The recent coverage by the Saanich News of the badminton club’s proposed ‘improvements’ pending Saanich council’s approval in rezoning is not right.
The coverage was entirely one-sided; promoting a big business sports facility to operate out of a very small plot of land. This small patch is central to a unique area of Cordova Bay – a well-thought out strip of residences for those seeking a peaceful retirement. Sutcliffe Gardens is but one of many mini-villages along Cordova Bay Road that will be impacted in a devastating way by each of the proposals put forth by the badminton club (Note: the badminton club is not a community club).
Having seen and read the time-line for the scheme and its proposed future, I foresee that Sutcliffe Road, which is a quaint one-lane street, will be under constant attack from traffic and noise – not for months, but for years. They want their proposed club to eventually host parties (conventions), serve liquor and be available over 24 hours. Anecdotal information tells us concerned citizens that there are merely three members of their committee living in Saanich. The rest are NIMBYs.
From previous Saanich council notes: CBCC was originally built with volunteer labour as a community club for the citizens of Cordova Bay. It no longer functions as a club for community use, the site now functions as a badminton training facility for elite players, mostly adult, and mostly from outside the Cordova Bay community. There are no plans in the current expansion to add community use space. As such, it is not fulfilling its own stated purpose as a society.
There is so much more that we residents want to say but we hope that the upcoming council meeting’s decision will be the right one for this area and all of its Saanich residents.
Jack Mirtle
Saanich