrison and Ron Kubek were for it, leaving Mar with the deciding vote.
“I stated at the all candidates meeting (during the 2008 municipal election) … (the) OCP is a living document, that’s the way it works, it’s not black and white,” said Mar. “I realize the Co-op proposal does not meet any of the Central Saanich Official Community Plan policies, and yet the Regional Growth Strategy has an amendment policy that allows municipalities to request changes in our OCP.
“I guess I’m really torn to have to cast the deciding vote. This morning I took the opportunity to talk to staff and (asked) ‘would it be easier if the Co-op goes to the next OCP review and would it get passed?’ And apparently if it gets adopted into the OCP, it’s not a given,” added Mar.
“If I make up my mind to move it forward it must go to the CRD for approval under the Regional Growth Strategy,” Mar continued. “I don’t think we have any other method because this is outside the Urban Containment Boundary; it doesn’t fit the OCP; it has to go for changes in the Regional Growth Strategy; Regional Context Statement — all those issues have to be addressed,” he said.
Mar brought up a development proposal in the Highlands that required an OCP change that took more than two years before an arbitrator approved the alteration, saying the Co-op could be in for the same long wait.
“If the Co-op were to take it to the next OCP review, which is going to take place in probably two to three years, it might be easier to push it through, otherwise it’s going to take almost the same time period to go through (the CRD) process,” said Mar.
After allowing other councillors to state their positions again, Mar was asked by Garrison to call the vote. Bryson jumped in and made a motion to defer the vote. “Unless you feel you’re prepared to make a decision, I think it would be foolish for us to force such a significant (vote) at this time,” Bryson said to Mar. “It’s not my intention to stall, it’s simply my intention to provide you the opportunity you seem to be asking for.”
Council will reconsider the bylaw at its June 6 meeting. Until then council cannot hear any new information on the Co-op proposal.
