In your Nov. 25 cover story about small-lot developments in Saanich, I was disappointed that some council members weren’t more supportive of building smaller, more affordable homes in our municipality.
With real estate prices in our area rising rapidly, small-lot homes offer many young families perhaps their only opportunity to buy a single family home in Saanich. Many young families have been forced to buy homes in outlying communities like Colwood and Langford. As a result, many of our neighbourhoods are becoming less diverse and less vibrant, and people are commuting greater distances to work here in Saanich. Enrolment at many Saanich schools is also dwindling due to the lack of young families moving here.
In addition to the lower cost of small-lot homes, the greater density they provide can, if located correctly near regional nodes, decrease the use of vehicles and help to alleviate traffic congestion.
Council should be supporting all means of encouraging the construction of small-lot homes, where appropriate, in Saanich.
Murray Goode
Saanich