Big changes are coming to the Uptown area!
At a public hearing on Friday, February 15th, the District of Saanich Council endorsed the Uptown-Douglas Plan (UDP), a comprehensive strategy to guide land use and transportation changes over the next 20 to 30 years in the area.
According to the UDP, the area stretches from the City of Victoria border to just north of the Saanich Municipal Hall.
Currently, 4,400 residents call the Uptown-Douglas Corridor home, a population growth of over 4% in recent years.
In addition, over 10,000 people are employed in the area, making it a critical recreation hub.
Now, major plans are in the works to make this area the new ‘Downtown Saanich’.
GREAT NEWS! The Uptown Douglas plan was unanimously approved at @saanich council last night! This is a huge step to more housing in Saanich/#yyj core area. Next step, we need to have some of these areas prezoned for the approved plan. Let’s start with the car dealers! pic.twitter.com/7Mey6hfa94
— Homes For Living YYJ (@HomesForLiving_) February 16, 2022
Significant growth and change is planned for the area, with a focus on affordable and diverse housing, active transportation, employment opportunities, urban design, sustainable development and climate change mitigation and resilience.
A key objective of the UDP is to expand opportunities for higher density development and housing possibilities while still focusing on employment options.
The plan includes mid to high rise mixed-use and residential buildings and additional transportation.
The plan will also transform streets and public spaces to better support walkability.
Some of the UDP plan highlights include:
- Accommodating diverse housing options over the next 20 years in a location with convenient access to transportation options, services and amenities.
- Developing a walkable network of parks and open spaces highlighted by a central civic space.
- Re-designing major roads into complete streets that comfortably accommodate all modes of travel.
- Providing opportunities for industrial properties to expand and diversify their operations through additional density.
- Supporting the development of a multi-modal transit hub near the Uptown Shopping Centre that serves as a central nexus for regional transit routes, incorporating a mix of uses and public amenities and serving as a gateway to the area.
- Incorporating a range of housing opportunities to accommodate a variety of lifestyles and socio-economic needs.
- Enhancing the Galloping Goose Trail as a central feature, by widening the trail, providing better connections and encouraging adjacent land uses to animate this public space.
- Redeveloping larger commercial sites into mixed-use developments with a variety of housing and employment options.
- Enhancing and expanding green spaces to build green corridors and improve the area’s livability, biodiversity and ecological performance.
According to reports, the UDP is a living document that will continue to adapt over time.
What do you think of the plans?
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