Municipal Election Profile: Central Saanich

Times Colonist

Municipal Election Profile: Central Saanich

By Richard Watts

Central Saanich is often dubbed the breadbasket of the Capital Regional District, but preserving that status has led to some bitter politics.

About two-thirds of the municipality is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, which some see as being consistently under threat of development, while others see it as a mechanism to stifle growth. According to Statistics Canada, there are a total of 974 farms in the district, although the majority are small operations, many of them hobby farms.

But the big ones come with names easily recognized by most in Greater Victoria, such as Vantreight and Michell.

It's here in Central Saanich that Ian Vantreight, whose operation is one of the largest, recently tried to get council's approval to sell a portion of his land for a subdivision. The land isn't arable and is not recognized as farmland, and Vantreight said he needs the to money to modernize. Nevertheless, he has received a chilly reception from councillors, losing his first attempt for permission on a tie vote. He is now preparing a second proposal.

It's also here in Central Saanich that a longtime battle has brewed over whether to pipe in municipal water to a small enclave of homes on Senanus Drive on the Saanich Inlet. On one side are the residents who say their wells are foul; on the other are some councillors who have spent years blocking the attempt, because municipal water service is seen as a precursor to development.

Gordon Denford, a retired builder with more than 100 projects in dozens of communities, has lived in Central Saanich for more than 40 years. He argues the push to preserve farmland has turned into an opposition of growth of any kind.

"They are not really supporting farmland, they are only supporting green space," said Denford, who lives on Senanus Drive and has been a vocal proponent of extending the water pipes to his neighbourhood. But "these people are fanatic about 'I'm here and nobody else is going to come here.'"

For example, Denford says that councils have shifted the urban containment boundary in a way that puts all undeveloped land into the farming category whether it's arable or not, a move that has curbed building of all kinds.

The conflict over land use is evident in the mayoral race, in which three candidates are vying for the big chair in the Nov. 15 elections.

Candidate Sean McNulty is largely running on a platform of ending the firewall approach to blocking out development, provided it doesn't intrude on arable farmland.

If someone wants to build improvements to their property, and those improvements don't affect anybody else, then "I'm in favour of it," he said.

McNulty is a controversial figure in the race due to a brush with the law in 2004. When he was 20, McNulty pleaded guilty to two counts of assault after an incident in which he and some friends were in an SUV that chased down and rammed a car containing four teenagers. McNulty wasn't driving, but he pepper-sprayed one of the youths and once their car was disabled he struck one of the teens.

The judge called the offence "particularly ugly" and McNulty "particularly active." McNulty was handed a conditional discharge and placed on probation for three years.

When asked about the incident during a recent interview, McNulty declined to comment.

The two other candidates for mayor include Coun. Christopher Graham and incumbent Mayor Jack Mar. Eleven people are vying for six councillor positions, four of them incumbents.

Not surprisingly, Graham sees the development of farmland and its protection as a major issue in the campaign. When it comes to the urban containment boundary, the line drawn on the map separating farmland from land open for development, Graham is prepared to stand firm.

He's also reluctant to see farms broken up into small holdings. Economies of scale work in any business "and farming is a business," he said. Graham said the municipality should be tough and deny farms the necessary permits for subdividing property. "Is that the vision for Central Saanich, a bunch of hobby farms?" he asked.

The Vantreight proposal also gets a thumbs-down from Graham. The development site might not be arable land, but it's right in the middle of working farmland, which will mean future conflict between suburban homeowners and farmers, he said.

For his part, Mar, one of the largest farmers in the area, is most concerned about improvements to many intersections along Pat Bay Highway that are served by stop signs and lights.

Mar said Central Saanich has been told by the provincial government it can improve the intersections at Island View Road or Keating Cross Road and the local government should start making plans.

Mar said if the municipality can get all its plans and preferences in order, and a proposal ready to go, it will be in a good position with the province to get approval and funding after the Olympics.

An improved intersection, said Mar, is crucial to handling the thousands visiting Butchart Gardens or travelling to and from the Keating Industrial Park.

"Right now it's a bloody zoo," he said. "One of these days we are going to have a major accident."

