Getting some fantastic follow-up questions from door knocking. Thought I’d share my responses:
Q: Saanich’s allowance of 3 storey 4 or 6 plexes in the
Shelbourne Village area all the way up to Richmond Rd. What is your stand on this and how would you change height allowances in small homed areas? (e.g., Shelbourne Valley, Marigold area, Ocean View Rd., etc).
A: As your councillor I would advocate for Saanich to push back on the Province’s Bill 44 pre-zoning requirements and restore meaningful public engagement in neighbourhood planning. Areas such as Shelbourne Valley, Quadra McKenize, Carey, including Marigold Rd, and Ocean View Road should not automatically be treated the same as higher-density application as urban centres. I have advocated in Saanich for over 20 years and have seen residents’ ability to influence development decisions increasingly diminished. I would advocate for clear, tactical planning guardrails that direct densification toward appropriate urban areas while protecting the character, livability and infrastructure capacity of established suburban and rural neighbourhoods. I would be influencing Council to lead planning policy and hold staff accountable for applying it appropriately.
Q: How would you deal with the insufficient parking for regular houses, houses with 6 or more unrelated people renting there, and the new 4-6 plexes (some which often don’t even have any parking on site)?
A: I would advocate for practical parking requirements that ensure adequate on-site parking for existing homes with multiple renters as well as new multi-unit housing. I would support reviewing the reduced parking requirements for new developments, including stall size to align with the actual parking needs for each unit. I would also advocate for accessible bylaw enforcement, including an online system for residents to report parking and other bylaw infractions. Parking compliance is a basic municipal service and should be treated accordingly.
Q: How do you plan on dealing with the over expenditures from Saanich and the big jump in residents’ taxes (property, water, etc.)
A: As your councillor I would champion for stronger financial oversight, transparency and fiscal discipline, with spending
decisions based on what Saanich can realistically afford. Rapid, provincially mandated growth is placing too much demand on aging infrastructure, while provincial mandated funding from corporate developers does not cover the full cost of the infrastructure required to support it. I would work with other councillors to ensure transparency with taxpayer dollars both received and spent, require measurable outcomes for major projects, and prioritize projects based on need and affordability. I have managed projects in both the private and public sectors and understand the importance of delivering on budget with accountability. I would also advocate for a minimum-viable-outcome approach where appropriate, rather than automatically building to the highest available standard, while protecting essential services and infrastructure.
Q: What are your thoughts and intentions on the bike lanes created by Saanich? How would you make changes to ensure safety for both cars & bikes?
A: As your councillor I would advocate for transportation planning that safely accommodates all modes of travel; pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and buses rather than creating competition between them. I would advocate for transparent project prioritization, including the estimated cost, safety benefit, design alternatives considered and the reason each project was prioritized. Pedestrian
safety should be the baseline for every project as the most vulnerable transportation mode. I would also advocate for reviewing existing infrastructure where signage, lane configuration or turning movements create confusion or safety concerns, and for school travel safety planning to consider all schools and overlapping travel routes within the surrounding area rather
than assessing each school in isolation.
Q: What are your thoughts on Sannich’s decision to extend sidewalks into roads all along Shelbourne street, which have now reduced the space for cars and trucks to turn?
A: I am a proponent for streetscape designs that maintain safe and functional turning movements for all users, particularly first responders, transit, delivery vehicles and waste collection. Reduced turning radii can force larger vehicles into opposing lanes and create unnecessary safety risks. I would advocate for first
responders and transit representative’s as mandatory stakeholders in the design and approval of significant streetscape changes so these practical operational issues are identified and addressed before construction.