Dean Murdock Saanich Councillor

Saanich hands decision on Gordon Head farmland to Agricultural Land Commission
By Kyle Slavin, Saanich News December 11, 2012

The fate of an unused parcel of agricultural land in suburban Gordon Head is now in the hands of the Agricultural Land Commission.

The four-acre property at 1516 Mount Douglas Cross Rd. was recently slated to become a 12,000-hen poultry operation or, failing that, a cattle farm with 100 cows.

We asked the Saanich mayor and council candidates to provide their thoughts and strategies on food security.

Dean Murdock, council candidate:

Saanich Council Demonstrates ‘Smart Growth’
A. Furtado, Saanich Voice Online

Saanich rejects proposal to develop farm and faces glitch in its own plan
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
By Kim Westad, Times Colonist

A Saanich family's bid to develop their 1.64-hectare property into a 16-lot subdivision was firmly voted down by Saanich council, with politicians emphasizing the importance of conserving agricultural land.

But the application showed a glitch in the municipality's Official Community Plan that council also wants to deal with.

Saanich turns down request to turn ALR land into 'suburbia'
By Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Five years ago Saanich council likely would've given the green light to a 16-home subdivision on protected agricultural land. But times – and priorities – certainly have changed.

A request to exclude a 1.64-hectare parcel of land was rejected unanimously Monday night by a council that called the proposed project "repugnant" and "offensive."

Saanich council rejects application to remove land from Agricultural Land Reserve for rezoning
CFAX 1070 - March 14, 2011

Saanich council has unanimously decided to not forward an application to remove land at Mount Douglas Road from the Agricultural Land Reserve, to be rezoned for 16 residential strata lots.

Saanich Councillor Dean Murdock says supporting the application would go against several of the district's policies.