Council approved a major change to the proposed redevelopment at 1903 Mt. Newton Cross Road: the project can include townhouses, but its maximum height was reduced from six storeys to five. The change drew a sharp split over the trade-off between fitting the village and neighbouring homes, and preserving the project’s financial value and future housing capacity; Council also adopted the amended zoning bylaw and removed the requirement for developers to submit both lower- and higher-density designs. On Wallace Drive, Council approved a parking-covenant change to support a proposed medical clinic, while reserving one of nine commercial daytime spaces for short visits by residential guests. Council defeated a proposal to explore a demolition-waste bylaw, but directed staff to share reuse and recycling information with demolition-permit applicants; it also backed motions on short-term rentals and a free Earth Day tree program.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
What was discussed
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3.1 Agenda of the May 25, 2026 Regular Council Meeting
Council approved the agenda with changes: it added the May 11 regular-meeting minutes, a late attachment to the Peninsula Streams presentation, and two late correspondence items.
Routine: approve the meeting agenda with the listed attachment and correspondence changes.
Official wording: That the agenda of the May 25, 2026 Regular Council meeting be approved as amended by:
1. revising the attachment for item #6.3;
2. adding a late attachment to item #10.1; and
3. adding late correspondence as items #18.7 and #18.8.
Council voted to hold a closed meeting under the listed Community Charter provisions. The open meeting resumed at 7 p.m.; the transcript does not report what was discussed in closed session.
Allow Council to meet privately to discuss the specified personal, land, legal, service-negotiation, and confidential Indigenous-negotiation matters.
Official wording: That Council convene a closed meeting pursuant to the following subsections of the Community Charter:
90(1) A part of a council meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following:
• (a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality;
• (e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality;
• (g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality; and
• (k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.
90(2) A part of a council meeting must be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to one or more of the following:
• (b) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations:
(iii) between the municipality and a first nation or a prescribed Indigenous entity, or between a first nation or a prescribed Indigenous entity and a third party.
Council adopted the May 11 special-meeting minutes at 5 p.m. as circulated, along with the other two sets of May 11 minutes considered together. No corrections were raised.
Council adopted the May 11 special-meeting minutes at 6 p.m. as circulated, together with the other two sets of May 11 minutes. No corrections were raised.
parks environment1 public speaker12:54 Watch · Read
Peninsula Streams Society presented more than 20 years of water-quality monitoring in the Kennes and Tetayut watersheds, including sites that receive drainage from Keating Industrial Park. Copper, zinc and hydrocarbons remain key concerns; Kennes generally has more metal impacts, while Tetayut has more nutrient and hydrocarbon concerns. Several measures have improved or stayed steady, including declines in cadmium and some toxic hydrocarbons. The group said volunteers have logged more than 3,500 hours and described how monitoring helped identify a sewage leak in 2023. A councillor asked how the District could sustain improvements; the presenter pointed to business outreach, storm-drain diversions and continued monitoring.
Agreement
Council thanked the society and recognized the value of its long-running monitoring and volunteer work.
The presenter and a councillor agreed that continued monitoring and engagement with Keating businesses can help track and reduce pollution.
10.2 Saanich Peninsula Environmental Coalition
parks environment1 public speaker31:40 Watch · Read
The coalition described its work to encourage environmental planning across Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich. Its review of the three municipalities’ official community plans found that they recognize cross-boundary environmental issues, but offer little evidence of shared priorities, coordinated natural-asset management or common mapping. Community feedback called for regular joint meetings of the municipalities, better coordination on water, riparian areas and shorelines, stronger support for the Peninsula Agricultural Commission, and an inter-municipal advisory body. The coalition and Simon Fraser University plan to publish a report in early June.
Agreement
Council thanked the coalition for its work and welcomed the presentation.
12.1 Corr Doehnel, M re PAAC Minutes - May 1, 2026
A councillor reported attending a Savage Inlet Protection Society roundtable with the Mayor and another councillor. The report highlighted the return of the Pumpty Dumpty pump-out boat, which will provide a service in the inlet.
