WHAT WE HEARD REPORT Business Mixer March 2025

May 13, 2025Pages 270–2796 sections

Summary of feedback from local business owners regarding challenges and growth opportunities in View Royal.

8.1.d Official Community Plan Review and Update: Draft Vision Statement and Goals

March 6, 202536 participantsTraffic congestion identified as a top challenge

WHAT WE HEARD REPORT

Business Mixer

March 2025

Page 270–279

Official Community Plan Business Mixer & Consultation......................................................3
WORKSHOP SUMMARY..............................................................................................................4
Overall Themes.......................................................................................................................4
Responses From the Business Mixer Workshop......................................................................5
NEXT STEPS..............................................................................................................................10

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Official Community Plan Business Mixer & Consultation

The Town of View Royal in partnership with the WestShore Chamber of Commerce held a business mixer on March 6, 2025, at the Victoria Scottish Community Centre in View Royal. The event was open to all local businesses to encourage participation in the Official Community Plan (OCP) review and update process. The event took place between 5:00 and 7:00 pm, and a workshop was held during the event.

Event Promotions

Together, the Town and the WestShore Chamber of Commerce used a variety of methods to inform the community about the business mixer workshop.

The Chamber managed event registration and inquiries and created a dedicated landing page on their website to promote the event.

The tools included:

Invitation mailout to approximately 425 business license holders
e-Newsletter
Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky)
Stakeholder emails to approximately 215 businesses
Town and WestShore Chamber websites

Promotional flyer for the Official Community Plan Business Mixer & Consultation.

Page 270–279

What We Heard

WORKSHOP SUMMARY

Workshop session with a presentation on a large screen and attendees seated at round tables.

Workshop session showing attendees in discussion at tables with facilitators.

During the workshop a total of three questions were asked, approximately 15 minutes was spent on each question, and following this period each group would report back on their discussion. At each table a staff member facilitated the discussion, and recorded discussion with notes on a flip chart. The responses form the content of this What We Heard Report.

A total of 36 people attended the event and participated in the workshops. A comprehensive summary is detailed below.

Overall Themes

The top four themes for how View Royal is helping businesses grow are:
- More growth = more business opportunities,
- Holding business mixer to help business owners meet, talk, and network with other business owners.
- Town staff, Council and community are supportive of local businesses, and
- Applying for a business licence is easy.
The top four themes for local challenges affecting businesses are:
- Traffic Congestion,
- Lack of affordable commercial space available,
- Confusing home occupation regulations, and
- Slow processing times for applications (development & business licencing).
Four things that View Royal can improve to help facilitate economic growth are:
- Improving transportation connections throughout View Royal,
- Providing more parking for customers & clients,
- Permitting more mixed-use developments (commercial/residential), and
- Have a community space for public events.

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Responses From the Business Mixer Workshop

Question 1: What is View Royal doing well that helps the growth of your business?

Table	Responses
Table 1	Possibility of development Community hubs More opportunities like Eagle Creek Walkability is a huge factor Requires going to destinations in VR Six Mile Pub Alignment with Development interests and OCP policies Housing next to businesses Access to transit Support from Council Supportive neighbours Support from staff/council Permitting processes Cycling infrastructure
Table 2	Gave $100 for Business Licence and operate as inter-municipal business More housing is good for business x 2 Create a business community, nice to have someone to talk to if not working Continue to build community, don’t be shy of your neighbours, Sense of community, interact with neighbours Share ideas, built community and networking – Business Mixer Listening to businesses Business mixer, get to know each other What’s missing – micro library, coffee shop, space for social interaction and build community More places like Nest Places to meet, talk and network – like to see more of these Farmer’s market, community events
Table 3	Community engagement But more In-person Local mixer to VR Hosted in different spaces Approachable Opportunity to streamline processes
Table 4	Supportive & helpful (staff) Easy to get answers from staff Like that I can pay BL renewals and submit applications online Online is confusing Mobile website is difficult to navigate Could be more user friendly Easy to use the parks for classes Make the business licence directory easier to find (how often is it updated) Free street parking is lovely Generally easy for clients/customers to find parking
Table 5	Town has been a client of my business The Town is growing Residents draw business Website is easy for applying for a business licence The Town takes pride in its appearance, customers feel safe Council & staff approachable Business mixer is an opportunity to connect with other local businesses Especially for homebased

Question 2: Are there any challenges, specific to View Royal, that are affecting your business?

