Sidney

Redevelopment plans for the Cedarwood Inn and Suites in Sidney have yet to come to council, but the hopeful developers of the land say information gained at fall 2021 open houses have further shaped their vision for the property. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fall election, OCP review help explain apparent rush of proposals in Sidney: councillor

Committee-of-the-whole to consider Beacon Avenue proposal on March 7

 

The demolition of three older single-family homes on Lochside Drive last month made way for a planned four-storey, 36-unit multi-family condo building with underground parking. The Rise on Fifth is another notable projects that received a development permit later in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

After peaking in 2020, value of permits issued in Sidney dropped by $41 million in 2021

Permits attached to projects creating 83 units issued last year, following boom year in 2020

 

This rendering (looking northwest) shows a residential building proposed for the corner of Beacon Avenue and Highway 17. (Courtesy Kothari Group)

Sidney staff reviews plans for five-storey building near Highway 17

Council to consider plans for 141-unit project in early March

 

Municipal staff in North Saanich have announced that a maximum of six members of the public can attend that municipality’s upcoming Jan. 17 council meeting out of an abundance of caution. COVID-19 restrictions will also impact aspects. While four councillors must be present, others may connect remotely and staff attendance will be minimized. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich Peninsula municipalities work to prepare for effect of Omicron variant

Measures include increased work-from-home options, appointment only interactions

Municipal staff in North Saanich have announced that a maximum of six members of the public can attend that municipality’s upcoming Jan. 17 council meeting out of an abundance of caution. COVID-19 restrictions will also impact aspects. While four councillors must be present, others may connect remotely and staff attendance will be minimized. (Black Press Media file photo)
A report reviewing plans for new washroom facilities along Sidney’s waterfront finds several obstacles to including a Changing Places washroom for individuals with more complex disabilities. But hearing from disability advocates, council asked staff to re-design plans to include a changing places washroom for individuals with more complex disabilities. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Sidney to push ahead with plans for more specialized washroom

Council’s decision comes despite staff concerns and after hearing from local disability advocates

A report reviewing plans for new washroom facilities along Sidney’s waterfront finds several obstacles to including a Changing Places washroom for individuals with more complex disabilities. But hearing from disability advocates, council asked staff to re-design plans to include a changing places washroom for individuals with more complex disabilities. (Black Press Media file photo)
Coun. Terri O’Keeffe pushed for amendments to Sidney’s 2022 strategic plan that aim to recognize the importance of affordable housing. (Courtesy Town of Sidney)

Sidney council commits to further action on affordable housing

Implementation of new policies and initiatives to follow official community plan review

Coun. Terri O’Keeffe pushed for amendments to Sidney’s 2022 strategic plan that aim to recognize the importance of affordable housing. (Courtesy Town of Sidney)
Coun. Peter Wainwright said a review of the tax multiplier currently favouring residential properties is one of way with which the municipality can help businesses challenged by COVID-19. Council considered, but ultimately rejected plans to drop the review from the 2022 strategic plan following a narrow 4-3 vote. (Town of Sidney/Submitted0

Council set to review businesses’ share of tax load in Sidney

Council keeps review in strategic plan despite concerns over staff workload

Coun. Peter Wainwright said a review of the tax multiplier currently favouring residential properties is one of way with which the municipality can help businesses challenged by COVID-19. Council considered, but ultimately rejected plans to drop the review from the 2022 strategic plan following a narrow 4-3 vote. (Town of Sidney/Submitted0
Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, seen here seen during the 2021 provincial election, will be the voting site for the 2022 municipal election. (Black Press Media file photo)

Veteran election official to oversee 2022 vote in Sidney

Sandi Nelson, helped by Christa Baxter, will guide process for a sixth consecutive time

Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, seen here seen during the 2021 provincial election, will be the voting site for the 2022 municipal election. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sidney Fire Department on scene at a single-vehicle crash along Canora Road Jan. 12. (Courtesy of Sidney Fire Department)

UPDATE: Driver uninjured following crash into deep median ditch in Sidney

Traffic delayed on Canora Road early Wednesday morning

The Sidney Fire Department on scene at a single-vehicle crash along Canora Road Jan. 12. (Courtesy of Sidney Fire Department)
Sidney’s bike lane improvement project on the west side of the Pat Bay Highway received $229,000 from the Canada Community-Building Fund in 2021 and was one of three infrastructure upgrades done with program funding. (Photo courtesy Town of Sidney)

Active transportation projects in Sidney fuelled with $500,000 in federal funding

Canada Community Building Fund improves infrastructure without tax impact, mayor says

Sidney’s bike lane improvement project on the west side of the Pat Bay Highway received $229,000 from the Canada Community-Building Fund in 2021 and was one of three infrastructure upgrades done with program funding. (Photo courtesy Town of Sidney)
Cyclists such as this person braving the cold along Bevan Avenue in Sidney, stand to benefit from Sidney’s proposed active transportation plan. Town staff plan to submit a request for proposals in late January to create the plan. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

New plan aims to make transportation more active in Sidney

Town budgets $100,000 for plan; more funding set aside for north-south cycling corridor

Cyclists such as this person braving the cold along Bevan Avenue in Sidney, stand to benefit from Sidney’s proposed active transportation plan. Town staff plan to submit a request for proposals in late January to create the plan. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith recently stressed the importance of the Official Community Plan review. Staff plan to a draft version on Feb. 28, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Town of Sidney).