Agreement
Council welcomed the pump-out boat’s return and recognized the work behind restoring the service.
14.1 6181B Old West Saanich – DP for the Protection of Farming & ALC application for NARU
zoning development1 public speaker42:18 Watch · Read
The application would convert the second floor of an existing accessory building at 6181B Old West Saanich Road into a two-bedroom carriage house. The building’s existing lower floor exceeds the Agricultural Land Commission’s 90-square-metre limit by six square metres, so the applicant needs approval for a non-adhering residential use. Staff said the small change would not affect farmland, parking or the building’s general footprint, and considered the proposal consistent with District guidelines. The Mayor recused himself because the applicant is a family member. Council authorized the farm-protection permit, referred the application to the Agricultural Land Commission, and made permit issuance conditional on Commission approval.
Agreement
Council supported referring the small deviation to the Agricultural Land Commission and issuing the permit only if the Commission approves.
Staff and councillors agreed that the proposal would have little or no impact on farmland and would use existing parking and access.
Disagreement
A councillor questioned whether the proposal met Official Community Plan language calling for non-farm or non-adhering uses to support farming; staff said the policy predated the District’s current rules permitting this type of dwelling and that the farming impact would be negligible.
Authorize the farm-protection permit, send the application for an accessory dwelling unit in an existing detached accessory building to the Agricultural Land Commission, and issue the permit if the Commission approves that application.
Official wording: 1. That Farm Protection Development Permit PL001865 be authorized for issuance;
2. That the Non-Adhering Residential Use (NARU) application be referred to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) to permit an accessory dwelling unit within an existing detached residential accessory building; and
3. That following confirmation of approval of the NARU application from the ALC that Development Permit PL001865 be issued.
The owner sought to change a covenant governing nine shared visitor spaces at the 28-unit development at 7815 Wallace Drive. The proposal would reserve all nine spaces for commercial use from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., then make them available to residential visitors overnight. A resident had warned during public feedback that removing daytime visitor parking could affect home-care visits, deliveries and family visits. Council debated whether the change could still leave residential guests without daytime parking, and whether the District should enforce a private parking arrangement. After questioning the applicant’s parking consultant, Council amended the proposal: one space will be shared by commercial users and residential visitors for up to one hour during commercial hours; the other eight will be commercial spaces during those hours. The covenant is to set the rules, with the strata responsible for managing them and the District not responsible for enforcement. The amended request passed over one councillor’s opposition.
Agreement
Council supported the aim of securing a commercial medical use and agreed that the covenant should clearly spell out the parking arrangement.
Council agreed to reserve one daytime space for short residential visits while allowing the remaining eight spaces to serve commercial users.
Disagreement
A councillor opposed removing the District from enforcement, warning that residential visitors could otherwise have no daytime parking.
Some councillors favoured a stronger residential safeguard; others said one shared, time-limited space was a reasonable balance and that the strata could manage the arrangement.
A councillor raised concern that commercial demand could spill into nearby properties; the consultant could not provide a specific estimate of clinic patients at one time.
Change the proposed parking arrangement so that residential visitors may use commercial spaces from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.; the strata, rather than the District, would manage and enforce visitor parking. One of the nine spaces would also serve both commercial users and visitors, allowing up to one hour of parking during commercial hours, and signs would explain the restrictions before occupancy.
Official wording: That the motion be amended as follows:
1. That the request to amend covenant CA9342219 be approved and that the applicant work with staff to finalize the amendment so that the commercial parking spaces shall be available for use by visitors of the residential strata lots between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 am only, and the covenant be further amended to remove District enforcement and require the strata to establish and enforce the management and use of visitor parking.
2. That 1 of the 9 dedicated commercial daytime stalls and visitor evening stalls is both a commercial and a visitor stall that allows up to one hour parking within the hours allocated for commercial parking.
3. That signage be installed to advise visitors of the parking restrictions, prior to occupancy permit.
Approve a change to the parking covenant: residential visitors could use commercial spaces from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.; the strata would manage and enforce visitor parking; one of the nine spaces would also serve both commercial users and visitors for up to one hour during commercial hours; and signs would explain the restrictions before occupancy.
