September 24, 2024

Town of Sidney Council Meeting Highlights: September 23, 2024

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.

Housing Agreement moves forward to secure 140 long-term rental units, including 28 below-market rental units, for 2180 Beacon Avenue West
Council gave third reading to a Housing Agreement between the Town of Sidney and the developer of 2180 Beacon Avenue West to secure much-needed rental housing for the community. The five-storey building to be constructed on the northwest corner of Beacon Avenue West and Highway 17, will have 140 apartment dwellings with a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units. Some of the units will be adaptable with accessible features.

The Agreement stipulates that the entire development will serve as rental apartments for a minimum of 30 years, with 20% of the dwelling units serving as below-market rental dwellings for a minimum of 20 years. The below-market rental units will have a rental rate set at 80% of the annual market rent for that type of unit and would only be offered to eligible tenants based on their gross household income.

The development is aligned with the Official Community Plan, which identified this area as a potential site for higher density multi-family residential development to meet housing needs. The Aranza building (9830 Fourth Street) is the only other new development in recent decades in Sidney to offer purpose-built rental housing and below-market rental units.
Staff Report                   Video

Volunteers help plant 82 trees in Philip Brethour Park
About 40 volunteers from as far away as Cowichan Bay came to Sidney to mark the fifth annual Tree Appreciation Day in partnership with the Greater Victoria Green Team on Saturday, September 21. The group planted 82 trees, including Karpik Maples which transformed the path leading to the newly built playground into a tree-lined walkway. A variety of trees were also planted throughout the park and forest. Volunteers and members of the community took home 15 trees as part of the tree giveaway to plant on their own property.

Tree Appreciation Day is part of the Town’s ongoing efforts to increase the community’s tree canopy and create more shade cover in local parks. Past events have been held at Melville Park, Rathdown Park, and Peter Grant Park.
Video