Properties include the Ian Stewart Complex and adjacent lands, Queenswood Campus, and Cedar Hill Corners
Photo by Sabina Mendoza-Brown.
In the coming years, UVic is planning to develop approximately 50 acres of land on the edges of campus, including the Ian Stewart Complex and adjacent lands, to form a “University District.”
UVic has also identified the approximately 14-acre Queenswood Campus property, which is the current home of Ocean Networks Canada, as a potential future site for development, as well as the approximately 40 acre Cedar Hill Corners property, which is currently being used for research by the university’s Centre for Forest Biology.
In an emailed statement, a UVic spokesperson said that development of the properties are still years away, but the university is actively engaging in the District of Oak Bay’s Official Community Plan (OCP) in regards to the Cedar Hill Corner development, and is in communication with the District of Saanich for the University District.
UVic said the proposal for the University District has been submitted to the City of Saanich, but will take a year or more for approval.
At this point, there is no timeline on when development is set to begin.
University District
According to UVic’s real estate strategy, their goal is to create a “highly liveable, diverse and connected community,” focusing on “high-density, mixed-use development within a short walk of the university campus.”
The strategy says the University District is the first property the university plans to develop, and describes it as “ideal for new housing” given proximity to campus, transit, amenities, and that the buildings presently on the site are “nearing the end of their lifecycle.”UVic has stated that they are committed to working with the District of Saanich during the process.
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson from the Saanich Council said that, at this time, the District has not received an application for development, but UVic has continued to be involved in potential policy changes for the area that could inform a future application.
According to the spokesperson, UVic has been keeping the District staff aware of when they are doing engagement work on the proposals, meeting with staff to check on policy directions, and seeking feedback on topics such as land use issues, servicing, and transportation options.
UVic has also been involved in the Quadra McKenzie Plan process, which aims to develop housing options, transportation corridors, and more walkable access to community amenities and services in the area.
Cedar Hill Corners
In an emailed statement to the Martlet, Kevin Murdoch, Mayor of Oak Bay, said that the next step is UVic developing the vision for the Cedar Hill Corner property, which will likely include public input, and then bringing that information to Oak Bay for consideration.
Oak Bay said the conversations about the land’s development with the District began in 2020, when UVic closed the land off from public access during the pandemic. The District said UVic has recently added the property as a priority for development.
Oak Bay also has a housing target of 664 housing units by 2028, as set by the Province. Murdoch said in his statement that “the project has not been sufficiently defined to know the exact mix of housing. We understand this will largely be [a] “general” housing project intended to support a mix of residents (possibly including students). While the decision to count is up to the Province, we anticipate most of the housing units would count towards the Provincial Housing Needs target.”
UVic’s statement said that the plans for developing Cedar Hill Corner could include commercial and green spaces, as well as housing that could help reach Oak Bay’s target of providing new housing units within five years.
Murdoch’s statement went on to say that the development of the land will provide “much-needed housing, unique housing options, commercial spaces that can serve people in both UVic and Oak Bay, and provide needed amenities in the area. I am hopeful the project will advance quickly so the public and the university can know the future of the site.”
