News

TheReview Wednesday, June 19,1991 — A4

Business groups protest C. Saanich OCP questionnaire |

A questionnaire about council-
initiated amendments to the offi-
cial community plan was criti-
cized by the chamber, the business
association and citizens Monday.

About 130 copies of the ques-
tionnaire with a comment object-
ing to its use were copied by
residents and sent to the municipal
hall, to be considered along with
about 140 that were filled out
properly and returned by individu-
al residents.

The statement says: “I strongly
object to the use of this question-
naire. There is not adequate infor-
mation provided to allow me to
make an informed decision.

“You have not provided a ration-
ale for changes, nor outlined the
benefits that these amendments
supposedly provide.”

It said the questions require
more than a yes/no response, the
phrasing is incomplete and “no
definitive consensus is possible
without more comprehensive
data.”’

The statement urges council to
abandon the amendments and sup-
port the existing OCP “that was
drafted by professionals” at con-
siderable cost.

Saanich Peninsula Chamber of
Commerce president Rick Roberts
asked council to re-consider its
style, content and manner of distri-
bution.

“The questions asked do not
lead to the raising of general
concems and unbiased responses
from residents,” Roberts said.

The chamber urged council to
reconsider the reason behind a
questionnaire in the first place, he
said.

“We urge council to put aside
what has been described as “a
housekeeping exercise to change
wording’ and let the plan stand as
is,” Roberts said.

Some members of council
agreed that questions in the ques-
tionnaire were unclear and Ald.
Arlene Box said OCP amend-
ments are usually initiated by the
community.

Planning committee chairman
Ald. Clarence Bolt said the ques-
tionnaire was prepared by UMA
Engineering Ltd. for council and
said that those who signed the
circulated questionnaire with iden-
tical comments “were misled by
the process.”

Bolt noted the opportunities the
public has had to review the pro-
posed amendments and told coun-
cil the history of the OCP review
going back to September 1989

when UMA presented three
options to the public.

Mayor Ted Jones said he went
through the complete list of ques-
tionnaires returned and “I was
more impressed with the com-
ments.

“Sixty per cent of the respon-
dents brought out some very good
comments,” Jones said. ‘‘Those
comments are very important
when I review the overall num-
bers.”

The questionnaires first ques-
tion asked residents: “It is pro-
posed to place the Mt. Newton
slopes in a new rural designation
which will maintain current dénsi-
ties and zoning. The current plan
designates the area as urban
reserve for future residential devel-
opment. In favor, — yes — no.”

The third question says it is
proposed to change the following
designations in the current plan —
urban to residential; urban reserve
to rural; and estate residential to
rural. Respondents could answer
yes or no for each of the three
proposed designation changes.

Bolt said the designation does
not effect current zoning.

Business association director Ed
Gait said the changes came as a
surprise and “I hope it’s not the
intention of council to chastise the
public for its opinion.”

Bolt said that a statement in the
prepared response (“It appears
that these changes have been for-
mulated behind closed doors by a
council interested only in pursuing
its Own agenda”) is untrue.

“T have no problem with accept-
ing their response,” Bolt said. “It
was the accusations that were
made without substance.”

Council gave first reading to the
proposed amendments in bylaw
form. Now, they will be forwarded

i
DEBORAH GRAY
CONDO RESALES
TOWNHOUSES
NEW PROJECTS
Be one step ahead and get
on my list for up to date
info on these rare proper-

ties.

Call DEBORAH GRAY
NRS PENINSULA PROP.

652-5171

«Bedding Plants

e Perennials

and Shrubs
“Friendly, Knowledgable Service”

BRENTWOOD BAY
, QS Se LTD.

1395 Benvenuto Ave.
(Turn off to Butchart Gardens)

& SERVING THE ENTIRE PENINSULA

| at

—

652-1507

Ae HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 9a.m.-5:30p.m.
Sun. 10a.m.-5p.m.

7, OPEN SUNDAYS

to neighboring municipalities
including native Indian bands for
comment before returning to coun-
cil for consideration of second
reading.

Bolt said the proposed amend-
ments have been available for over
three weeks and public comment
on them is still being accepted. A
public hearing will be held follow-
ing second reading.

Business association director
Cory Porter said that many people
who read the questionnaire didn’t
understand it, and “those that did
thought it was crazy.”

He was amazed that over 130
people retumed the questionnaire
with the prepared response.

“To get 139 back in such a short
time on such a complicated issue
really amazes me,” Porter said.

Businessman Ron Kubek said
the questionnaire is designed to
“get the response they want.

“It presents a bias view. They
paid for a report and they’re just
ignoring it,” he said.

Porter said the business associa-
tion supports the prepared state-
ment but didn’t write it. He said it
was written by a group that is

considering forming as the Society.
to Preserve Democracy in Central
Saanich. :

Tom Becker, director of plan-
ning for UMA Engineering, said
Tuesday: “By and large the ques-
tionnaire is reasonably fair as far
as how the questions were formu-
lated.”

He said the issue of whether the
proposed changes to the plan are
warranted was not addressed ~ but

I don’t think it’s fair to say the
questions were bias.

~The questions were phrased in
an explanatory way so people
could respond,” Becker said.

UMA tried to focus on the
major PESposed changes to the
plan.

“There were many other small
(changes) but they were difficult to
put in a questionnaire format,” he
said.

DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH
DEPUTY COORDINATOR
PENINSULA EMERGENCY MEASURES}
ORGANIZATION (PE.M.O.)

‘The District of North Saanich invites applications from individuals
interested in volunteering their services as Deputy Coordinator for
the Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization. The successful
applicant will work with the PE.M.O. Coordinator on North Saanich’s
behalf, and have previous experience working in and responding to
emergency situations. Applicants must be available to attend
training sessions and/or meetings at least two Wednesday evenings
per month, and be available on an on-call basis to respond to
emergencies, be physically fit, and hold a valid B.C. Driver's

Licence.

Applications should be forwarded to:
Mrs. Joan E. Schill; Municipal Clerk
District of North Saanich

PO, Box 2639 Sidney,
by June 21, 1991

B.C. V8L 41

BChydro

*This offer is for household refrigerators in Delta, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Vernon, Williams Lake, Quesnel and Greater Victoria.

THERE S A COLD HEARTED
THIEF IN YOUR HOME.

WE'LL GIVE YOU $50 TO TURN IT IN?

It’s lurking outside the back door. Or in the shadows of the basement.
It’s the humming, whirring, clicking, old second refrigerator.

And it’s robbing you of cold cash-

ae

an old inefficient second fridge can cost you up to $100 a year to run.

WE LL COME AND GET IT.

We can take the problem off your hands. We’ll pick up your old fridge
free of charge, dispose of it in an environmentally safe
manner and send you a cool $50. This program
is a Power Smart initiative from B.C. Hydro.

RY HWels
SIM

To participate, call the Refrigerator Buy-Back Hot Line toll-free 1-800-663-CASH