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It’s Time Saanich Council Put The Brakes On!

By Dave Secco
March 28, 2026

The 5000 condos for sale in Vancouver is a crisis. On a per capita basis, Victoria’s 600 condo listings are just as excessive and this number does not include the new builds poised to come on-line. Many Greater Victoria condo towers have banners advertising units for sale or rent. Full page colour ads in the Times Colonist are the norm. There is an over supply. Yet, we continue to build…

Case in point, Saanich Council recently approved a 60-unit apartment complex by Seba Construction that will see the removal of 28 trees, including 22 Garry oaks. Oak Bay based Seba, is run by Jamie Gill and he recently opposed a development near his own residence in The Uplands in a letter to Oak Bay Council in which he said: “What is being proposed is too massive, too tall, and not tree friendly!”

Pretty much the identical message that Saanich Neighbours sent to him. Except for Chambers and Brownoff who voted against Gill’s development, the rest of Saanich Council should have worn their Big Person Pants and said yes to trees and no to Gill!

Why do locals have to go through the anxiety of a pending development, years of machines, mayhem and congestion only to be gifted a neighbourhood forever changed by a loss of trees, views and sunlight… all for housing that’s not needed?

Perhaps Lisa Helps, Executive Lead, Project Acceleration at BC Housing has an answer….



If you click on this link and go to page 729, you can read Gill’s entire rant:

https://oakbay.civicweb.net/document/160466/

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See also:

Oak Bay Developer turns NIMBY but still plans Saanich project that Neighbours Oppose (Letter by Dave Secco) – CRD Watch Homepage

Oak Bay Mayor Asks Council to Vote Again on Lansdowne Road Development, by Evan Brown – CRD Watch Homepage

Index of CRD Watch articles concerning the environment/ecology. – CRD Watch Homepage

LETTER: Saanich council takes scattered approach to housing targets | Saanich News