I am so excited by the revitalization of the Uptown area (Saanich urban core). This small, dense, commercial area could be turned into something really special. Here in Saanich, we have beautiful farmland and rural areas which we need to protect, but what we have in the Uptown area is an exciting opportunity for growth.
We should envision this area to be a unique addition to downtown, that tourists from across the world would be excited to visit. In fact, we’ve already given it its own name: Uptown. If this area continues to densify and grow, it will be an incredible boost to our local economy and Greater Victoria’s tourism industry.
But with growth, problems often arise. A big one has already started to occur, the Uptown employee parking issue. Currently, Uptown does not have adequate parking for each business’s employees. This has caused Uptown employees to park in numerous nearby residential streets.
Those nearby residents now have vehicles overflowing onto their streets and occupying their parking. This is a complex issue that will only get worse with the growth and densification in the Uptown area. Saanich council and staff need to consult with Uptown, the employees, businesses and nearby residents to develop a long-term solution.
The revitalization of this area is exciting and an incredible opportunity for economic growth, but we need to address these kinds of pressing issues before it’s too late.
Ned Taylor
Saanich