Members of the community met with the District of Central Saanich rcently, to ask questions and talk about many issues within Central Saanich.
Road safety and roaming cats were among the most discussed.
Councillor Carl Jensen said the council intends to do these meetings around Central Saanich to draw attention from direct neighbours.
Central Saanich resident Marg Yandel asked about plans for the intersection at West Saanich Road and Stelly’s Cross Road.
“It’s a difficult intersection the way it’s positioned and I foresee or I would expect that council would be thinking about all the extra bodies and cars and everything coming into this area within the next couple of years, and how we’re going to manage traffic along not only West Saanich through the town, but that intersection in particular,” said Yandel.
Coun. Niall Paltiel said it’s not something that’s been formally expressed at council yet, but it’s one they acknowledge is going to be a priority in the future because of the development.
“As somebody that commuted there for four years of my life going to Stelly’s, I know it well that it’s already a high traffic area and you’re right, it’s only going to get worse,” said Paltiel, adding that he could see a need in the future for some sort of measure like lights or roundabouts to improve the flow.
Coun. Alicia Holman said another factor to consider is the problematic alignment of the road.
“I think one of the things that came out in our community survey last December, a year ago now, was traffic safety and … I think it’s good to raise it as a question and priority because already it’s difficult to manoeuvre that intersection,” she said.
Resident Lee Scalzo said her concern is safety, particularly for students walking from Stelly’s along Wallace Road to West Saanich Road.
“I hate walking up and down that road, and I’m a pretty big walker,” said Scalzo, adding that she wanted to know what the future plans are for that area.
Jensen said the District has a couple of phases being looked at.
He said they have been in discussion with Tsartlip First Nation about a walking path for Stelly’s Cross Road and West Saanich Road.
“If we put a more formalized path or trail there, certainly I think we’re going to see more foot traffic (pedestrian, cycle traffic) heading through that light so I think it will emphasize that,” said Jensen.
Another question was asked about upgrading Stelly’s Cross Road.
“I think the answer there is through the budget process …” said Holman.
“I think that really one of the priorities whether it’s for biking, mobility and other things is connecting Saanichton and Brentwood. I think that’s definitely a high priority for the District …” added Paltiel.
Another issue brought up by resident Denis McBrearty was domesticated cats.
“Where I live we have quite a few cats that run free,” he said, adding a neighbour has built a high fence around his place to keep his cats in, but within seconds their cat was under the fence and gone.
“He lost two or three or four cats because they ran onto the road and got killed,” he said.
Brentwood Bay resident, Alex Apouchtine agreed, saying free roaming cats are a real problem. Apouchtine said there are six or seven domesticated cats who, he joked, visit their home once a week.
“For me, the biggest problem is they dig up my garden continuously,” he said, adding that he picks up three shopping bags of poop a year, adding he’s highly allergic to cats.
Although the Capital Regional District is responsible under contract for the District of Central Saanich for all animal control, it was agreed that education might be a tool for discussing the issue of cats.
“It seems to me that this might be a good opportunity for education in our newsletter, because I agree that cats do live healthier indoors,” said Holman.
She said the council could refer the issue to their communications committee to get some information around the CRD’s rules and regulations and reasons about why to keep cats indoors.
“Often you can’t enforce, it’s better to educate and this might be one option,” she said.
Paltiell agreed, saying they could educate people, whether it’s on their new website coming out in the spring or neighbourly tips in their newsletter.
Other issues discussed were affordable housing and the shortage of doctors.
