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A Different Perspective on the Townhouses Beside Big Monty

A rally to save the local celebrity tree “Big Monty”, a much beloved Monterey Pine.

By Dave Secco
June 9, 2026

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Since I’m the guy who named “Big Monty,” lead the charge to save her and no one from our neighbourhood was interviewed, I feel compelled to reply to reporter Andrew Duffy’s Times Colonist piece from May 28th.

First, the developer, Seba Construction and Council did not save the tree. It was our petitions, protests and hounding of the Planning Department over two years that did the job.

Second, yes, the tree is spared. For the moment. The townhouse complex is being built within Monty’s critical root zone. “Critical” being the term used by Arborists and “perilous” and “hazardous” are synonyms. A patio, sidewalk and parking space are being built so close to Monty that pruning the tree’s south side by as much as
20% is required. These actions often result in the death of a tree and then, no permit is needed for removal.

And what did Councillor Harper mean when she said: “From everything I understand, the tree is as safe as the tree is ever going to be.”

Thirdly, the Mayor, Council and developer repeatedly mentioned that this project could have delivered more density than what we’re getting. In other words, we’re lucky to get only eight massive townhouses this time around and as Harper said: “in the future this is a neighbourhood where something’s going to be happening
that’s a lot bigger than what people are currently comfortable with.” And she’s running for Mayor this October.

Mayor Murdock said the development is a collaborative effort. Councillor Bondaroff said the developers showed they were listening to the community. Nobody listened. This outcome was not collaborative. Our neighbourhood is still pissed that we’re getting eight, three story townhouses… crammed on land where one house presently sits and built lot line to lot line…requiring four variances to do so, that these townhouses will retail for $1.5 million each, that they call for the culling of four, privacy trees replaced by a fence, that they will probably have suites in the six, four bedroom units once sold and that there is only one guest parking spot.

We proposed one and a half story duplexes…more in keeping with the neighbourhood. We invited Seba to meet with us and discuss duplexes. They refused…twice. We suggested basements. They said, “no basements…we
might find rock and fill is too difficult to get rid of.” What? Almost every house in the neighbourhood has a basement.

Interesting that Councillors Chambers and Brownoff were not asked for comment by Duffy. They both voted against the proposal. Neither took campaign money from developers or Realtors.

More interesting is that the developer made no comment or took no credit for “ saving” Big Monty. Probably didn’t want to be the fall guy if it dies.

BTW, the developer, Jamie Gill of Seba Construction wrote the following to Oak Bay Council on Nov. 25, 2025 in opposition to an infill near his Uplands home: “I am strongly opposed to the planned development because it’s designed to maximize developer profit. It’s not affordable housing, nor does it align with any reasonable interpretation of housing need. The plan sacrifices mature trees and the irreplaceable character of the neighbourhood.” Mmmmm….sounds like what he’s going to do to our neighbourhood…

It is high time for big changes in Saanich Council and pushback against the Province’s Bill 44.

Dave Secco

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See also:

STOP the Proposed Development at 1899 Cochrane Street, by Dave Secco – CRD Watch Homepage

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

Index of articles regarding questionable media coverage of local government and public participation. – CRD Watch Homepage

Petition · SAVE “Big Pondy,” 70 year old tree that Seba Const. proposes to remove for townhouses! – Victoria, Canada · Change.org [Note Big Monty was formerly known as Big Pondy due to a confusion about the identity of the tree type.]