Interview with Sean McNulty

Western Academy of Photography

Interview with Sean McNulty

By Paris

Sean McNulty, 24-year-old mayoral candidate, strives for the “real voice” of Central Saanich to be heard.   Over the past several months McNulty has set out to visit the 5500 households in the municipality to hear what is important to the community and allow residents an opportunity to meet their candidate face-to-face. The current tally is 3598 doors knocked. McNulty explains that currently the very vocal minority is a misinterpretation of the community as a whole. The people who come out to complain at council meetings, he says, are the only ones being heard, while the remainder of the community, many whom are busy with their own lives, are not.  McNulty’s goals include making council more accessible and transparent; to give what he calls “the silent majority” a voice at council.

Concerns about deployment and preservation of the Agricultural Land Reserves became evident to McNulty when speaking with residents and he makes his stance on the subject clear. He opposes development on farmable land but strongly supports the rejuvenation of Brentwood Bay, Saanichton and Keating. The rezoning of these regions “for higher density commercial and residential combined use,” as laid out in his platform, would result in raised tax revenue that would then be allocated to municipal infrastructure improvements. One such example of rezoning is the Peninsula COOP proposal on Keating Cross Road and West Saanich Road. This is one indicator of how McNulty plans to expand the tax base instead of raising taxes in order to meet the needs of the municipality.

McNulty vows to make both his campaign and his plans 100 per cent transparent if elected. This includes his plans for efficient and responsible management of tax dollars, was unveiled in the posting of his Economic Game Plan on his website, www.seanformayor.com.

Another pillar of McNulty’s platform is the fair and equal treatment of all citizens, allowing everyone a voice at council meetings, from his experience that’s something, he says, that was not happening in the past. Continuing on his promise of accessibility, McNulty wants to make council agendas available for download by the public online, as well live webcasts of meetings available through the Central Saanich website.

Coming from a business background, currently running the Island View Golf Course and still involved with Five Star Paving, McNulty says he has the leadership and decision making capabilities to “run council meetings properly.” In response to those who are concerned about his age, McNulty hopes voters will judge him on his merits and his platform. “This election isn’t about who’s the oldest candidate, it’s about who is the best candidate.”

The First 100% Transparent Campaign

Honeycomb Webworks Blog Post

The First 100% Transparent Campaign

By Sean McNulty

What makes the Sean for Mayor Campaign unique?

Is it the fact that we’re knocking on every door in the municipality? Partly, as this will be a first for the CRD region, but there are people who’ve knocked on more doors to get elected before.

Is it my age? If I win, yes, as I’ll be the youngest Mayor in Canadian History. But just putting your name forward as a candidate isn’t. Currently, there is a 19 year old running for Mayor of Victoria and a 19 year old running for council in Kelowna.

What does make my campaign unique is the fact that it is 100% transparent. By this I mean my views on just about everything are out there for the voters to judge. Even presidential candidates attempt to reveal less about their viewpoints and generally just use talking points. If you visit John McCain’s or Barack Obama’s websites you’ll notice that there is very few articles published by themselves. Most is done by campaign staff or supporters, and most is done for the sake of motivating each of their respected bases.

I decided to run my campaign this way because I believe people appreciate honest and transparency over secrecy and deception. All the presidential candidates continue to talk about a new kind of politics, but then continue an old style campaign. The Sean for Mayor Campaign is that new kind of politics, where the voters get to learn about my candidacy from my own words, not spun by the media, and have the opportunity to have me answer their questions and concerns either publicly on the blog or privately via email. 

To date, I’ve got 105 articles posted making up hundreds of pages on everything you can imagine. Talk about a great deal for the voter (and a way to keep my campaign manager on his toes)!

Without the modern day version of the blog this couldn’t be possible. Due to this new medium we’re going to see all sorts of new exciting campaigns come out. There are so many different ways to get your message to the voter now!

Honeycomb Web Works has been a tremendous asset to our innovative website and thanks to excellent companies such as them everyone can setup a blog affordably, that looks great, plus gets ‘pure performance and sweet results’!

