TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL MINUTES OF A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025
Official minutes from the February 11, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, recording discussions and resolutions on various development permits and town business.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL MINUTES OF A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025 VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT WERE:
- Councillor Brown, Chair
- Mayor Tobias
- Councillor Kowalewich
- Councillor Lemon
- Councillor MacKenzie
- Councillor Mattson
- Councillor Rogers
PRESENT ALSO:
- S. Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer
- S. Jones, Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO
- L. Taylor, Director of Development Services
- I. Leung, Director of Engineering
- P. Hurst, Director of Protective Services
- J. Chow, Senior Planner
- L. Curtis, Community Planner
- E. Bolster, Deputy Corporate Officer
- 4 members of the public
- 0 members of the press
1. CALL TO ORDER
Councillor Brown called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Councillor Brown acknowledged that this meeting is being held on the traditional territory of the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
THAT the agenda be approved as presented. CARRIED
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS, ADOPTION OF
a) Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held January 14, 2025
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor MacKenzie
THAT the minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held January 14, 2025 be adopted as presented. CARRIED
4. CHAIR’S REPORT
5. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD
a) M. Reilly, Past President, West Shore Rotary and Past President, West Shore Chamber of Commerce, discussed the proposed eight-lane, fifty metre outdoor pool project in Colwood and noted a formal presentation will be coming forward to Council in the future.
7. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
8. REPORTS
8.1 STAFF REPORTS
a) Development Variance Permit 2023-10 – 1 Hospital Way
- Report dated February 4, 2025 from the Senior Planner
The Senior Planner gave a summary of the report to the Committee.
MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
COW-02-25 THAT the Committee recommend that Council, after giving notice, consider the following motion:
“THAT Council authorize the issuance of Development Variance Permit No. 2023-10 for 1 Hospital Way, in accordance with plans submitted to the Development Services Department on November 12, 2024, subject to the development meeting all of the Town’s Zoning Bylaw requirements, except for the following variances:
i. Reduce the flanking lot line setback from 6.0m to 5.0m; ii. Reduce the rear lot line setback from 7.5m to 3.5m; iii. Increase the building height from 9.0m to 9.5m; iv. Reduce the number of required parking spaces from 5408 to 1273; and v. increase the fence height from 2.0m to 2.5m. CARRIED
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor MacKenzie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council that the main motion be amended to include a provision requesting staff to negotiate with the applicant, Vancouver Island Health Authority, to create parkland at 1 Hospital Way equivalent to the loss of 180 trees. DEFEATED Mayor Tobias, Councillors Brown, Kowalewich, Lemon and Mattson opposed
b) Development Variance Permit 2024-04 – 406 Creed Road
- Report dated January 28, 2025 from the Community Planner
The Community Planner reviewed the report for the Committee.
MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
THAT the report dated January 28, 2025 from the Community Planner titled “Development Variance Permit 2024-04 – 406 Creed Road” be received for information. CARRIED
c) Home Occupation – Scope of Bylaw Review
- Report dated January 21, 2025 from the Community Planner
The Community Planner gave an overview of the report to the Committee.
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
COW-03-25 THAT the Committee recommend that Council approve the following scope of work for the review of the home occupation regulations in the Zoning Bylaw and Business Licence and Regulations Bylaw:
- review of the current definition for home occupation within the Zoning Bylaw;
- review Section 4.2 to determine if the Town’s home occupation regulations are in alignment with other municipalities in the Greater Victoria area while fostering a business-friendly community;
- determine if there are any additional amendments required related to home occupations elsewhere within the Zoning Bylaw;
- address the following items within the Business Licence and Regulations Bylaw:
- align home occupation definition with the Zoning Bylaw; and
- remove home craft definition. CARRIED
d) Official Community Plan: Mixed-Use and Mixed Employment Feasibility Analysis Project Scope
- Report dated January 27, 2025 from the Director of Development Services
The Director of Development Services reviewed the report for the Committee.
MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
THAT the report dated January 27, 2025 from the Director of Development Services titled “Official Community Plan: Mixed-Use and Mixed Employment Feasibility Analysis Project Scope” be received for information. CARRIED
e) Request for Pride Coloured Crosswalk
- Report dated December 23, 2024 from the Director of Engineering
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
COW-04-25 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that a project summary be drafted for 2025 budget deliberations regarding the installation of pride-coloured benches within the boulevard area fronting View Royal Elementary School. CARRIED Councillors Lemon and MacKenzie opposed
a) Email dated February 4, 2025 from the View Royal PAC, Re: Pride Coloured Crosswalk
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
THAT the email dated February 4, 2025 from the View Royal PAC, Re: Pride Coloured Crosswalk be received. CARRIED
f) Watkiss Park Design Finalization
- Report dated January 17, 2025 from the Director of Engineering
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
COW-05-25 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that discussions regarding the Watkiss Park Design finalization be tabled to 2025 budget deliberations. CARRIED Councillors Lemon and MacKenzie opposed
g) Helmcken Road at Watkiss Way Intersection Protection Measures
- Report dated January 31, 2025 from the Director of Engineering
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
COW-06-25 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that the report dated January 31, 2025 titled “Helmcken Road at Watkiss Way Intersection Protection Measures” be tabled to a future meeting when the Director of Engineering is in attendance and can provide additional information with respect to cost and impacts. CARRIED
h) View Royal FireSmart Program – Activities Completed
- Report dated January 28, 2025 from the Director of Protective Services
MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
THAT the report dated January 28, 2025 titled “View Royal FireSmart Program – Activities Completed” be received for information. CARRIED
i) CAO Update
- Report dated February 4, 2025 from the Chief Administrative Officer
MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
THAT the report dated February 4, 2025 from the Chief Administrative Officer titled “CAO Update” be received for information. CARRIED
j) Building Department Report for January 2025
- Building Department Report for January 2025
MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
THAT the Building Department Report for January 2025 be received for information. CARRIED
8.2 PORTFOLIO REPORTS
8.2.1 FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION – Mayor Tobias The Mayor discussed the impact of tariffs on development and View Royal’s budget preparation.
8.2.2 PROTECTIVE SERVICES & YOUTH – Councillor Brown Councillor Brown noted that the Mobile Youth Services Team received a federal grant.
8.2.3 ENGAGEMENT – Councillor Kowalewich Councillor Kowalewich stated that he and the Communications and Engagement Coordinator will be looking at ways to engage youth in the community.
8.2.4 ARTS & LIBRARY – Councillor Lemon Councillor Lemon noted she attended meetings of the Greater Victoria Public Library Board, where a new Chair was appointed and the CRD Arts Commission where the operating budget was approved. She advised that the Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Intermunicipal Advisory Committee continues to search for an appropriate venue for a performing arts centre in the West Shore.
8.2.5 ENVIRONMENT, PARKS & RECREATION – Councillor MacKenzie Councillor MacKenzie discussed the West Shore Parks and Recreation, specifically, aquatic demands and programing, the Facilities Master Plan engagement, and pickleball court development.
8.2.6 PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT – Councillor Mattson Councillor Mattson commented on the frequency of development reporting.
8.2.7 PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION – Councillor Rogers Councillor Rogers questioned whether the newly installed EV charging stations for the Town’s electric vehicles will be available to the public after hours and on weekends. The Chief Administrative Officer noted that these charging stations are behind locked gates and therefore are not available to the public though there is a public use one available at Town Hall.
Councillor Rogers commented on the soft corner at Island Highway and Helmcken Road.
8.3 OTHER REPORTS
9. NEW BUSINESS
10. QUESTION PERIOD
11. TERMINATION
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
THAT this meeting terminate. Time: 5:10 p.m. CARRIED
Document Images
(1)