On June 25, the Saanich Alternative Approval Process (AAP) will assume that you are in favor of paying higher taxes, paying higher utility costs, losing the garden waste drop off, amongst many other detrimental impacts for Saanich residents. The $150M ask to redevelop the Saanich Operations Centre at McKenzie is a financial black hole with high risk, based on assumptions, and could cost (residents) significantly more to complete.
Although sections of the centre do need replacing, the vast redevelopment program has shown to be very dubious with expensive market-rate housing to be included on public lands, leading to the very simple question, for what reason?
Already the District paid millions above appraised value to attain the nearby Lochside property, showing a lack of fiscal prudence.
Own Your Vote! Please complete and submit the Elector Response Form NOW. Anyone aged 18 or over in your Saanich household can submit a form:
https://saveoursaanich.com/aap/Elector-Response-Form-Bylaw-10105.pdf
You can help! Please forward this information to all Saanich residents.
We can do this! Join the thousands of other Saanich residents to defeat this AAP request as a community effort!
Also, Save our Saanich is having a a rally taking place Tuesday, June 10th, located at the corner of Quadra and McKenzie, 4:30pm - 6:00pm (TELUS corner).
"Bring your neighbours!
Make your signs! Our focus - the AAPs
Keep them simple so people can read them at a glance!
If you are bringing young children and dogs, remember we are on a busy corner so come prepared with what you need to keep them safe.
We are here to raise the awareness and to send Saanich the message, the AAP is NOT OK!
Hope to see you there!
Cheers!"
For more information, please contact SaanichPetition@mail.com
Or visit SaveourSaanich.com (Note make sure to write .com in the url, as opposed to .ca. The .ca Save Our Saanich is not the real Save Our Saanich, but a copycat website used to confuse people made by those opposed to Save Our Saanich's vision.
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Appendix: Sendout on the AAPs.
"SAANICH RESIDENTS – OWN YOUR VOTE!
Submit your Elector Response Form NOW
On June 25, YOU are currently voting in favor for the following:
• EXTRA property tax of 0.85% each year for 4 years on top of annual property tax increases
• HIGHER utility costs for water, sewer, and solid waste each year for 4 years
• LOSE the garden waste drop-off that residents use frequently
In addition:
• RISK environmental damage to Public Works Creek
• ENABLE private developer profit from public land
• INCREASE traffic substantially near the already busy Quadra/McKenzie intersection
Saanich wants to borrow $150,000,000 to redevelop the Saanich Operations Centre.
The AAP is an opt-out voting process, meaning that you automatically agree unless you VOTE NO BEFORE JUNE 25
The current project budget is estimated at $172M-$180M. Saanich is relying on a $30M investment from a developer (before profits) to make up the difference. The Council-approved business case states high risk and a 25% variance meaning that the project could actually cost $225M!
There is a better way and a better financing plan to redevelop the Saanich Operations Centre.
OWN YOUR VOTE! Defeat the AAP!
ANYONE in your household who is age 18 or over and who can vote in Saanich can submit a form:
https://saveoursaanich.com/aap/Elector-Response-Form-Bylaw-10105.pdf"