The Sidney Community Association & Radio Sidney hosted a panel discussion regarding the recent Provincial housing legislation. The objective of the legislation is to reduce process delays in order to assist communities in meeting their housing needs. However, it raises questions about how the legislation will impact Sidney neighbourhoods.
Most significant for Sidney, is Bill 44 which will require that as of June 30, 2024, the Land Use Bylaw be amended in single family zones to:
• Permit secondary suites or accessory dwelling units (Note: These are currently permitted in some single family zones)
• Three dwelling units on lots with an area of less than 280 m2
• Four dwelling units on lots with an area of more than 280 m2
Legislation is already in place that no longer allows a public hearing for a residential development that is consistent with the Official Community Plan.
If you are interested in listening to the entire panel discussion it is available on Radio Sidney – Peninsula Affairs.
Newsletters
February 2022 – Bioregional Framework and more
The SCA will help to ensure that its membership’s opinions and concerns reach the Town’s council and staff.
SCA hosts Bioregional Framework Presentation
During the Sidney Summit on Habitat and Environment in November 2018, there was a broad consensus that more could be done to support the health of the environment. Emphasis on collaborative action sparked the idea of developing a Bioregional Framework to support a Peninsula-wide approach to the environment.
The Bioregional Framework was completed in 2021 and the intent is to now present the proposed strategies and recommendations.
The Sidney Community Association will be hosting a presentation of the Bioregional Framework by Bob Peart. Bob Peart is the Coordinator of the Saanich Peninsula Environmental Coalition. Bob has a wealth of experience as a biologist and educator, specializing in the fields of parks management, land use planning and environmental education.
We encourage you to join us for his presentation using the Zoom link below:
Topic: SCA hosts Bioregional Framework presentation
Time: Sunday, Feb 20, 2022 02:00 PM
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72603121592?pwd=rdiH_CLwsx61uZsuHhxtN5pgmkEGLe.1
Meeting ID: 726 0312 1592
Passcode: NH8j3r
Dragons of Inaction – How they attack our climate behaviour
The Town of Sidney has initiated an update to the Climate Action Plan (CAP). The Climate Action Plan will focus on the following eight key areas:
Transportation Natural Environment
Buildings Town Leadership
Land Use Infrastructure
Food & Waste Emergency Preparedness
As part of the process, the Town of Sidney undertook a survey to identify logistical barriers that people face when considering incorporating specific climate actions into their lives. The survey focused on barriers to:
· Owning/using electric vehicle/e-bike
· Reducing /eliminating number of cars
· Switching to more energy efficient heating
The results of the survey will be useful in identifying practical obstacles but research in human behaviour has identified that there are much deeper impediments that block us from changing our climate behaviour even when we are aware of the implications.
Professor Robert Gifford is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria. He developed what he described as the “Dragons of Inaction.” These are facets of human behaviour that apply to all aspects of our lives including responding to climate action.
They centre on the conflict between broader societal goals and our personal goals. We know we should cycle or walk more but it’s more convenient and comfortable to drive. In addition, we resist making changes in our personal lives because it really won’t make a difference and mitigating climate change is the responsibility of ‘others’.
Professor Gifford developed a Dragon Self Diagnosis, Diagnose Your Dragons, available at this link.
This is a series of statements that we all use and hear. Professor Gifford’s argument is that recognition is the best way to know where to begin towards a better carbon lifestyle. Full confession, after completing the self diagnosis, I realize I have a lot of work to do.
Professor Gifford acknowledged that overcoming these barriers will be challenging and it will require communities to continue with various forms of engagement and this will take time.
Connecting with the Community
We are undertaking an initiative to connect to the community through ‘street meetings’. If you and your neighbours are interested in learning more about a particular topic or have concerns that you want to make us aware of, let us know. We will host a socially distanced meeting on your street. You bring the coffee – we’ll bring the donuts.
Board Membership
We are looking for new Board members so that we can continue to provide a service to our membership. We are looking for Board members with one or all the following skills:
- Social Media ( Facebook, our website, newsletter )
- Virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom)
- Mobility Issues (ability of sidewalks and streets to accommodate a range of users such as scooters and cyclists)
We are also looking for representation from the Greenglade and “South Sidney” neighbourhoods.
Membership
This year it will be more important than ever that we hear from you. We encourage you to sign up at: https://sidneycommunityassociation.ca/membership/
Our mailing address is:
Sidney Community Association
PO Box 20095 Sidney BC V8L 5C9
Best wishes from your Board of Directors: Dennis Carlsen, Lynda Comber, Steve Duck, Lindy Templeman
February 2021 Newsletter: What makes an OCP important?
Official community plans describe the long-term vision of communities. They are a statement of objectives and policies that guide decisions on municipal and regional district planning and land use management. These decisions impact communities’ sustainability and resilience.
However, after the adoption of an official community plan, all bylaws enacted or works undertaken must be consistent with the plan. This is why these plans are so important. As such, the SCA is attempting to have some say in what goes into this plan as these plan renewals only ever occur, every seven years, as per the legislation. Ours is now 13 years old!
As such the SCA is hoping that members will be interested in participating in looking at the following gaps that our board has identified in the current OCP.
- Development
- Transportation
- Environment
- Implementation
Development
These development sites were chosen because except for Gateway, are built and provide good examples of what should be addressed in future developments.
Contact Dennis Carlsen at dcarlsen58@gmail.com if you are interested in performing a test to see how these projects would fare against the current OCP.
- Firehall Site
- Ardwell subdivision
- Painted Ladies (James White Blvd)
- Rudd development (Malaview),
- 9500 Bk Fifth St.
- Sidney Crossing (Gateway)
Transportation
The streets listed below are the major streets identified in the OCP. These are the major vehicle, cycling and pedestrian routes. Therefore, any street improvements are likely to have the most impact.
Contact Eric Diller at eric4941@yahoo.com if you are interested in performing a functional audit of the following streets. We are seeking the input from folks who are:
Children (roughly 1m tall)
Using a mobility scooter or walker
Using a bicycle for transportation
Pedestrians
Use BC Transit
Drive
- Resthaven
- Fifth
- Mills
- Bowerbank
- Ardwell
It is interesting to note that Sidney will be commencing its active transportation plan following the OCP review process and also be working with BC transit on their proposed rapid-bus system for the region.
Environment
The areas listed are considered sensitive environmental areas and have people living in close proximity to them. As such they should be cared for in a manner that preserves and enhances them. If you are interested in discussing how these will be affected in the future.
Contact Nicholas at nicholaskris@shaw.ca to have your say in how these environmentally sensitive areas are protected.
- Roberts Bay
- Mermaid Creek
- Reay Creek
- Beaufort Road
- Lochside Waterfront
Implementation
Our current OCP includes very little about how a plan should be implemented. Most OCPs don’t have any implementation strategy which means that they read great, but then council doesn’t act on any of the things that are in them.
Bioregional Framework for the Saanich Peninsula (BFSP)
Jerram Gawley and Bob Peart
Representing the Saanich Peninsula Environmental Coalition
Check out our facebook page for the update.