Steps away from the busy Pat Bay Highway, near McKenzie Avenue, Ralph Street is a blast from the past, equated to a “meandering country lane.”
The street and sidewalks are narrow. And pedestrians and cyclists use the road as a path.
Their safety was the huge sticking point for council Tuesday, as they approved 11 townhouses just west of the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.
With Ralph Street being the only access in and out of the small portion of Douglas Street where the townhomes will be built, council forwarded their safety concerns to the administrative traffic committee, chaired by Coun. Wayne Hunter.
The townhouses were approved by council, though the sentiment was that their support hinges on the committee finding a solution to improve pedestrian safety with the influx of cars this development will bring to the area.
kslavin@saanichnews.com