Feb. 28 eyed for public presentation of Sidney’s new OCP draft

Current plans call for public engagement through March and adoption by early June 2022

Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith recently stressed the importance of the Official Community Plan review. Staff plan to a draft version on Feb. 28, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Town of Sidney).
This screen shot shows a selection of short-term rentals available on VBRO, searched on Dec. 29. Sidney council recently debated the enforcement of the municipality’s short-term rental bylaw.

Short-term rental bylaw in Sidney remains largely untouched

Councillors debated but declined to implement tougher enforcement measures

This screen shot shows a selection of short-term rentals available on VBRO, searched on Dec. 29. Sidney council recently debated the enforcement of the municipality’s short-term rental bylaw.
Alyssa Gerwing, executive director of the Sidney Museum and Archives, points to the giant LEGO model of a castle based on Sidney’s Post Office Building as created by Canada’s only professional LEGO builder Robin Sather. The popular LEGO exhibition returns to the museum Jan. 2. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sidney Museum to host popular LEGO exhibition starting Jan. 2

The exhibition features a wide variety of LEGO models

Alyssa Gerwing, executive director of the Sidney Museum and Archives, points to the giant LEGO model of a castle based on Sidney’s Post Office Building as created by Canada’s only professional LEGO builder Robin Sather. The popular LEGO exhibition returns to the museum Jan. 2. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney Street Market won’t be back on Beacon Avenue in 2022 after council released West Coast Impressions from the obligation to hold the market on Beacon Avenue. West Coast Impressions plans to return on a temporary basis to the parking lot of the Mary Winspear Centre, where it also operated in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Council frees Sidney Street Market from obligations to operate on Beacon Avenue in 2022

Sidney Street Market plans to return to parking lot of Mary Winspear Centre

Sidney Street Market won’t be back on Beacon Avenue in 2022 after council released West Coast Impressions from the obligation to hold the market on Beacon Avenue. West Coast Impressions plans to return on a temporary basis to the parking lot of the Mary Winspear Centre, where it also operated in 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney will soon start selling monthly daytime parking passes in the parking lot behind the Oceanna building. The permits will allow passholders to stay longer than the three hours permitted for all other lot users. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney to issue more daytime parking passes in downtown core

Some councillors fear the move will impact availability of customer parking

Sidney will soon start selling monthly daytime parking passes in the parking lot behind the Oceanna building. The permits will allow passholders to stay longer than the three hours permitted for all other lot users. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Sidney business will get a break on their business license fees as council waived them for 2022 in adopting its new business license bylaw. (Black Press Media file photo)

Adjusted bylaw waives business license fees in Sidney for 2022

Measure passes 5-2 with Couns. Scott Garnett and Terri O’Keeffe opposed

Sidney business will get a break on their business license fees as council waived them for 2022 in adopting its new business license bylaw. (Black Press Media file photo)
A joint venture has shared its preliminary vision for Sidney’s Cedarwood Inn property with the community as it continues to shape its plan for the redeveloped waterfront site. (Black Press Media file photo)

Preliminary vision for Sidney’s Cedarwood Inn redevelopment shared with community

A joint venture hopes to bring diversity of housing, locally-owned shops to the waterfront site

A joint venture has shared its preliminary vision for Sidney’s Cedarwood Inn property with the community as it continues to shape its plan for the redeveloped waterfront site. (Black Press Media file photo)
Virginia MacLeod reads to children during storytime at the Sidney/North Saanich Regional Library. The library is hosting multiple holiday themed events this month. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sidney’s library lines up family holiday activities

Scavenger hunt, story walk planned throughout the month

Virginia MacLeod reads to children during storytime at the Sidney/North Saanich Regional Library. The library is hosting multiple holiday themed events this month. (Black Press Media file photo)
Municipal officials on the Saanich Peninsula did not receive reports of flooding over the weekend, but are keeping their eyes on skies with another major rainstorm approaching. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich Peninsula officials brace for effects of next major rainstorm

No reports of flooding over weekend, but authorities keeping close watch on weather

Municipal officials on the Saanich Peninsula did not receive reports of flooding over the weekend, but are keeping their eyes on skies with another major rainstorm approaching. (Black Press Media file photo)