A development project that would bring nearly 200 rental units to Central Saanich, including seniors’ residences and below-market rent units, will get another chance at council.

Central Saanich councilors initially voted in late October against sending the joint proposal from Aryze Developments and the South Vancouver Island Housing Society to a public hearing.

But on Monday, councilors voted unanimously to reconsider that decision at a Nov. 25 meeting.

The development at the corner of Hovey and East Saanich Roads will see the replacement of five single-family homes with a six-story building housing 62 rental units for seniors, and a four-story building housing 130 rental units, 13 of which would be rented to seniors. rates lower than those of the market.

Senior housing in the proposed project would be owned and operated by the South Vancouver Island Housing Society, which already manages the neighboring Legion Manor Victoria retirement community, which provides affordable housing for seniors and veterans.

Rod Hughes, president of the company, said councilors in the initial vote were concerned about the density of the project, but the number of units is essential to cover the cost of expensive land.

“It all adds up in a way that unless you have density, you can’t pay the bill and have rent at an affordable level. It’s simple, mathematical,” he said.

Legion Manor has a waiting list of 100 people, which shows the need for senior housing in the neighborhood, he said. “The need is absolutely there. We have veterans living in cars. We have them on the street,” Hughes said.

Market rents would range from studios to three-bedroom units, said Chris Quigley, director of development at Aryze, which is in talks with Saanich Peninsula Hospital to offer hospital workers a first right of refusal to rental units.

Members of the Tsawout Nation will have first right of refusal to access affordable housing, Quigley said.

The project also includes financial contributions for the Central Saanich Little League field at Centennial Park, new sidewalks on Hovey Road at Centennial Park and $250,000 for the municipality’s active transportation fund.

Quigley said the developer has heard from residents across the peninsula who are surprised that a project including senior housing and affordable rental housing was denied a public hearing.

“We think it’s a positive step forward,” he said.

The initial vote failed in a 3-3 tie, while Coun. Sarah Riddell was on leave from council to run in the October 19 provincial election. She has since returned to the council after an unsuccessful campaign.

Advice. Niall Paltiel made a motion to reconsider the vote to allow Riddell to participate.

He said the council had delayed votes in the past on less important land use matters due to absences, and he felt it was right to allow all councilors to have their say. say on the question of whether the project should be submitted to a hearing.

“I think we need to at least listen to them,” he said. “A lot of it is about facilitating a fair and open process both, you know, for a development application that is for affordable housing, but also for residents, whether they’re in favor or proposed, provided that they feel affected by it. I think they should be heard.

Mayor Ryan Windsor, who voted in October against sending the project to a public hearing, said he wasn’t sure whether he would change his vote when the issue comes back to council, but he supported the motion to reconsider the vote to allow all council members to participate.

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