The Cadboro Bay Residents Association has formed a special committee to channel their resistance against the University of Victoria’s proposed zoning changes to the Queenswood property.
The university submitted an application to Saanich at the end of March regarding the six hectares of land home to a care facility formerly run by the Sisters of St. Ann.
Neighbours have raised many concerns over the change in land use, including what effects the increased density will have on local traffic flow. Arbutus Road runs along one edge of the property, purchased by UVic in March 2010 to accommodate the school’s growth.
Saanich is expected to submit feedback to UVic by May 6 regarding the initial application. The school will be soliciting input from the community throughout the spring and summer as they work with Saanich to update the application, said Neil Connelly, director of campus planning and sustainability.
Connelly estimates the process will run until the fall.
“…we haven’t sorted out exactly what the form consultation with the community may take,” Connelly said, “but we’ll be working on an approach to that and subsequently updating the application, which will probably take us through to the end of the year.”
During the residents association annual general meeting, slated for May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at St. George’s Anglican Church (3909 St. George’s Ln.), the committee, headed by Elizabeth Borek, will collect additional community feedback to share with the municipality.
The next meeting of the Queenswood committee is 7 p.m., May 4, also at St. George’s Anglican Church. Borek urges residents to volunteer to help with a variety of different functions, including reviewing the application, soliciting and organizing community input and administrative duties.
Anyone interested in speaking at the meeting should contact Borek at catalyst007@shaw.ca.