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Committee of the Whole/Documents/Appendix B: Community Workshop Feedback (October 18)
Appendix

Appendix B: Community Workshop Feedback (October 18)

January 13, 2026Pages 246–2532 sections

Photographic records of maps and sticky-note feedback collected during the community workshop held on October 18, 2025.

1. CALL TO ORDER (Councillor Lemon)
Workshop held at Juan de Fuca 55+ Activity CentreTotal of 11 participants attended the workshopScenario 2 received the highest vote in the marble exercise (14 votes/40%)

Appendix B: Community Workshop Feedback (October 18)

Map of Thetis Regional area with workshop feedback sticky notes
Map of Thetis Regional area with workshop feedback sticky notes

Participant Feedback from Map Sticky Notes:

  • Wants:
    • Some sort of commercial/retail building across the road.
    • Clean air, no high vehicular, low industrial.
    • Separate bike lanes for electric vehicles.
    • Transit-oriented protection, view corridor, public access to pond etc., small park, low impact bike routes.
    • Retain 40% tree canopy (or plant to Atam).
    • Transit Hub to see Vic Royal become a "Sponge City" with water retention.
  • Likes:
    • Recreation, Nature, Walking, Biking with Kids, Mill Stream.
    • Density at capacity (not over capacity).
  • Challenges/Dislikes:
    • Do not want any industrial zone used.
    • Congestion (traffic), loss of trees - canopy loss.
    • Maintain separation of bike & cars, sidewalk/stairs along.
    • UHI (Urban Heat Island) - Air quality only good for workers, need to control outside - trees.
    • Traffic jams.
    • De formulation.
  • Future/Trees:
    • Maintain current access, protect watershed - a must.
    • Low density housing, thoughtful density, transportation options.
Color-coded land use map with workshop feedback sticky notes
Color-coded land use map with workshop feedback sticky notes
Close-up of sticky notes from the bottom of the map in Image 2
Close-up of sticky notes from the bottom of the map in Image 2

Handwritten Legend on Map:

  • Transit-Oriented Area -> NONE
  • Neighbourhood Village: 4-6 Storey, 2.5 FSR
  • SSMUH (Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing)
  • Commercial: 4 Storey, 2.5 FSR
  • Park/Bike land/Sidewalk/Active access point
  • Employment district corridor: 6 Storey, 3.5 FSR
  • Active Trans Protection

Additional Participant Comments:

  • Important: 1) Traffic Flow, 2) Max 8 Storeys, 3) Retail, Office, Housing, 4) Restaurants, 5) Some Charm!, 6) Sidewalk/Multi-use, 7) Tree Protection.
  • I would like to see: 6-8 story buildings with 2 levels of retail + office on the bottom. I would like to see 2 parking spaces for every residential unit. (No unplanned in zones if we don't have enough parking).
  • Challenges:
    • Transit hub with peninsula parking levels (not flat). Connection to Galloping Goose + E-N.
    • Bike connector? Transit.
    • No tax exempt properties.
    • Turning safely out of any property developed here. Pinch point at Parsons Bridge.
    • Open public spaces.
    • Gaining access to the water from this is being proposed. How do we plan to get the land out of private hands to public hands?
  • General Likes:
    • I like the proximity to water.
    • I like the major road going through VR + bypass.
    • There is infrastructure in place that would support density.
Map showing Thetis Lake Regional Park with annotations
Map showing Thetis Lake Regional Park with annotations
Close-up of the Jenner Chevrolet and City of Colwood labels on the map
Close-up of the Jenner Chevrolet and City of Colwood labels on the map

Annotations and Notes:

  • Railway presents future access.
  • Tsunami - No issue - as long as no connection to Parsons.
  • No public space in this area. Need to add.

Scenario 1

Map of Scenario 1 with numbered sticky notes
Map of Scenario 1 with numbered sticky notes
Close-up of numbered sticky notes from Scenario 1 map
Close-up of numbered sticky notes from Scenario 1 map

Numbered Participant Feedback:

  1. Price-return concerns, why not allow u-turns to reduce people pulling into houses.
  2. Public access to enjoy waterfront would be very nice.
  3. This strip is our best opportunity to develop higher tax revenue, offer commercial / industrial locations and bring more business development to the town with little negative impact on residential neighbourhoods.
  4. Interesting idea. Might be a chance to allow more people to enjoy waterfront, have some commercial space for public.
  5. Decent transit hub for higher density buildings.
  6. Public access might be nice, not sure if that waterfront is walkable however.
Scenario 1 land use map with legend
Scenario 1 land use map with legend
Close-up of blue sticky note on Scenario 1 map
Close-up of blue sticky note on Scenario 1 map

Scenario 1 Land Use Legend:

  • Transit-Oriented Area
  • Neighbourhood Village
  • Western Gateway Employment Corridor District
  • Neighbourhood Mixed Use
  • Intensive Mixed Use
  • Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing
  • Commercial
  • Mixed Residential
  • Community Facility
  • Water
  • Park

Sticky Note Comment:

  • Scenario 1: OVER BUILT. Exceeds Needed CAPACITY (Don't Like).

