Sidney & Saanich Peninsula Audited Circulation 12,933 An Island Publishers Newspaper W hat sound of a home clock a-ticking mean A20 Peninsula’s Inlet concerns not always welcome PAcross water Bl BUSINESS CLASSIFIED B18 |COMMUNITY A20 OPINION AG OUTDOORS B13 SPORTS B4 CALENDAR A20 | IVING A18 NASH AT HAMPSON B13 GRENBY B10 BEYER AS CROSSQUOTES A9 | BRENNAN Al8 | LANG Al2 TOPOFTHEPILE A7 — & Wednesday January 17,1990 35¢ James Island project ontrack | as luxury lofts hit the market by Glenn Werkman The Review *One-acre serviced lots intended for luxury homes are now for sale as Pacific Parkland’s multi- million-dollar development of James Island moves full speed ahead, developer Marv Holland said Monday. A national sales promotion was kicked off yesterday with helicop- ter tours for media from Van- couver, Victoria and across the country. In an exclusive interview before the kick-off, Holland said he expects the first 66 serviced lots will sell fast — despite price tags that start at $280,000. Only 210 one-acre lots in seven village clus- ters will be sold. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to live in a very uni- que place, where the lifestyle is truly private and privileged,” Hol- Cabinet looks at school tax change Inquiry prompts consideration in budget, Couvelier says by Valorie Lennox The Review Rapidly increasing school taxes will be addressed in the 1990 provincial budget, Finance Minis- ter Mel Couvelier said Saturday. MEL COUVELIER Both the cabinet and the provin- cial budget committee are consid- ering school tax reform measures ~ to be adopted in time to affect the 1990 tax year, Couvelier said. “Tf you stand back and take a look across the horizon at the problem, the problem is not rising property values,” the Saanich and the Islands MLA said following a series of meetings on property tax reform. “The problem of property tax increase is basically the explo- sion in school taxes.” During the province-wide hear- ings, Couvelier met groups of people on fixed incomes who were being forced out of their homes by high taxes. In parts of Vancouver and Vic- toria, taxes have climbed to $300 or $400 per month from $50 per month, Couvelier said. Educators speaking at the hear- ings have charged the provincial government does not give enough funding to school districts. Couvelier said provincial fund- ing has not covered increased costs. In 1989 the province increased school grants by eight Continued on Page A2 land said just 18 months after buying the 764-acre Gulf Island located one-third of a mile east of the Peninsula. “For me and for all the people who want this lifestyle, it’s a dream that’s becoming reality,” Holland said. An 18-hole world-class golf course is shaped, is ready for seed and will be completed in time for a September tee-off, he said. Included in the purchase price iS membership in the elite James Club, plus use of equestrian, arch- ery and yachting facilities. Parking will be on leased land directly across Cordova Channel from the island, where residents and guests can board a high-speed 22-seat hovercraft for the trip over. Holland said Pacific Parkland Properties Inc. just received pre- liminary layout approval from pro- vincial authorities. See page B11 for related story.