Official wording: 1. That the request to amend covenant CA9342219 be approved and that the applicant work with staff to finalize the amendment so that the commercial parking spaces shall be available for use by visitors of the residential strata lots between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 am only, and the covenant be further amended to remove District enforcement and require the strata to establish and enforce the management and use of visitor parking.
2. That 1 of the 9 dedicated commercial daytime stalls and visitor evening stalls is both a commercial and a visitor stall that allows up to one hour parking within the hours allocated for commercial parking.
3. That signage be installed to advise visitors of the parking restrictions, prior to occupancy permit.
Council awarded the pre-construction management contract for the Hovey Road Civic Facility to Chandos Construction LP for a fixed fee of $37,541. Six proposals were received, and Chandos was the highest-scoring proponent. Staff said the pre-construction work, expected to start in June and take six to seven months, will include design coordination, cost and schedule planning, and risk review. A later construction price will return to Council for approval. One councillor called the award premature while questions remain about the project’s viability; another asked about public input, and staff said feedback was planned for the Council Chamber area, but not for other facility areas at this stage.
Agreement
Council agreed that any later construction contract and price must return for approval.
A councillor supporting the award praised the selected firm’s experience and project record.
Disagreement
One councillor opposed proceeding, saying the project’s viability was still uncertain; the rest of Council supported starting the pre-construction phase.
Hire Chandos Construction for pre-construction work on the Hovey Road civic facility for a fixed fee of $37,541, with the intention of continuing with the company for the rest of the project at 1.87% of the construction budget.
Official wording: That Request for Proposal 26-014 Construction Manager - Hovey Road Civic Facility be awarded to Chandos Construction LP at a fixed fee of $37,541.00 for the Pre-Construction Phase; with the intent to continue the project with Chandos Construction LP for the balance of the project at a fixed percentage of 1.87% of the Construction Budget as outlined in the RFP.
Staff asked for direction to study a demolition-waste bylaw based on the Capital Regional District model, including its costs and effects on the District and construction industry. Staff estimated seven to ten demolitions a year. Some councillors saw value in encouraging reuse and recycling, but others questioned whether the recoverable material and market justified added costs for a small number of demolitions. Council defeated the study direction, then asked staff to prepare information about reuse and recycling for people applying for demolition permits.
Agreement
Council supported giving demolition-permit applicants information about ways to reuse or recycle building materials.
Disagreement
Some councillors favoured exploring a bylaw to recover and recycle demolition materials; others felt the likely benefit was too uncertain to justify further work and potential added costs.
Ask staff to explore a demolition-waste bylaw based on the CRD model and report back on its effects and costs.
Official wording: To direct staff to explore developing a draft demolition waste bylaw based on the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) model bylaw and report back to Council on the impact and cost implications
Council gave first, second and third readings to the animal-control amendment. Discussion focused on new definitions for aggressive and dangerous dogs, how incidents on private property would be handled, and how the changes fit with updated fine and ticket processes. Staff said the new categories should help match enforcement to the severity of an incident and that investigations would determine how the bylaw applies.
Agreement
Council supported updating the bylaw and using different categories to better match enforcement to the incident.
transportation1 public speaker1:41:39 Watch · Read
Council gave first, second and third readings to a broad update of the seven-year-old Traffic and Highways Bylaw. The changes cover parking enforcement, boulevard upkeep, vegetation and sight lines, electric-vehicle charging spaces, overnight parking in District lots, recreational vehicles, accessibility, and event and road-right-of-way permits. Staff said a linked ticket bylaw would allow notices to be placed on vehicles or sent by mail, rather than requiring the District’s sole bylaw officer to serve every ticket in person. On cyclist crossings, staff said marked “elephant’s feet” can be installed where crossings are safe, with education work underway.
Agreement
Council supported clearer parking and boulevard rules and better tools for handling rising traffic-related complaints.
Staff and Council agreed that cyclist crossings need to be assessed for safety and that public information about new markings is useful.