Scenario 3 (current)

Scenario 3 current land use map with legend
Scenario 3 current land use map with legend
Close-up of sticky notes on Scenario 3 map
Close-up of sticky notes on Scenario 3 map

Participant Feedback:

  • Scenario 3: "Like it"
  • Prefers low growth with A PARK that protects Riparian Zones Both Sides Millstream.
  • Don't see a need for "Pinch Point" View Royal to have any light industrial area (*LIKE Commercial component).
Page 246–253

LAND USE DESIGNATIONS

Land Use Designations table, top section
Land Use Designations table, top section
Land Use Designation Height & Density Examples
Transit-Oriented Area
• Development located within a central area of the community, serviced by frequent transit that serves future mobility hubs.
• Includes mixed-use development with apartments, visitor accommodations, restaurants, retail, office spaces, and civic uses.		 Scenario 1:
• Up to 10 Storeys
• 3.5:1 Floor Space Ratio
Scenario 2:
• N/A
Scenario 3:
• N/A		 [Example photo of high-rise apartment building]
Neighbourhood Village (Handwritten: "like the idea")
• Small-scale, mixed-use development that permits multi-unit housing, commercial, and civic uses. This may include schools, offices, restaurants, retail, grocery, and community spaces.		 Scenario 1:
• Up to 6 Storeys
• 2.5:1 Floor Space Ratio
Scenario 2:
• Up to 6 Storeys
• 2.5:1 Floor Space Ratio
Scenario 3:
• N/A		 [Example photo of mid-rise mixed-use building]
Western Gateway Employment District Corridor
• Flexible and adaptable building forms that support a range of employment functions suitable for commercial, light industrial, or arts and cultural uses (Handwritten: "has been lacking in VR") and tourist accommodations.		 Scenario 1:
• Up to 10 Storeys
• 3.5:1 Floor Space Ratio
Scenario 2:
• Up to 6 Storeys
• 2.5:1 Floor Space Ratio
Scenario 3:
• N/A		 [Example photo of modern office building]
Land Use Designations table, bottom section
Land Use Designations table, bottom section
Land Use Designation Height & Density Examples
Community Facility
• Government buildings and land used to provide service delivery to the community and surrounding region		 Scenarios 1, 2, 3
• Heights vary		 [Example photo of community fire station]
Park, Open Space, Recreation
• Local and regional parks and trails
• Protected natural areas and open space
(Handwritten: "Critical to protect for climate resiliency, mental well being")		 N/A [Example photo of nature trail]
Land Use Designations table continued, top section
Land Use Designations table continued, top section
Land Use Designation Height & Density Examples
Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing
• Detached Residential, Duplex, Secondary Suite, Garden Suite, Rowhouse, Townhouse, Houseplex, and Apartments		 Scenarios 1, 2 & 3:
• Up to 3 storeys
• Up to 6 dwelling units
(Handwritten: "Like creates more community, better for families")		 [Example photo of multi-unit residential house]
Mixed Residential (Handwritten: "okay")
• Small Lot Detached Houses, Townhouses and Low-Rise Apartments
• Up to 3 Storeys/1.25 FSR
• 4 Storeys/1.6 FSR for Apartments		 Scenarios 1, 2 & 3:
• Up to 3 Storeys/1.25 FSR
• 4 Storeys/1.6 FSR for Apartments		 [Example photo of rowhouses]
Neighbourhood Mixed Use
• Commercial with Townhouses and Low-Rise Apartments		 Scenarios 1, 2, and 3:
• Up to 3 Storeys
• 1.5:1 Floor Space Ratio		 [Example photo of mixed-use building with retail at base]
Intensive Mixed Use
• Commercial with Townhouse and Low-Rise Apartment		 Scenarios 1, 2, & 3:
• Up to 4 Storeys
• 2.5:1 Floor Space Ratio		 [Example photo of modern apartment building with terrace]
Land Use Designations table continued, bottom section
Land Use Designations table continued, bottom section
Land Use Designation Height & Density Examples
Commercial
• Retail, Office, Technology and Service Commercial		 Scenarios 1, 2, & 3:
• Up to 4 Storeys
• 2.5:1 Floor Space Ratio		 [Example photo of "The Root Cellar" retail building]
Page 246–253
Extracted from: 2026 01 13 Committee of the Whole Meeting - Agenda - Pdf