Dean Murdock Saanich Councillor

On Monday night, I will bring a motion to Council on behalf of the Healthy Saanich Advisory Committee. Here's a copy of the report to Council, recommending roof top gardens for urban farming. Have a look!

Background

Signature building to serve as catalyst for Shelbourne renewal
By Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

While staffers plan out the future of Shelbourne Valley – complete with dense centres and walkable villages – council OK'd what it hopes will be the "catalyst" for that change Monday night.

A small three-storey building – which will house a Vancity credit union, a medical practice and office space – will replace the single-floor dry cleaner and barbershop at the corner of Cedar Hill X Road and Stamboul Street.

Council approves daycare with rooftop playground
By Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Roofs are not somewhere children should play, said two Saanich councillors last week during discussions about a rezoning request that would allow a daycare with a rooftop play area.

"I don't think that is an appropriate place for kids to play," said Coun. Wayne Hunter, who spoke against the proposal along with Coun. Vic Derman. "This is Saanich, not New York or Toronto or L.A – one of those downtown core areas. This is Saanich."

Daycare above pub supported for Shelbourne development
Kyle Slavin, Saanich News

A new daycare centre is planned for a yet-to-be-built four-storey project behind Tuscany Village.

Saanich council agreed to rezone the property, at 3959 Shelbourne St., to include one-and-a-half floors of daycare, a rooftop play area, office space and a restaurant-style pub downstairs.

“When you look at all of the acres of rooftop we have in Saanich and this region, this is, I think, a clever solution to providing more outdoor space for a childcare centre,” Coun. Dean Murdock said.

Saanich tables recycling depot proposal after neighbours voice concerns
Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Not in their backyards… yet

The difference between a NIMBY and an impassioned group of residents hinges on the ability to justify your position.

The Royal Oak neighbourhood fell into the latter category, after somewhat successfully lobbying council to reject rezoning for a recycling facility proposal on Commerce Circle.

Kicking the car habit
By Kyle Slavin - Saanich News

Saanich is getting serious about changing the municipality’s current car culture.

Last week, council started the process to create a policy to ensure alternative transportation funding is expected anytime a developer wants a parking variance for a multi-family residential unit in the municipality.

Uptown gets earful over layout, traffic
Difficult to judge final product in mid-construction, says developer
By Kim Westad, Times Colonist January 12, 2011

Uptown Shopping Centre has been touted as the design of the future when it comes to malls, but critics say it looks like more of a white elephant.

"It's badly designed, focusing inward instead of outward," Saanich resident Rob Wickson said Tuesday. "I look at it and see missed opportunities."

Editorial: Uptown centre's bumpy start

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Times Colonist

There was plenty of optimism four years ago, when Saanich council approved a massive $150-million retail complex to replace the tired Town and Country shopping centre.

"It's a significant investment for the entire region," Mayor Frank Leonard said. "It shouldn't be a place to shop, but to gather."

Flash forward to 2011. The initial reviews of Uptown are in and Saanich councillors say they are not positive.

Rapid transit on Douglas is great but other Saanich neighbourhoods need better service, council says
Kyle Slavin, Saanich News

Douglas Street will be the future home of rapid transit now that both Saanich and Victoria councils have thrown their support behind the route.

However, Saanich needs to be more critical of B.C. Transit's 25-year plan because such a geographically narrow focus could leave many of the municipality’s residents without quality service, Mayor Frank Leonard said Monday night.

SAANICH COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTS RAIL-BASED RAPID TRANSIT

Nov 1, 2010 - CFAX 1070

SAANICH COUNCIL VOICED IT'S SUPPORT FOR RAIL BASED RAPID TRANSIT ALONG THE DOUGLAS CORRIDOR , THIS AT A COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY NIGHT

COUNCILLOR DEAN MURDOCK SAYS IT WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION TO PUT SAANICH COUNCIL'S STAMP OF SUPPORT ON RAIL BASED TECHNOLOGY

"I'm quite pleased with the fact that council has made the endorsement of the plan. I think a rail-based rapid transit system will be an enormous benefit, socially, environmentally and economically to Saanich and to the Capital Region"