Council rescinded the earlier third reading of the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw and gave it a new third reading with amendments. This was a step in updating the District’s bylaw-ticket process.
Council reopened and amended the zoning for the proposed redevelopment at 1903 Mt. Newton Cross Road. It added residential attached housing as a permitted use and reduced the maximum height from 23 metres, or six storeys, to 20 metres, or five storeys. The change followed debate about the effect on nearby homes, village character, future housing and the financial return needed to fund a new civic facility. Supporters saw the amendments as a compromise that could make the project more acceptable to neighbours while still allowing substantial development. Opponents warned that reducing height could hurt the project’s profitability and housing capacity, and argued that the village core is where density belongs. The amended bylaw received third reading and was adopted. Council also directed staff to remove the requirement for applicants to submit both lower- and higher-density options in the request-for-proposals process.
Agreement
Council agreed that the project needs to balance housing and civic-facility funding with effects on the neighbouring community.
Council agreed to give clearer direction to applicants and approved removing the requirement for separate lower- and higher-density options.
Disagreement
Some councillors supported five storeys and townhouses as a compromise responsive to community concerns; others argued that six storeys would better protect project revenue and housing capacity.
Councillors disagreed about whether the likely tax or borrowing impact of reduced development value was an acceptable cost of a lower building.
Add attached residential homes as a permitted use in the zoning rules for this property.
Official wording: That Central Saanich Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 2252, 2026 be amended by:
• Adding to Section 2. b) "Residential Attached" as a permitted use.
Reduce the maximum building height for the proposed development from six storeys to five.
Official wording: That Central Saanich Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 2252, 2026 be amended by:
• Amending section 2. d) by revising the Building Height from 23.0 metres (6 storeys) to 20.0 metres (5 storeys).
Update the zoning map legend to show a five-storey, 20-metre maximum height in the blank area.
Official wording: That Central Saanich Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 2252, 2026 be amended by:
• Amending Figure 1 by revising the legend for the blank area to "20-Metre Height Maximum (5 Storey Building)".
Change future requests for proposals so applicants are no longer asked to submit both lower- and higher-density options.
Official wording: That staff be directed to update the RFP process to eliminate the request for a lower density and higher density option from applicants.
Council backed a plan for staff to propose using part of tree-removal application fees to buy locally sourced native or food-bearing trees in bulk. The proposed program would distribute them free to residents for future Earth Day events and include planting advice and demonstrations.
Agreement
Council supported exploring a practical way to reinvest tree-removal fees in the local tree canopy and public planting education.
Ask staff to develop a plan for using some tree-removal application fees to buy locally sourced native or food-bearing trees each year, then give them to interested residents during future Earth Day events with guidance on how to plant them.
Official wording: WHEREAS the District of Central Saanich recognizes the importance of Earth Day not just as a day of reflection, but as a real-world opportunity to "walk the walk" in environmental stewardship and make impactful, symbolic, and tangible improvements to our local ecosystem;
WHEREAS the District currently collects fees from applicants requesting tree removals under the existing Tree Management Bylaw, presenting an ideal opportunity to capture and reinvest a portion of these funds directly back into the community to offset canopy loss; and
WHEREAS providing locally-sourced, indigenous, pollinator-friendly and/or food-bearing trees free of charge to interested residents offers a valuable opportunity to teach tree-planting best practices, support local biodiversity, enhance food security, and actively accelerate and enhance our community's tree canopy;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council direct staff to develop and report back with a proposed plan to allocate a determined portion of funds collected from tree removal application fees toward an annual, locally-sourced bulk purchase of indigenous and/or food-bearing trees; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this plan include a framework for distributing these trees free of charge to interested Central Saanich residents as part of future Earth Day initiatives, complete with educational resources and demonstrations on planting best practices.
Council approved a direction to develop a policy that could allow short-term rentals in an operator’s primary home or a legally permitted accessory building, with safety and parking rules, enforcement powers and a fee to support enforcement. Three residents had spoken during public feedback about relying on short-term rental income, including to meet housing costs and support family members; another said they rented their home for only a few weeks a year. Councillors noted that a staff report on short-term rentals was due in June and that any zoning and Official Community Plan changes would require further work and public process. The motion passed as a direction to staff, not an immediate change to what rentals are allowed.
