News ee : _ TheReview Wednesday, January 17,1990 — A4 —— Se oo eases spot development may result from soil study, mayor warns Even if Central Saanich did a soil capability study, marginal agricultural land might not be developed. “A soil capability study is something we can look at but to make it meaningful it would require conditions,” Mayor Ron Cullis said Jan. 8. “Removing blocks of land by soil capabilities would result in patches of land (being developed),” Cullis said. “While a soil capability study seems admirable as an exercise it could be just that, an exercise,’ he warned. ‘‘The community as we know it could be more threatened by what’s contained in the draft (study).” Resident farmer Flo Michell asked council if coinsideration had been given to doing a soil capability study. “It would make the public more aware of what soil capability means, growing-wise and economic-wise,” Michell said. Ald. Wayne Watkins said soil capability is not the only criteria used when determining removal of agricultural land. ~ You can put up a greeenhouse on a parking lot,” Watkins said. Ald. Jack Mar, a long-time farmer, said some vegetable and small fruit farms in the municij slity are not economically viable. Ald. Arlene Box said the provincial’ government should offer help to farmers, either by buying farms that are not viable or by offering compensation to farmers who can’t make farming profitable. The land commission, in a letter of comment to the municipal- ity’s draft community plan, supported its recommendation that a detailed soil capability analysis be done. Former alderman sy quits ‘dumping ground’ planning commission Former North Saanich alderman Bill Gordon resigned from the community’s advisory planning commission Monday night, charg- ing the commission has become “a sort of dumping ground for council to stall proposals and gain more time for waffling.” In a letter of resignation Gordon complained that North Saanich council overrides recommenda. tions from the planning commis- sion and from the environmental advisory commission. He criticized council’s handling of the Pat Bay Golf Club applica: - tion, noting council did not accept further public input collected by the golf club. Said Mayor Linda Michaluk: . “It’s always regrettable but unde- tstandable when a member of the community who volunteers their time finds, for whatever reason, that it is time to go on to other things. “I think the letter from Mr. Gordon speaks for itself.” Gordon also said council ignored majority opinions at pub- lic hearings and complained about the dual appointment of one per- son to both the environment and planning commissions. BILL GORDON | ‘It's always regrettable but understandable when a member of the community who volunteers their time finds, for whatever reason, that it is time fo go on to other things.’ “IMPROVING YOUR HEARING 1S OUR CONCERN” MRS. EVELYN HAMBLEY GOVERNMENT LICENSED HEARING AID CONSULTANT CONDUCTS HEARING EVALUATIONS Every Monday from 1:30 - 5:00 And Tuesday from 9:00 - 5:00 All the latest noise reduction hearing aids and improved technology in small canal hearing aids are available. We service all makes and models of hearing aids and supply all types of batteries at a discounted price by quantity. oo cartngatnans All hearing aids are fitted with a 30 day, NO obligation trial! _ ISLAND : ACOUSTICS -Mayor Michaluk The draft report says council supports completion of a detailed soil capability analysis and additional policies for use of areas with low or marginal capabilities may be warranted. The planning commission rec- ommended more public input be Currently, Canada Land Inventory maps are used, municipal clerk Gay Wheeler said. Soil classifications were designated after the land reserve was created by the land commission. Reserve boundaries were drawn up based on zoning bylaws and comments from the municicpality and a provincial body, along with aerial maps and the soil classifications, in 1971 when the land reserve was instituted, Wheeler said. sought on the issue, Gordon wrote. A meeting between commission members, the planning consultant and council to discuss the revised official community plan “was an exercise in total futility,” Gordon said. EDMUND'S SHOES | presents 301 - 2453 Beacon Avenue, Sidney 309 - 645 Fort Street, Victoria 225 - 1900 Richmond Avenue, Victoria ILLSIDE MALL SIDNEY CENTRE — Ladies Shoes Ladies Shoes All Winter Boots AllPurses....... All Buster Brown Shoes & Runners PLUS MANY MORE IN-STORE SPECIALS Sale ends Jan. 31/90 — While quantities lost . TILLICUM MALL -_. WOODGROVE CENTRE (regular price (regular price Zi 1/2 Price 16950). oe 1O;S 7:9) ere eee ee INC. 656-5520 385-3103 598-2334 = Pe i 102. aw 8 _NANAIMO