Sincerely,

Sean McNulty

Mayoral Candidate in Central Saanich

Position is Pro-property Rights: McNulty

Peninsula News Review

Position is Pro-property Rights: McNulty

By Sean McNulty

Fred Young and I did have a pleasant conversation while I was on my ‘Silent Majority Tour’, but he mischaracterized my position on development. My approach is not that of everything and anything goes. In fact, I don’t like the term pro-development. It lends to the idea that as Mayor I would go around dictating to people to develop their properties, which is not the case. I look at my position as one of pro-liberty and pro-property rights. Therefore, my take on development is that if a man or women wants to improve upon their property, and it doesn’t negatively affect the equal property rights of others, why should it be stopped? I’m not encouraging anyone to develop anything, I’m freeing people to pursue their goals and dreams with their land as they see fit.

This is why the anti-development crowd is not only wrong in an economic sense, but morally as well. The  ‘pro development’ crowd respects property rights and believes that individuals ought to be able to do what they wish with their properties within the given regulations the land is purchased under. Whereas the anti-development crowd wants to impose their vision on others people’s property regardless of what the land owners desire. One side advocates a bottom up, grass roots approach and one advocates a top down, dictatorship like approach to communities evolving.

In regards to this not being an ‘industrial, or even light industrial municipality’, Randy and I both operate businesses in the Keating Industrial Park (Raven Metal Works and Five Star Paving) which is a vital part of Central Saanich. Keating doesn’t irrevocably diminish our rural appeal, it makes a great place even better.

I question the term ‘we’ that was throughout Mr. Young’s letter. Who is ‘we’? I know he’s not speaking for myself and my supporters. I believe Mr. Young is putting forth his point of view, and perhaps his neighbors, not all the citizens of Central Saanich. I’ve door knocked over 1200 homes and can say I’ve yet to meet this ‘we’ that is being referred to.

The Town Hall meeting was a tremendous success, and why Mr. Young is critiquing it while at the same time stating he didn’t see the entire thing is odd. It’s like going to a movie, watching half of it and then writing a review.

The barbarians aren’t at the gate, they’ve broken through long ago and are operating the municipality! Central Saanich, your liberators are at the gate. It’s time to elect us and take back your municipality from the vocal minority!

Sean McNulty
Mayoral Candidate in Central Saanich

Industrial Land Diminishes Rural Nature

Peninsula News Review

Industrial Land Diminishes Rural Nature

By Fred Young

A few weeks ago a very young man knocked on my door and introduced himself as Sean McNulty. He stated he was running for mayor of Central Saanich. When asked his position on development, his eyes lit up like pinwheels and he enthusiastically pronounced he was all for it. When I said more growth would lead to more infrastructure, more housing, more school rooms, more hospital beds, more cars, more sewage, more noise, more ferries, longer ferry waits, etc., etc., he almost levitated and gave me an enthusiastic “Yeah!!” I told him I couldn’t support his position and that today’s new infrastructure is tomorrow’s tax burden and that any success at fast growth would diminish this pastoral, bucolic municipality irreparably. Sean was polite and friendly, we respectfully bid adieu to each other.

Some time later, I attended a meeting, which I believed to be endorsed by Council: “Notice of Public Town Hall Meeting for the Future of Central Saanich – Increased Taxes or Managed Growth”. On arrival, I spotted the mayor and two council members who said this meeting had nothing to do with council and they were there as invited guests. The very young Mister McNulty was there as a featured speaker, as were other prominent business leaders. A local businessman, Randy Sewell, who is trying to have his property rezoned for business expansion purposes, gave an impressive, but disturbing, power point presentation. He would put up a set of points, followed by a question aimed at the perceived ineptitude of the current mayor and council, followed by a photo of a mentally challenged person scratching his head like a dodo bird. He continued to humiliate and insult his guests, the mayor and council. This is like inviting guests to your house for the purpose of humiliating them for the enjoyment of others. This even disturbed some in a room obviously full of development supporters. He talked about a previous council whose motto was “Go Slow, Grow Slow” (which I thought a perfect slogan for our unique municipality) which Mister Sewell believes is a motto of professional ineptitude and incompetents. I assumed his motto was “Go Fast, Grow Fast” (anybody want to move to Langford?). Some speakers (gentler, kinder than Mr. Sewell) threw out the developers’ favourite phrase “Smart Growth” which I always considered a Central Saanich oxymoron. In honesty, I fled the meeting in frustration after a couple of hours and missed some speakers.

