Strongitharm Consulting Ltd., on behalf of Red Barn Market Ltd., is seeking a rezoning, zone text amendment for liquor retail, and a development variance permit at 5550 West Saanich Road, Saanich, with a public hearing set for April 28, 2026 (Bylaw No. 10124). The application amends zoning to allow liquor sales at the existing Red Barn Market location and includes a variance component not further detailed in public materials.
Five pieces of correspondence were received, evenly split between support and opposition:
- Liquor store saturation
- Agricultural land protection
- Pedestrian safety
- Community support for the business
- Zoning precedent concerns
The even split and the agricultural land theme, in particular, reflect the tension between commercial expansion in the Royal Oak / West Saanich rural interface and the municipality’s agricultural preservation goals.
The application is listed on the District of Saanich’s Royal Oak active development applications page (saanich.ca). Strongitharm Consulting’s involvement extends beyond this file: the Times Colonist reported the firm submitted a major mixed-use rezoning in Nanaimo on behalf of a numbered company (Times Colonist), underscoring the consultancy’s active role in Vancouver Island development applications.
If the April 28 public hearing proceeds without deferral, second and third reading would likely follow in May or June 2026, with final adoption and permit issuance for the liquor retail use possible later in the year. A deferral for traffic or servicing studies, however, could extend the timeline.
A rezoning application has been submitted for 5550 West Saanich Road in Saanich by Strongitharm Consulting Ltd. (Deane Strongitharm). The application will be considered at a public hearing on April 28, 2026. No outcome has been determined as of this brief.