Agreement
Council agreed that the policy should address safety, parking and enforcement, and that further staff work and public process would be needed before any bylaw changes.
Disagreement
One councillor preferred waiting for the already-requested staff report and wider community input before giving policy direction; the motion’s supporters favoured moving ahead with drafting direction.
Direct staff to include short-term rentals in the upcoming zoning update when they are in an operator’s primary home or a legally permitted accessory building on the same property. The proposed rules would require safety and parking compliance, allow licenses or permits to be suspended or cancelled after repeated documented violations, and develop licensing fees to help fund bylaw and parking enforcement.
Official wording: WHEREAS short-term rentals (STRs) provide valuable accommodation options for visitors and tourists, while offering residents an opportunity to supplement their income to help offset the rising costs of living;
WHEREAS the District of Central Saanich recognizes the need to carefully balance the operation of short-term rentals with the preservation of neighbourhood character, long-term housing availability, and the safety and peaceful enjoyment of our community;
WHEREAS integrating short-term rentals into existing primary residences or accessory buildings can be done responsibly if appropriate safety, parking, and enforcement mechanisms are clearly established; and
WHEREAS the effective regulation of short-term rentals requires adequate resourcing for our bylaw enforcement and parking management teams;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
1. Allowable Use in Primary Residences: That Council direct staff to include Short-Term Rentals as an allowable use as part of the scheduled District zoning bylaw update, provided the rental unit is located within the operator’s primary residence or within a legally permitted accessory building on the same property, and further, that associated business licensing and enforcement policies be drafted following the completion of the Districts comprehensive zoning bylaw update.
2. Safety and Parking Compliance: That the drafted amendments include strict stipulations requiring all short-term rental units to meet municipal health, fire, and life-safety standards, and fully comply with the District of Central Saanich's Off-Street Parking Regulations to prevent neighbourhood congestion.
3. Enforcement and License Cancellation Policy: That Council direct staff to draft a concurrent enforcement policy and related bylaw provisions that grant municipal Bylaw Officers the clear authority to suspend or cancel a short-term rental business license or permit in the event of multiple documented infractions (e.g., noise, parking, or safety violations).
4. Cost Recovery and Enforcement Funding: That staff include a proposed municipal short-term rental permit/licensing fee structure, designed specifically to allocate generated funds toward supporting general bylaw enforcement and parking enforcement resources within the District.
Council agreed to consider the motion that evening, then voted to put a question on the October municipal-election ballot asking voters to select the District’s Capital Regional District representative from among successful mayoral and council candidates. The Mayor said a decision was needed in time to amend the election procedures bylaw by the end of June. Two councillors opposed the proposal, arguing that Council should choose its representative after the election and that candidates’ circumstances can change.
Agreement
Council recognized that any change needed to be addressed before the election-procedure deadline.
Disagreement
Supporters favoured letting voters choose the regional representative directly; opponents preferred Council to make the appointment after the election and raised concerns about adding another choice to the ballot.
Put a question on the October municipal-election ballot letting voters choose one of the elected mayor or councillors to represent the District on the CRD.
Official wording: WHEREAS the current process to appoint the Capital Regional District (CRD) representative is conducted by Council after the municipal election;
WHEREAS changing to a direct vote for the CRD representative would require provincial legislative changes;
AND WHEREAS the Council has the authority to add a ballot question allowing voters to select the CRD representative from among the elected candidates without such legislative change;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that on the ballot for the October municipal election, there will be an option for voters to directly select one representative to the Capital Regional District from among the successful candidates for Mayor and Councillors.
The meeting ended after Council confirmed that no outstanding closed-session business remained. The transcript does not capture the adjournment time clearly.
UnclearItem 20
Routine: adjourn the meeting.
Official wording: On motion, the meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m.
Decisions
Official · from the minutes
All 32 decisions from the minutes appear under the agenda items above.