Good morning! 

As the Westshore becomes more popular, local municipalities are planning for an influx of residents and tourists in the coming years. Sooke, for example, has been working on expanding the city, with a new plan in motion to liven up the downtown area. Read all about it and more in today’s edition of the Westshore.

— Emma

NEWS

CRD barreling ahead with its Water Supply Master Plan despite criticism

One of the many effects climate change will have on the Westshore is access to potable water—the community is already seeing summer droughts become a regular occurrence. To mitigate risk, the CRD has a Water Supply Master Plan that outlines future projects that will be carried out over the next 30 years, based on staff projections of population growth, the impacts of climate change, and water treatment requirements.  

The CRD wants to reduce risk in these areas by putting its money into significant water infrastructure projects and is seeking approval from Langford, Colwood, Sooke, View Royal, Metchosin, and the District of Highlands. 

The CRD supplies drinking water for 400,000 people in the Greater Victoria area. Its Water Supply Master Plan was passed by its board in 2022 and “considers the impacts of climate change and water quality risks when planning new infrastructure.” The plan calls for $2B in infrastructure spending, including 21 proposed new water projects. A key project—and the most expensive—is the proposed Goldstream Water Filtration Plant at the Sooke Reservoir, slated to cost $1B.

The plant proposal includes a pump station, clear well (an enclosed tank used as final storage for a municipal water system), balancing tank, and the decommissioning of the Japan Gulch dam and reservoir. 

The CRD plans to use Development Cost Charges (DCCs) to offset costs. DCC fees, which are regulated by the province, are collected from developers on a user-pay basis to subsidize the cost of growth-related infrastructure. DCCs could help the CRD recover part of the costs associated with new development in the Juan de Fuca Water Distribution System (JDFWDS).

Representatives of the CRD have been making the rounds at council meetings to present their plan to municipalities, but some city councillors, specifically Colwood’s, are feeling railroaded and have questions they want answered before they agree to sign onto such an ambitious, costly and potentially overwrought plan. 

Find out what Colwood councillors had to say about the plan in the full story at the Westshore.

HOUSING

A four-storey development gets approval in Sooke

As the Westshore becomes an increasingly popular area to live in, the District of Sooke has approved a plan to help accommodate the influx of people moving into its area. In a Feb. 12 council meeting, council members were enticed by the proposal of a mixed-use development to strengthen the downtown area, all voting unanimously in favour of the first three readings of a bylaw that would change the land zoning from commercial to mixed-use. 

“It’s exactly what we’ve been waiting for, for so long,” said Coun. Megan McMath during the meeting. “I’m really excited and looking forward to seeing it come to fruition.”

Jayden Riley, the district manager of community planning, presented a rezoning application for a 0.57-hectare property in his report to council. Barefoot Planning + Design has constructed a conceptual plan to construct a four-storey building at 6676 Sooke Rd.; features will include 35 rental housing units above commercial space, with on-site tuck-behind parking for residents and businesses. The proposal incorporates upgrades to Sooke and Townsend Roads as well. 

The location is in a well-populated area, close to BC Transit stops, and is within 500 metres of Evergeen Shopping plaza, John Philips Park, and Sooke Elementary School. Although the specific commercial uses are yet to be determined, with the additional businesses in the building, there will be more options for residents to check out amenities and shopping.

“I’m really glad to see some of this redevelopment come to Sooke, especially the high-density residential with commercial,” said Coun. Tony St. Pierre in the meeting, who was in agreement with all of his colleagues. 

“This development could be a landmark example for the future of the downtown core,” Coun. Jeff Bateman followed up. 

While council members are in favour of the concept, there are steps the applicant must follow in order for the plan to go through. Construction must allocate space for a public road right-of-way as part of the bylaw amendment process, which involves setting aside an area around two metres wide along the Sooke Road boundary and the existing 2.5 metres of statutory right-of-way. 

Included in the proposal is also a text amendment to the bylaw, maintaining that the property’s primary use be limited to mixed commercial and residential purposes, with residential use occupying at least half of the building’s gross area. Additionally, the developer has agreed to contribute $50,000 to the district’s housing reserve fund. The developer will apply for a development permit within the following year.

While Sooke looks forward to the future of this project, many are wondering when occupancy for another development in the area will open. A $5.6 million project at the corner of Drennan Street and Sooke Road was originally supposed to be available for occupancy in December, but with delays due to cost, the units remain unoccupied and a new move in date has not been set. Sooke News Mirror heard from the building’s operator, M’akola Housing Society, who said they are working on details to allow tenants to move in soon. 

Around the 'Shore

⚖️ Defence in 2020 Langford murder trial calls star witness ‘liar’: Damien Medwedrich’s defence lawyer Sarah Runyon said the Crown’s star witness (who is protected by a publication ban) was unreliable for downplaying his own role and minimizing evidence in what she says was a robbery gone wrong. Medwedrich is accused of killing drug dealer Alex Knatchbell in Langford in 2020, who was found inside of his crashed truck with 12 bullets; most of the trial's evidence is based on testimony. [CHEK] 

🚔 Metchosin man arrested after careless use of firearm: A 46-year-old man was arrested last Wednesday after police connected him to reports of shots fired in a Metchosin residence on Sooke Road near Kangaroo Road. West Shore RCMP took the man into custody, and seized an unspecified amount of firearms and ammunition from his property. He is charged with careless use of a firearm, possession of a firearm contrary to order, and uttering threats, and will remain in custody until his court date next Wednesday. [Times Colonist] 

🚫 328 Taphouse in Colwood closes doors: Colwood’s popular 328 Taphouse + Grill announced in an Instagram post that they are permanently closed as of Feb. 25. Despite their closing, the team also mentioned that this wasn’t the end of the Taphouse, and that they had exciting plans in the near future. [Victoria Buzz]

💰 The Victoria Foundation's 2024 Community Grants Program is accepting applications from non-profits and charities until March 7. Click here to apply for thousands of grant dollars!*

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

🎶 The Legacy of Lightfoot: Enjoy a tribute to Canadian music legend Gordon Lightfoot with the Legacy of Lightfoot tribute concert this March 2. Hosted at the Sooke Community Hall from 7:30 to 10:30pm. The show will feature songs from Gordon’s catalogue from the ’60s, ’70s and beyond. Tickets are available online. 

🗣️ How, Then, Shall We Live: Learn about creating more positive change in the environment this March 3 at the Sooke Community Hall with Transition Sooke’s event How, Then, Shall We Live. Going from 1 to 5pm, hear from author and journalist Dahr Jamail and other community leaders about how Indigenous communities have found balance in connection to their surroundings; Jamail's most recent book We Are the Middle of Forever: Indigenous Voices from Turtle Island on the Changing Earth edited by Jamail and Stan Rushworth, records the thoughts of 20 Indigenous leaders who were asked "How, then, shall we live?’’. Register to reserve a spot. 

🍸 Crochet & Cocktails: Head to the White Spot this March 7 for Artisan 101’s crochet and cocktails party workshop. From 6 to 9:30pm, you’ll get the opportunity to learn crochet techniques from scratch, meet fellow craft enthusiasts, and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of White Spot Langford's private room. Spots are limited, so make sure to purchase a ticket to reserve your place.

What’s Offshore?

⛴️ The Velsheda is a bulk carrier built in 2012, sailing under the flag of Liberia. It is coming from 🇯🇵 Kobe, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive Feb. 24, 2024.

Westshore Snaps

Misty morning at Langford Lake boat launch. —Paul Young, Langford

That’s it!

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