10103

$310,000

Lot 45, Section 3, Sidney Island, Range 1E, North Saanich District, Strata Plan V1S5122 together with an interest in the common property in proportion to the unit entitlement of the Strata Lot as shown on form 1 (see plan as to limited access), PID 026-297-710

$1,139.45 ( 2009)

Strata Fees: $174.40 per month

The Islands Trust controls zoning and development on all the Gulf Islands. The Capital Regional District (CRD) grants building permits for Sidney Island.

Strata lot 45 is situated on Greenleaf Lane approximately midway between the dock at Miner’s Bay and the Sunrise Conservancy at Hamley Point. This lot faces east with awesome views across Miner’s Channel towards Halibut Island, the Mandarte Island Bird Sanctuary, Mt. Baker and Haro Straits.

GEOGRAPHY:

A flat bench on the waterfront allows access to the waters edge and there is a ridge on the road side of the property creating extra privacy. Lot 45 is treed with fir and cedar and already has a driveway constructed.

VEGETATION:

The Island supports exceptionally lush and varied vegetation common to the south coastal climatic zone including Douglas fir, white fir, Garry oak, mock cherry, arbutus, red cedar, red alder, balsam, hemlock, aspen, yew, big leaf maple and flowering dogwood. Smaller vegetation includes Scotch broom, fireweed, gorse, wild roses, western fescue, orchard grass, salal, hawthorne and a 50-tree orchard on the common land.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Strata title ownership
• Approximately 288 acres of strata lots
• Approximately 1500 acres common property
• No public access to the strata owned portion of the island
• No time requirement for building
• Precious conservation areas
• 230-foot communal dock in Miner’s Bay
• 2600-foot grass airstrip
• Miles of sand beaches
• Excellent network of roads
• Managed sustainable forest
• Cellular telephones work on much of the island

The Strata Corporation equipment consists of an excavator, dump truck, fire truck, ambulance, tank truck, pickup truck, road grader and miscellaneous equipment, some of which is available to Strata owners on a rental basis.

Sidney Island is at the southern end of the Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. It is about 19km north of Victoria, 6km south east of Sidney on the Saanich Peninsula and only 10km from Roche Harbour on US San Juan Island.

Access is by boat or floatplane to the private dock in Miners Bay or by plane to the private 2600 ft airstrip both of which are the common property of the strata owners. Water taxi service is available from the Port Sidney marina and arrangements can be made for the water taxi to pick people up near the BC Ferry terminal at Schwartz Bay, so you can walk on the ferry and easily get to Sidney Island. Please contact Rich Osborne or Dave Cochlan to make an appointment to view the island.

SIDNEY ISLAND:

Unique in British Columbia, perhaps the world, Sidney Island offers the rare combination of ownership of superb waterfront property with a model of sustainable forestry, limited development of common areas, precious conservation zones and miles of sand beaches. It is blessed with a Mediterranean like climate, warm summers, mild winters and less than 30 inches annual rainfall. Not only is it one of the most picturesque, but the last major undeveloped island in the Gulf Islands chain. From every part of the Island there are breathtaking views. To the south the perennial snow covered Olympic Range, to the east the perfect cone of Mt. Baker and the jagged peaks of the Cascades.

With its wonderful natural habitat few places have as rich a variety of wildlife as Sidney Island, which includes:

*spotted fallow deer
*bald eagles
*hawks
*black tailed deer
*turkey vultures
*mink
*woodpeckers
*humming birds
*great blue herons
*wild turkeys
*Javanese peacocks
*river otters
*a rich variety of songbirds, ducks, geese and other waterfowl

Offshore, the waters support a wide variety of sea life including salmon, halibut, other sport fish, an array of sea birds and waterfowl, seals, sea lions, orcas and gray whales.

Sidney Island comprises 111 bare land strata lots totaling about 288 acres and ownership includes the strata lot and a proportionate interest in the common property of the strata corporation, which includes about 1500 acres and the common facilities and other assets of the Strata Corporation.

In our opinion the most important aspect of the development is that the privacy of the strata corporation lands has been maintained, and the natural integrity of the island environment has been protected for the fortunate few who share in its ownership. There is no public access to 1760 acres owned by the strata corporation, of which some 1500 acres are common property to the Strata Lots.

The shared ownership includes an excellent network of roads, a new 300 ft. dock, which will be upgraded by the strata corporation as the demand for dock space requires and a number of water wells were drilled. The result is an amazing diversity of properties with low, medium and high bank oceanfront, virtually every possible exposure, varied topography, beautiful views, differing levels of privacy and a range of prices.

The only land on the island not owned by the Strata Corporation is the northerly portion formerly the Sidney Spit Marine Park and recently named as Canada’s newest National Park. This area comprises about 400 acres and encloses a broad lagoon of sheltered water bordered by a long spit of sand. Mooring buoys, a small government dock, and facilities for picnicking and camping are provided. The sandy beach with protected waters is excellent for swimming.

Originally named Sallas Island, in 1859 the Hudson Bay Company, hoping to attract settlers with a more British name, changed it to Sidney Island. Many years ago the Island was purchased by a group of Victoria businessmen as a private hunting preserve. In 1981 the Island was purchased from the last two survivors of the original owners, by the present owners Sallas Forest Limited Partnership.