January 29, 2025
Town of Sidney Council Meeting Highlights: January 27, 2025
Sidney BC
Highlights from regular Council meetings provide a brief summary of some items of broad public interest. The summary is not inclusive of all agenda items. Please refer to sidney.civicweb.net/Portal for the full agenda, minutes, and webcast.
Council directs staff to undertake public engagement to reduce speed limit on local roads
In response to community concerns, Council is considering reducing speed limits on local roads from 50km/h to 30km/h to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. A public engagement period to gather community feedback will take place later in 2025, including a survey. Community members will be invited to provide feedback on the speed reduction proposal, as well as additional measures to support lower speed limits, such as signage and traffic calming infrastructure (ie. speed humps, centre-line bollards).
The speed limit reduction would apply to local roads, not the following streets, which are classified in the Official Community Plan as arterial, collector, or provincial:
- Ardwell Avenue
- Beacon Avenue West
- Canora Drive
- Fifth Street
- Galaran Road
- Mills Road/Mills Road West
- McDonald Park Road
- Ocean Avenue/ Ocean Ave West
- Resthaven Drive (north of Mills Road)
- Stirling Way
- Weiler Avenue West
Speed limit changes on these roads may be considered separately with further study in the future. Sidney’s reduced speed limits through downtown will remain unchanged.
Staff Report Video
Council directs staff to pursue Emergency Weather Response shelter for 2025-2026 winter season
After reviewing several options to support people experiencing homelessness during harsh winter weather, Council directed staff to pursue the establishment of an Extreme Weather Response shelter, supported by BC Housing. An extreme weather shelter would be operated in partnership with a non-governmental organization.
Staff will begin reaching out to non-governmental organizations, and as part of those discussions, determine what location might be suitable for this purpose. Staff will also work toward an amendment to the Official Community Plan to permit temporary sheltering. Council has set a goal to have an extreme weather shelter available when needed for the 2025/2026 winter season.
Quote from Mayor McNeil-Smith
“Given the wide range of initiatives the Town of Sidney supports and the relative prosperity of our community, facilitating safe shelter for people experiencing homelessness in our community during extreme weather events feels like something we can and should do. I am hopeful that this service may be available when needed next winter.”
Staff Report Video
Progress report for Housing Target Order shows Sidney on track to meet Provincial housing target
Town staff presented a progress report to Council outlining how the Town is well on its way to meet a Housing Target Order set by the Province in 2024 to support the completion of 468 new housing units by June 30, 2029. Many communities across BC have been given Housing Target Orders by the Province in an effort to help alleviate a housing shortage in BC.
The progress report shows that there were a net total of 54 new housing units completed in Sidney in the first six-month reporting period, more than half the annual housing target for Sidney of 90 housing units. Further housing is expected as the Town is currently reviewing a number of Building Permit applications with a total of 209 new dwelling units, and Development Permit applications with a total of 173 new dwelling units.
Staff Report Video
Town of Sidney moving forward with plans to create a Bowerbank Road Bikeway
In response to community feedback about plans to create a Neighbourhood Bikeway on Bowerbank Road, Council revisited the active transportation project and the rationale behind it. The bikeway will involve a traffic diversion for southbound traffic on Bowerbank Road near Piercy Avenue, as well as a traffic diversion where Siddall Road meets Mills Road. Citing how the bikeway will support youth, while fitting into a broader cycling network planned for Sidney through the Active Transportation Plan, Council decided to move forward with the Bowerbank Bikeway. The Town will monitor the project’s effectiveness and impact in the years ahead. The bikeway is set to be developed in the summer of 2025.
Quote from Mayor McNeil-Smith
“The creation of the Bowerbank Bikeway is part of an effort to make Sidney a more livable community. We have seen in cities across Canada that when infrastructure is created to make it safer to walk, bike, or roll, more people choose active transportation. We will be using counters and other methods to assess the effectiveness of the bikeway, and we can make changes in the future if needed.”
Staff Report Video