District seeks student and community feedback on Shelbourne plan through online survey
Photo courtesy of the District of Saanich.
The District of Saanich has introduced two updated plans for the areas of Shelbourne Valley and Quadra McKenzie, respectively. The Shelbourne Valley plan — originally adopted in 2017, but updated in 2025 — is a proposed guide to land utilization and transportation over the next 30 years. The plan’s goals include improving intra-community mobility by better accommodating walking, cycling, and public transit.
Likewise, the Quadra McKenzie plan — first proposed in 2024, but updated in 2025 — is a prospective framework for the future development of the area for the next 20 years. The plan intends to lay the groundwork for improving housing, transportation, vibrant public spaces, and services and amenities within walking distances of residents.
Dean Murdock — Mayor of Saanich and a former Saanich city councillor — sat down with the Martlet to discuss what the proposed plans could mean for UVic students and Saanich residents.
On the subject of public transit, Murdock said it’s expected that Saanich’s population will grow, which will put strains on existing transit infrastructure. Murdock said the plans aim to provide safe, reliable, and convenient infrastructure that will enable alternate forms of transportation, such as busing, biking, ride shares, and scooters to accommodate the diverse needs of an increasing population.
According to Murdock, the Quadra McKenzie plan was substantially revised this year, as the previous iteration faced criticism for proposing dedicated transit lanes and high-density housing in residential areas. He added that the Shelbourne Valley plan was updated to accommodate new provincial requirements for creating more homes.
Regarding walkability, Murdock said the plans aim to bring essential services closer to residents by building hubs along main corridors, allowing people to walk or bike to essential services instead of relying on cars.
In response to the updated Shelbourne Valley plan, some Saanich residents have voiced concerns over targets for housing density and a lack of green spaces. In the past, community members have also given feedback expressing a desire for more public spaces.
When asked how the two plans could affect third spaces — public spaces where people can socialize — Murdock said the plans include creating more parks, community spaces, and amenities.
According to Murdock, the Quadra McKenzie and Shelbourne Valley plans also aim to tackle housing affordability and availability, largely through non-market, affordable rental projects. By creating rental units that are priced below market value, and units with rental costs that are tied to a resident’s income, the plans are designed to ensure residents can find homes they can afford.
The plans include a variety of housing types, such as duplexes, triplexes, condos, and single family homes.
“We also need to make sure we’re adding to the available rentals in our community… I think students need a place to rent,” Murdock said. “We know that the campus supply of housing is inadequate, and that the off campus supply has been inadequate [too].”
Both the Shelbourne Valley and Quadra McKenzie plans are long-term, phased plans. “[It’s] important in both cases [to know that] none of these things are going to happen overnight. Our planning processes are really designed to envision a future over the next 20 to 30 years,” Murdock said.
“What’s so significant about these plans is that [they] really [are] contemplating the future that we want for our communities… We really want to ensure [students and younger folks] are part of this process, because it’s about ensuring that they will be able to find a place to put down roots in our community,” Murdock said.
“I want to make sure that we’re building a community where future generations can see themselves, as well.”
At the time of publication, Saanich is running an online survey to gather feedback on the Shelbourne Valley plan. The full plan and survey can be found here. The full Quadra McKenzie plan can be viewed here.