The point, Mr. Sewell and Mr. McNulty, is that this is not an industrial, or even light industrial municipality. This is where we choose to live because of its unique rural nature. Every new industrial footprint irrevocably diminishes this community. This Mayor and Council aren’t stupid, Mr. Sewell, they actually ‘get it’. It’s you that doesn’t get it. This is far more viable and attractive as a bedroom community than a Langford spin-off.

According to Mr. Sewell, we are being burdened by unnecessary tax increases. This year my taxes were increased by approximately $15 a month (10 per cent) or one family outing a month for ice cream cones! My neighbours and I would gladly pay more to maintain our unique community. We currently have one of the lowest tax rates anywhere in the CRD.

Developers are folks who end up in the mansions on the hill looking down on the sprawl they created.

Time to gear up, folks, the Barbarians are at the gate!

Fred Young

Central Saanich

Senanus Water Line

Peninsula Times

Senanus Water Line

By Sean McNulty

The residents of Senanus drive have been trying to obtain clean potable water for over 15 years now. The inaction from the municipality of Central Saanich regarding this issue is an example of bureaucracy in action. There has been an endless amount of engineer reports, studies, legal opinions and other roadblocks thrown in the way, while in the meantime residents have been trucking in water from the Sooke Lake Reservoir at the rate of one water truck per week.

The water quality on Senanus drive started to become an issue when the neighboring hay farms began digging additional wells to provide more water to their fields. Hay fields without water only yield one crop per year, whereas hay fields with water can yield three. A side effect of this additional watering: depletion of the aquifer which results in a loss of hydrostatic pressure and increased mineralization and salt water intrusion into the wells. This happened to such an extent that the Capital Regional Districts (CRD’s) Chief Medical Officer deemed the water from the wells on Senanus unsafe for consumption.

The main argument against extending the waterline is that it will lead to development, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are water lines running throughout the municipality and development doesn’t automatically follow them. In fact, the zoning was changed on Senanus drive so that even with the water line extension the minimum lot size allowed is five acres which means any subdivision would require rezoning.

Another argument against the water line is that it contradicts the Regional Context Statement in the Central Saanich OCP and the CRD’s Regional Growth Strategy. This doesn’t hold water. For one, these are to regulate growth; the houses are existing, and two, the RGS outlines exceptions for health and fire reasons, both of which apply to this situation.

It’s particularly interesting the extent some members of mayor and councilor, both past and present, have gone to stop this water line. In 2002, the residents on Senanus offered to pay for the entire thing. At the time, under Bylaw 524, if they were to pay for it the municipality would be required to provide the service. Amazingly, the Mayor and Council at that time then amended the bylaw, in only 6 weeks, which removed their obligation. 

The residents forged forward despite this setback, drawing up a petition that showed overwhelming support from the area for the waterline. The municipality then accused the residents of using coercive tactics to get the signatures, with no proof! Not to mention that during all this costs of installation increased from $800 000 to $1.6 million.

The petition has since been submitted, a grant has been applied for and approved for $1.1 million, and it appears the residents of Senanus Drive will finally receive potable drinking water barring any unwise decisions on behalf of the current Mayor and Council. Interestingly, the majority of the councilors get their water through the municipal waterlines; it’s time for them to allow their fellow residents access as well.

24-year-old first to declare run for Central Saanich mayoralty

Times Colonist

24-year-old first to declare run for Central Saanich mayoralty

By Staff Writer

A 24-year-old wants to be mayor of Central Saanich.

Sean McNulty is the only declared mayoral candidate in the municipality so far. McNulty has a large billboard on the Pat Bay Highway, has a Facebook site and a website where he answers questions. (One person commented they didn’t like having to look at the large billboard. “Get used to it. It’s there until November,” McNulty replied.)

McNulty works at both his family’s businesses, the Island View Golf Centre and Five Star Paving. He doesn’t have previous elected experience, but has been on the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and is a former president of the Central Saanich Toastmasters Club.

“I have the experience, not in politics, but to get the job done,” said McNulty, who describes himself as “single and looking.”

His platform includes rejuvenation of Saanichton and Brentwood Bay villages, and advocating for the “fair and equal treatment of all citizens of Central Saanich,” something he said isn’t happening now.

