Council Meeting/Documents/MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

Minutes

MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

February 17, 2026Pages 148–1533 sectionsOriginal PDF

Minutes of the View Royal Council meeting detailing discussions on rezoning for 258 Helmcken Road and solid waste contracts.

1 CALL TO ORDER

February 3, 2026Adjourned at 8:35 p.m.Council rescinded motion C-196-25 regarding commercial grocery store registration

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL

Page 148–153

MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT WERE: Mayor Tobias Councillor Brown Councillor Kowalewich Councillor Lemon Councillor Mattson Councillor Rogers

REGRETS: Councillor MacKenzie

PRESENT ALSO: S. Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer E. Bolster, Director of Corporate Administration I. Leung, Director of Engineering L. Taylor, Director of Development Services S. Vella, Director of Finance P. Hurst, Director of Protective Services – arrived at 8:05 p.m. K. Malinosky, Assistant Fire Chief – arrived at 8:05 p.m. J. Chow, Senior Planner J. Cochrane, Deputy Director of Corporate Administration 35 members of the public 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Tobias called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT the agenda be amended to include items 10. e) to i);

AND THAT the agenda be approved as amended. CARRIED

3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

a) R. Isaac, Bishan Place, spoke in support of Councillor Brown’s notice of motion for the creation of a natural asset inventory. b) L. Jearound, Ardenlea Place, spoke in support of Councillor Brown’s notice of motion for the creation of a natural asset inventory. c) J. Devonshire, Glenairlie Drive, introduced a new community group, the Westshore Initiative for Sustainable Ecosystems, and spoke in support of Councillor Brown’s notice of motion for the creation of a natural asset inventory. d) A. Miller, Park Ridge Place, shared concerns about garbage collection and wildlife attractants, and discussed garbage bin options. e) J. Miller, Park Ridge Place, noted his support for continued weekly garbage collection service.

4. BYLAWS

a) Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1160 – Rezoning Application No. 2025-01 for 258 Helmcken Road

Report dated January 28, 2026 from the Senior Planner

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-18-26 THAT prior to third reading of Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1160, 2025, Council rescind motion C-196-25, which required registration of a covenant to secure a medical office and/or neighbourhood grocery store on the ground floor for a minimum of ten years. CARRIED

Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1160, 2025 A Bylaw to Amend the Zoning Bylaw with Respect to Amending the CD-26: Helmcken/Island Highway Comprehensive Development Zone

Council discussed the potential for a grocery store use in the commercial space in the future, and the proposed use of the space for a medical clinic and café.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

THAT Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1160, 2025 be given third reading and adoption. CARRIED

5. MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Tobias highlighted a potential opportunity for the Town to work with a new healthcare provider for clinical services to View Royal residents.

6. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

7. STAFF REPORTS

a) Shoreline School Request for Traffic Safety Improvements

Report dated January 20, 2026 from the Director of Engineering

The Director of Engineering gave an overview of the report.

Council and staff discussed details of the Ready Step, Roll program and safety issues in the Shoreline Drive area.

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-19-26 THAT the Town enroll into the Capital Regional District’s “Ready, Step, Roll” program with Shoreline Community Middle School. CARRIED

b) 2027- 2030 Solid Waste Collection Contract Renewal

Report dated January 28, 2026 from the Director of Engineering

The Director of Engineering gave an overview of the report.

Council and staff discussed the existing level of service, options for larger garbage bin sizes, and the bear-proof bin program.

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

C-20-26 THAT staff investigate options to provide residents with secondary suites the opportunity for additional bins for the purpose of drafting a new three-year (2027-2030) solid waste collection contract, with an option to extend for an additional two years, based on existing levels of service. CARRIED

c) Appointment of Chief Election and Deputy Chief Election Officers

Report dated January 22, 2026 from the Director of Corporate Administration

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-21-26 THAT, pursuant to Section 58 (1) of the Local Government Act, that Kuldeep Mann be appointed Chief Election Officer for conducting the 2026 general local elections;

AND THAT Dawn Helgason and Jennifer-Lynn Cochrane be appointed Deputy Chief Election Officers for the 2026 general local elections. CARRIED

d) Temporary Use Permit No. TUP 2025-01 - 1 Bate Road

Report dated January 20, 2026 from the Community Planner

The Director of Development Services gave an overview of the report.

Comments from the Applicant T. Vahamaki, Bate Road, noted the intent of the suite and confirmed he will be the builder for the project.
Comments from the Public
Correspondence

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Brown

C-22-26 THAT Temporary Use Permit No. TUP 2025-01 for 1 Bate Road be issued in accordance with the plans submitted to the Development Services Department dated October 26, 2025, to allow for two detached dwelling units on the property, subject to the following conditions:

the applicant give an undertaking that the existing dwelling unit will be decommissioned or demolished when the Temporary Use Permit lapses and restore the land, in accordance with Town Bylaws, to the satisfaction of the Director of Development Services prior to the issuance of a Building Permit for the new dwelling unit to be constructed on the property; and
the Temporary Use Permit come into effect upon issuance of the building permit application for the proposed new dwelling unit and that the Temporary Use Permit lapses two years from the date that the building permit is issued by the Town. CARRIED

8. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

9. CORRESPONDENCE

a) Email dated January 19, 2026 from J. Devonshire, View Royal Climate Coalition (VRCC), Re: Grant-in-aid for "Beat the Heat" Retrofit Fair

Council and staff discussed the previous year’s Retrofit Fair event and questioned the timing of the Grant-in-Aid application.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT early approval for a 2026 Grant-in-Aid in the amount of $500.00 be granted to the View Royal Climate Coalition in support of the “Beat the Heat” Retrofit Fair. DEFEATED Mayor Tobias and Councillors Kowalewich, Lemon, and Mattson opposed

b) Letter dated January 26, 2026 from W. Goldiet, President, African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI), Re: Request for View Royal support for AHAVI's Affordable Housing Initiative

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT the letter dated January 26, 2026 from W. Goldiet, President, AHAVI, Re: Request for View Royal support for AHAVI's affordable housing Initiative be received. CARRIED