DESCRIPTION: Unique in British Columbia, perhaps the world, Sidney Island offers the rare combination of ownership of a superb recreational waterfront property with a model of sustainable forestry, limited development of common areas conservation zones and miles of beaches. There are 24 bare land strata lots with typically 1/4 mile (1320 feet) of waterfront totalling 288 acres. The remainder of the 1760 acre property is common property to be shared by the owners of the strata corporation.

Lot 12 building sites 12A and 12B are hereby offered for sale. Each lot is about 2.5 acres with 200 feet of high bank west-facing waterfront, 550 feet deep, on the warm west-facing side of the island. site 12A C$ 250,000, site 12B C$ 250,000.

Other lots may also be for sale from time to time. Currently, building sites offered at www.sidneyisland.ca www.liread.com www.landquest.com www.reals.com

We are constantly told that properties are unique although that is rarely the case, Sidney Island is certainly the exception. Sidney Island is unique in many ways, among them its size, geographical features, diversity of wildlife, beaches, airstrip, marina and shared ownership which confers many benefits on it shareholders.

The island offers an amazing diversity of properties with low, medium and high bank oceanfront, virtually every possible exposure, varied topography, and beautiful views.

LOCATION: Sidney Island is located among the most southerly of the Gulf Islands of British Columbia, situated about 4 miles southeast of the Town of Sidney on the Saanich Peninsula of Vancouver Island. It is about 2 miles west of the Canada/US border, 4 miles from the US San Juan Island and only 6 miles from Roche Harbour. It is 2 miles south of Forrest Island and only 1.5 miles east of James Island, less than half the size of Sidney Island, and currently for sale for US$ 50,000,000 by the McCaw family of Seattle.

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DIRECTIONS: Access to Sidney Island is by passenger ferry June to September, private boat or public water taxi to the government dock in the lagoon area of Sidney Spit Marine Park or by boat to the private dock in Miners Bay on the northeast side of the Island, or by air to the private 2800 ft. airstrip. On the island itself, some partners have vehicles for access to their lot and around the island; a gravel-surfaced road system services each of the lots. NOTE: The non-park portion of the island is private, without public access. Visit by prior arrangement only.

AREA DATA: SIDNEY SPIT MARINE PARK: Sidney Spit is located on the north promontory of the Island and this Provincial marine park contains about 440 acres of land together with 375 acres of sheltered waters. Along the spit and in the lagoon area mooring buoys are provided as well as a small government dock. Facilities are provided for picnicking and camping, and the sandy beach with warm, protected waters is excellent for swimming. SIDNEY ISLAND: is located in a Temperate Zone with ideal climatic conditions. The weather is characterized by warm summers, mild winters and less than 30 inches annual rainfall. Sidney Island contains approximately 2,200 acres, of which the northern 440 acres is designated as Sidney Spit Marine Park. The remaining 1,760 acres is subdivided in 24 lots owned by the Sallas Forest Limited Partnership. Often referred to as the Jewel of the Gulf Islands, Sidney Island has over 12 miles of sand/pebble beach surrounding its 17 mile shoreline. It is not only one of the most picturesque, but also the last major undeveloped island in the Gulf Islands chain. Both Sidney and neighbouring James Island are geographically unique because they are the only Canadian Gulf Islands composed almost entirely of Quaternary drift deposits. These are unconsolidated sands and gravels originally deposited by glacial action, which are easily eroded, resulting in a sandy coastline.

From every part of the Island there are breathtaking views. To the south the perennial snow covered Olympic Range and to the east the perfect cone of Mt. Baker and the jagged peaks of the Cascades. Many sailors consider the Gulf offers the finest yachting waters in North America.

There is probably no other area in British Columbia that has a longer and more varied history of wildlife than Sidney Island. Near the turn of the century, and particularly in more recent years, the former owners introduced a wide variety of, sometimes exotic, birds and animals to the parklike setting of the Island. The present wildlife inventory includes the following: *spotted fallow deer *bald eagles & hawks *black tailed deer *turkey vultures *Javanese peacocks *guinea hens *woodpeckers *chukkars *humming birds *many small birds *California quail *otters & mink *wild turkeys *rabbits *golden pheasants

HISTORY: Sidney Island was originally named Sallas Island by the officers of the Hudson Bay Company but changed to its present name in 1859, Many years ago the Island was purchased by a group of Victoria businessmen whose intent was to use it as a private hunting preserve. From the last two survivors of the original owners, the Island was purchased in 1980 by the present ownership group Sallas Forest Limited Partnership which has created a bare land strata development.

RECREATION: Boating, swimming, paddling, scuba diving, fishing, crabbing, sailing, photography, bird watching, walking, cycling, exploring & cruising the other Canadian Gulf Islands and the U.S. San Juan Islands.

IMPROVEMENTS: The existing improvements on the Island include the following:

* Five partners recreational homes

* An existing farmhouse

* A machinery shed & workshop for the partnership equipment, consisting of a farm tractor, excavator, dump truck, fire truck, tank truck, pickup truck, road grader and miscellaneous equipment.

*Private 2800-foot grass airstrip near the center of the island

*Twelve miles of gravel-surfaced roads, with culverts & ditches

*Private dock located in MinerĘs Bay

SERVICES: Existing services on the island include the following:

* Excellent water is available from several drilled wells.

* No mains power, thus solar, propane, generators are used.

* Sewage will be disposed in septic fields to be installed on each site.

* Cellular telephones provide communication.

TAXES: approx 1% of value per year

BOUNDARIES: See maps & plans included.

ZONING: A governmental agency known as the Islands Trust controls zoning and development on all the Gulf Islands. Building permits are granted by the Capital Regional District (CRD) for Sidney Island.
LEGAL: Sidney Island is legally described as: Remainder of Section 11, Range 1 West, Sidney Island, Cowichan Land District, BC.

MORE INFORMATION: Links     peter@sidneyisland.com