The District of Central Saanich has agreed to purchase land for a trail next to Stelly’s Secondary School. The multi-use trail would connect Stelly’s Cross Road and Wallace Drive, and provide an alternate route for cyclists, pedestrians and others.
The parcel is 10 metres by 380 metres, is costing $115,000, and is a portion of a larger property at 7210 Wallace Dr. recently listed for sale. The district was able to negotiate a subdivision on the lot to create the parcel.
Money for the purchase would come from municipal reserves, and taxes would not be affected.
The parcel is on an existing cycling route and would connect with the Willow Way Trail — from Keating Cross Road to Wallace — via a crosswalk. It would also link to a cycling route on Wallace that connects to West Saanich and East Saanich roads.
The trail connection is a long-term goal in the district’s active-transportation plan.
Cycling connections linking Brentwood Bay, Saanichton and the Keating area are also a key objective.
“This purchase is an exciting step towards improving the experience of getting around Central Saanich without a vehicle,” said Mayor Ryan Windsor. “This is a key connection point for travel in the community and the trail is going to be a popular route, I have no doubt.”
The district has to seek approval from the Agricultural Land Commission to create the trail, as the land is within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
That process is expected to take several months.
Note to readers: The map attached to this story, provided by the District of Central Saanich, has been updated.
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