News

Saanich Alternative Approval Process

The following information is part of CBACA’s ongoing goal of keeping members informed of matters of local and municipal interest.

Saanich is currently undergoing an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for the redevelopment of the Saanich Operations Center on McKenzie Avenue.  Following is the message from Saanich with details of the project and the AAP.

Please note that the Electoral Response Form cannot be submitted until the AAP period starts on May 21, 2025.

Click here for the District of Saanich Electoral Response Form.

As of May 21, 2025, forms may be accepted in any one of the following ways:

• Delivered in person at the Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Ave, during regular office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excluding statutory holidays, or after hours if deposited into the 24-hour secure drop box at the entrance of the Municipal Hall.
• By mail to: Corporate Officer, The District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Ave, Victoria BC, V8X 2W7.
• By emailing a legible scanned copy to aap@saanich.ca.

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Saanich Seeking Approval to Borrow Funds for the Redevelopment of the Saanich Operations Center

Message From District of Saanich  – May 12, 2025.

Why is redevelopment urgently needed?

The existing SOC facilities are more than 60 years old, originally designed for a population half the
size of today’s Saanich and no longer meet current operational standards. In the Strategic Facilities Master Plan
, the condition of the facilities at the SOC was graded as being poor, putting
both service delivery and employee safety at risk.

By redeveloping the site, Saanich will be able to maintain efficient, high-quality public works despite
increasing pressure on infrastructure and services caused by population growth. The redevelopment
will allow the District to improve upon its robust infrastructure and support the expanding needs of
the community over the next 80 years.

This initiative aims to support the District’s Housing Strategy by optimizing the public land asset to
see private sector development with rental accommodation built offering a mix of affordable and
market units.

Why an AAP?

Saanich opted to host an AAP as opposed to a referendum to increase accessibility for
residents. The AAP offers residents the chance to express their opinion and submit response
forms over a 30-day period rather than during a fixed voting event.

Additionally, the AAP is a cost-effective and efficient way to gauge public opinion that is
commonly used for existing essential services that require capital renewal. A referendum is a
resource intensive process and is most often used to obtain electoral approval on new services.
A referendum can also increase the timeline and costs of a project during a period when
construction inflation is increasing 5-10% per year.

The costs associated with holding a community wide vote are significant, often similar to that of
holding a general election.

Resident impacts

If the AAP receives approval, the average homeowner will see a per year tax increase of 0.85%
for four years. This is included in the previously approved debt servicing funding strategy that
has been underway since January 2024. The 0.85% tax increase per year for the average
homeowner over 4 years would be approximately $31.50 per year, or approximately $126 by the
fourth year.

In addition, the average homeowner will experience:

o a $3.60 per year increase for four years to their water utility bill;

o a $4.00 per year increase for four years to their sewer utility bill, and;
o a $1.70 per year increase for four years to their solid waste services utility bill.
If approved, the District anticipates securing a Development Partner by early 2026 and
advancing the project to construction with an expected start in 2028 and completion within 26 to
30 months.

Learn more

Detailed information about the AAP and participation guidelines are available
at saanich.ca/AAP. Elector response forms will be available beginning on May 14, 2025.

We encourage your association to share this information widely with members.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement in shaping the future of Saanich.

Questions? Please reach out to engineering@saanich.ca.