DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT 2023-10 - 1 HOSPITAL WAY STAFF REPORT
Staff report recommending approval of five variances to facilitate construction of an electrical energy centre at Victoria General Hospital.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT
TO: Council
DATE: February 20, 2025
FROM: Jeff Chow, Senior Planner
MEETING DATE: March 4, 2025
DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT 2023-10 - 1 HOSPITAL WAY
RECOMMENDATION:
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:
- reduce the flanking lot line setback from 6.0m to 5.0m;
- reduce the rear lot line setback from 7.5m to 3.5m;
- increase the building height from 9.0m to 9.5m;
- reduce the number of required parking spaces from 5408 to 1273; and
- increase the fence height from 2.0m to 2.5m.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
That Development Variance Permit No. 2023-10 for 1 Hospital Way be declined.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of Development Variance Permit No. 2023-10 for 1 Hospital Way is to consider variances to permit the construction of an electrical energy centre at Victoria General Hospital.
BACKGROUND:
The proposal was introduced at the February 11, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting. Variances are requested to reduce the flanking lot line setback and the rear lot line setback, increase the building height, reduce the number of required parking spaces and increase the fence height. Details of the proposal and requested variances can be found in the staff report in Attachment 1. At the Council meeting on February 18, 2025, Council passed the following motion:
“THAT, after giving notice, Council 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.”
ANALYSIS:
Notice of this meeting to consider this application was made in accordance with Development Procedures Bylaw No. 730, 2009. Staff recommends that Council authorize the issuance of the Development Variance Permit (DVP).
Impacts and implications can be summarized as follows:
| Impact/Implication | Description |
|---|---|
| Community Impact: | Hospitals and the other health facilities such as the Regional Laundry are major consumers of energy. The Electrical Energy Centre would allow VGH to use cleaner energy to help reduce community greenhouse gas emissions for existing and future development. |
| Financial Implication: | There are no financial impacts anticipated for the Town. |
| Inter-governmental Relations Impact: | Approval of the DVP application would support Vancouver Island Health Authority’s request to fund this project in Spring 2025 budget deliberations. |
ALIGNMENT:
The recommended option aligns with the Town’s following core guiding documents as follows:
| Core Guiding Document | Alignment |
|---|---|
| Strategic Plan: | n/a |
| Official Community Plan: | The Official Community Plan recognizes the hospital as a regional facility that is one of the largest employers on Vancouver Island and accounts for at least one third of the approximately 4,000 jobs in View Royal. Policy NE4.2 targets a 33% reduction (or 32,678 CO2 tonnes) by 2030 for a total community-wide GHG emissions output of 8,171 CO2 tonnes. |
| Community Climate Action Strategy: | Policy 4.1.1 Encourage and enable energy retrofits through supportive policies and removing barriers. |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL:
The desired level of public participation for the recommended option is:
- Inform
- Consult
- Involve
- Collaborate
- Empower
- N/A
TIME CRITICAL:
There are no time considerations for this report for the Town.
CONCURRENCE:
| Position | Initials | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Administrative Officer | SS | I concur with the recommendation. |
REVIEWED BY:
| Position | Initials |
|---|---|
| Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO | n/a |
| Director of Finance & Technology | n/a |
| Director of Development Services | LT |
| Director of Engineering | n/a |
| Director of Protective Services | n/a |
ATTACHMENTS:
- Staff Report to February 11, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting
Document Images
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