Hi Everyone,

We have been seeking clarification regarding the legislative process for the Aragon development to ensure we have a clear understanding of the steps ahead. Councillor Mena Westhaver has been helpful in providing information regarding the standard process for an application of this nature.

Currently, the proposal is in the Staff Review phase. The District follows a specific process for any application that may fall outside of the Official Community Plan (OCP):

Staff Review & Recommendation: District staff are currently reviewing the application. Once that review is complete, they will provide recommendations to Council. These recommendations could include forwarding the application to a Public Hearing, sending the application back to the developer for significant changes, or recommending that the application not proceed further.

The Legislative Requirement: Under current regulations, Saanich Council cannot approve an application that falls outside of the OCP without a Public Hearing being held first (provided Council agrees that the application warrants proceeding to that stage).

What this means for Cordova Bay:

The District is still conducting its formal analysis to determine the proposal’s alignment with the OCP, and no final official conclusion has been reached yet. However, should the final analysis determine that the application is not OCP-compliant, a Public Hearing will be a legal requirement before any final vote can be taken.

This ensures our community would have a formal, mandatory opportunity to speak to Council and provide input before a final decision is made. We will continue to monitor the District's review process closely and will update you as soon as the staff report is made public.

Updated "Action Step" for your email:  

You don't have to wait for the Public Hearing to make your voice heard. This is the perfect time while Saanich Staff is reviewing the development application.  

You can email council@saanich.ca and planning@saanich.ca today.

Even a short note stating your specific concerns about the project’s impact on our neighborhood helps ensure these issues are prioritized during the current Staff Review phase.

Sending your concerns to both of these emails ensures they are entered into the official public record and are formally provided to the Mayor and Council for their consideration before any final decisions are made.

Thank you Cordova Bay! 

Best regards,

Dan Horth