“I don’t want to get negative, but there’s a very adversarial relationship between residents and city hall.”

McNulty’s other key platform is “efficient and responsible management of taxpayers’ dollars.”

Island View Golf Centre earns Chamber Award

Business Vancouver Island

Island View Golf Centre earns Chamber Award

By Staff Writer

Island View Golf Centre has taken the concept of the “driving range” and taken it several notches up. In fact, to call it a driving range is really a misnomer. Island View Golf Centre is a golf practice facility where people can hone all aspects of their game.

The facility is truly unique and in general manager Sean McNulty’s words, “came out of the gate with guns blazing” when it opened in early 2005. It immediately was named the best new range in Canada and second best in North America by Range Times Magazine, a well-known American publication.

More recently, in April of this year, it was named Business of the Year for companies with 1-25 employees by the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

“We felt spectacular,” McNulty says about winning the award. “We worked hard to get the organization to this level. The award is a symbol of the hard work we’ve put in in the past three years.”

McNulty credits the team that has been there since the beginning, with the centre’s recognition and success. Scott Keenlyside is the head CPGA professional; Andrew Wintraub is a CPGA professional and Hyo Sang Yoon works with the other team members to ensure that the business runs smoothly.

McNulty says the organization’s success is also due to discipline, consistency and focussing on delivering an excellent product to the customer. “But the big thing is discipline,” he says. “As I tell the employees on a regular basis, it’s not about being great four or five days a week. If you want to be a great company you have to be consistently great. Consistency is a mark of greatness. You look at a guy like Tiger Woods. He’s not a great golfer because he shot one great game of golf. He’s shot thousands of them. That’s what it’s all about – delivering top quality seven days a week.”

Everything about Island View Golf Centre is different, McNulty says. It starts with the driving range which looks like the fairway on a golf course. It has been designed with hills and bumps and many of the features that one would expect on a course. It’s also part of an overall beautiful facility. McNulty notes that many driving ranges enjoy a poor reputation when it comes to maintenance and esthetics. Island View has raised the bar considerably.

“I haven’t seen anything like this facility before,” McNulty says.

The driving range can accommodate 50 players with 25 upper and 25 lower stalls. Island View Golf Centre also features a putting green and a short game practice area where a golfer can except to encounter all the challenges he would face at a golf course from 40 yards in. This is a place to practice shots out of sand traps, chip shots and so on, McNulty says.

Perhaps the most exciting feature of Island View Golf Centre is the golf academy headed by Scott Keenlyside. Keenlyside has been awarded the Canadian CPGA Golf Teacher of the year, the BC CPGA Golf Teacher of the Year and Score Magazine’s Golf Professional of the Year. Keenlyside and Wintraub are both Class A professionals.

“They’re the cream of the crop when it comes to instruction,” McNulty says.

The golf academy offers instructional videos and lessons both at the centre and at neighbouring golf courses. “It’s a big part of our business,” McNulty says. “When we get into the summer they’re teaching lessons all day, every day.”

Everyone from experts to beginners can take lessons with the centre’s pros. They also teach group clinics, which are very popular with beginners and they do individual coaching where people sign up for a coaching session once a week. Coaching sessions usually take place on golf courses. McNulty likens it to having a personal workout trainer.

In McNulty’s words, clients are “ecstatic” with the lessons and coaching and the centre gets extraordinarily positive feedback. “The biggest sign that they’re doing the right thing is that a good portion of their business is repeat customers and referrals,” McNulty says. “They’re consistently great – and that’s the key.”

The clubhouse contains a pro shop that offers golfing gear including good quality used clubs and the center also does club fitting.

Business has been improving every year, McNulty says with 2007 seeing a 20 per cent increase over 2006. Future plans include converting a house on the property to a restaurant and bar. Also on the table is the possibility of creating a mini golf centre on the land. “There’s still some more expanding we’re going to do here so we’re really looking forward to the future,” McNulty says. “It’s going to be a very bright one.”

Island View Golf Centre is at 7081 Central Saanich Road.

Amalgamation of Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney

Peninsula Times

Amalgamation of Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney

By Sean McNulty

Amalgamation is a big issue not only on the Peninsula, but all throughout the Greater Victoria Region. How many municipalities is ideal to efficiently govern the 400 000 people who live on our beautiful Island?

