April 7, 2014

To the Saanich Mayor and Council

We the undersigned support the 16 lot subdivision proposal as submitted to the Saanich Municipality, for the property at 1516 Mount Douglas Cross Road. A cattle feedlot or other intensive agriculture are not appropriate land use in a residential neighbourhood. We would not want this in our neighbourhood.

This petition is for Saanich B.C. residents only. Please do not sign if you have already signed the hard copy Petition regarding this property.

The property was proposed to be removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) by Saanich, for over 30 years, as stated in the Gordon Head Local Area Plan. Many neighbours bought properties in the neighbourhood based on this information. Intensive agriculture, such as the current cattle feedlot, is not appropriate in this residential neighbourhood. We believe the proposed subdivision is appropriate for the neighbourhood – it has smaller houses and larger lots than many of the subdivisions that are being approved these days. It also includes covenants to protect many of the property's Garry oak trees which will otherwise die due to the activity of the cattle.

Your Saanich neighbours, who live immediately next to the Alberg property, have been enduring the following for the past year: high rat population (one neighbour has caught more than fifty rats on their property during the past year), putrid smell (which is increasing in intensity), bright lights, machinery noise, dust and fecal dust causing upper respiratory infections in children bordering the property, runoff of feces and urine, and reduced property values. Children are not able to play in their own back yards.

The Alberg Family has brought forward the same 16 lot subdivision proposal (with additional amenities) that was strongly supported by Saanich Planning department, but rejected by Council due to ALR concerns in 2011. If the proposed subdivision is not approved, we are concerned that we will have a long-term cattle feed lot in our neighbourhood.

Please support our neighbourhood by signing this petition and by coming to the Council meeting when this is put forward to Saanich Council for decision.