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Seniors housing plan OK’d by Saanich

A proposed affordable seniors’ housing project falls short on environmental and social standards, said Saanich councillors who nonetheless gave the plan unanimous support.

The 54-unit, four storey seniors’ apartment building on the former Mount View school site on Carey Road will use electric baseboard heating and won’t have shared social or activity rooms – two primary concerns expressed by councillors at the their Feb. 14 meeting.

“We are whittling away at the sustainability of this site one application at a time,” said Coun. Vic Derman who urged developers to consider air source heating and low-flow toilets as they plan for other mixed-use and residential-care buildings on the same site. “It’s really disappointing … we need to do better.”

Despite the disappointment, the project received its development permit. 

Patrick Cotter Architect Ltd. will now work with the Capital Regional District and Baptist Housing on future revisions to the building’s design. 

Lauded features included a vegetable garden and low-glare pavement for the benefit of visually impaired residents.

“I hope that as we proceed with the future of this comprehensive development, that there’s some connectedness, so the people living within this neighbourhood have a community, a place,” said Coun. Susan Brice.

nnorth@saanichnews.com