Personally, I am a strong advocate of amalgamating the Peninsula and believe there are big benefits that the tax payer will receive from it. The most obvious being the savings from merging most of the upper level management positions within the 3 municipalities. Right now, we have 3 fire chiefs, 3 city planners, 3 payroll departments, 3 Bylaw officers, the list goes on and on. By merging these positions under one municipality, we free up monies that could be applied to such things as the Panorama Recreation Center or tax breaks. 

Plus instead of having 3 part time Mayors and 18 part time Councilors governing the region, the Peninsula could have 1 full time Mayor and 6 full time councilors doing the job. These full time politicians would represent the interests of their constituents better and we would also more qualified candidates by increasing pay. Right now, the Mayor position of Central Saanich pays around $17 000 a year. Think about that, $17 000 a year to act as the CEO of a budget of $18 million hard earned tax payer dollars.

This idea the character of neighborhoods would be destroyed and their best interests overlooked though amalgamation is ridiculous. To counter that argument, one needs to look no further than our neighbor, the Municipality of Saanich. Does the Cordova Bay’s best interests come at the expense of Cadboro Bay? Does Gordon Heads character get merged in with Tillicum? The answer is no. The reason why; character rests with the people, not the government. Unless the great people of Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich move away, the admirable character of these areas is here to stay.

Keep in mind, that an amalgamated Peninsula would only be 36% the size of the Municipality of Saanich.

In order for Amalgamation to move forward, the B.C. Provincial Governments website states that all 3 Municipalities would have to agree to sending it to a referendum, the process would have to be locally initiated and all sectors of the communities would have to be involved. The best part about it is that the Provincial Government has grants setup that will provide the funding to do the analysis and inform us tax payers of the efficiencies of amalgamating. So if we all cooperate, we can have a study done at no costs to us and make an informed decision, that all residents will partake in through a referendum, of the future of Municipal Government on the Peninsula.

Our Municipal Sovereignty is not something worth irrationally protecting. Instead of looking at what we can accomplish apart, why don’t we start looking at what we can accomplish together? Unity rather than division. As a current Presidential candidate has often been quoted saying, “ordinary people working together can accomplish extraordinary things”.

Talking the Talk

Peninsula News Review

Talking the Talk

By Christine van Reeuwyk

A lot of yammering will lead to a regional champion or two at the library Tuesday. The librarian at the Sidney North Island Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library will just have to deal with the noise as Toastmasters from across Greater Victoria gather for competition. Talking, after all, is the name of the game.

The Saanich Peninsula Toastmasters club #1288 hosts the Area 3 International Speech Contest on March 25. It’s called an international contest because that’s where winners wind up. Winners from the Area 3 region head to the divisional, those winners head to district competition, then regionals, then the world.

“You get to witness the beautiful art of public speaking,” said Sean McNulty, Saanich Peninsula Toastmasters president. “For me personally, what I find most interesting is the topics people speak on.”

He recalled a competitor once who gave a speech on an astrological event that happened around 500 BC, and described how it was recorded by different groups.

“I found that very interesting,” McNulty said. The facts, research and relaying of the speeches are what make it interesting, he explained.

“You get to see the most talented speakers, so you get some really interesting speeches, you get some really humorous speeches …” he said. Speaking techniques and gestures can also add to the drama of a speech.

“Sometimes you get some speeches you think would be very boring, but the way they present it can be very interesting,” McNulty said.

The contest is broken into two competitions, speech and evaluation.

The speech portion is what most might naturally associate with Toastmasters. The competitors carefully research and prepare a speech that’s five to seven minutes long.

“It can’t be about sex, politics and religion. We steer clear of those things at Toastmasters,” McNulty said with a laugh. The competence of the speaker is gauged through hand gestures, eye contact, vocal variety and pronunciation — which are all calculated by six judges.

For the evaluation competition a test speaker comes in and makes a speech. The competitors evaluate, using similar criteria to the speech competition.

The Saanich Peninsula Toastmasters club #1288 hosts the Area 3 International Speech Contest on March 25 at the Sidney North Saanich branch of the VIRL from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event is open to the public; tickets cost $5 at the door.