Table	Responses
Table 1	Connection is a challenge Bus service disconnected to do multiple tasks Challenge for non-mobile people Incomplete sidewalks Traffic volume/congestion Convenience has disappeared you must go in your car! Convenience/ease of access Multiple stops Need easy way to get multiple things
Table 2	Traffic Centralization – no downtown A lot of regulations & hoops to open a business (less regulation) Too few regulations becomes wild west Finding right balance btw regulations & supporting, business Lack of staff capacity. May impact ability to expedite Note enough work for landscaping, going outside of community (i.e. Oak Bay, Saanich) Working with other municipalities on regional traffic issues Inter-municipal communication Process time for development applications & inspections Mixed-use developments Support this development Commercial destinations Entertainment facilities Improve customer service, it is getting better Long/slow process Liked how slow things down
Table 3	Traffic causes delays for staff & clients Bottleneck More lanes Opportunities for home based business Reduce restrictions Zoning restrictions (as it relates with sq footage/ lot size) Local events/markets More space for commercial/industrial Parking Support for small/medium business (incubators/accelerators)
Table 4	Digital signs (more cost effective) for advertising at the casino Signs for home occupations (rules) could be clearer Could we include a FAQ Lack a Rec Centre in Town with space that is rentable for mobile businesses No announcement board to share new news/ongoing things Portage park -> grated stairs painful for dogs (paws)
Table 5	Traffic Construction Traffic Affordable, leasing space is hard to find. Would like to see a variety of commercial space sizes Challenging to get funding stimulus for startups and attracting business Unclear about possibility for a home (vs mobile) business Difference across different municipalities in region Zoning, licensing

Question 3: What can be improved in View Royal to facilitate economic growth?

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Table	Responses
Table 1	Transportation #46/#53 Connectivity, going place to place Access to/within community Mixed-use buildings/sites Promote local/neighbourhood based growth. Deter cars More/frequent bus service Are there incentives that could help? Thoughtful community plan that is embraced by community Timeliness, timing for projects/developments 6 storey-mixed use Market sounding, ask what you need to have feasible development Ease of parking regs, # that make sense for business, what is actually required
Table 2	Reception area, not open & inviting, barriers haven’t come down Traffic/parking – hard to find visitor parking More people move out to Langford to open business Walk to services instead of getting into car Rail station along G.G More activities in Langford (shops, stores & services) Farmers Market on Saturday to bring into VR Theatres for art events Event space at View Royal – more publicly known Western Corridor-entertainment centre Fine fining restaurants (i.e. Keg) Destination - Mix of shops and services
Table 3	Marketing campaign -> promoting VR as a place for entrepreneurs What is in VR/What is good about Creative ways to make owning a business more affordable Walkable Community gathering spaces Space for families More collaboration with local institutes Maker spaces & art spaces Creative spaces Resources of available community spaces Spaces with multi-uses
Table 4	Rec Centre Commercial Services Advertise that you can have a Home Based Business View Royal Park Exercise equipment is lacking – could be better Notice board for businesses holding classes at the park Community bboards Construction/traffic Better traffic management or communication of blockages would be helpful Live/work zoned condos Eagle Creek, China Town, View Street – walk up with commercial below Grocery store at Helmcken Restaurants Hold more community events that businesses could be involved in More mixed use zoning not just strictly residential or commercial Better communication of events Make website more user friendly Make the BL directory easy to find Would be nice to see where BL are in the queue to get processed
Table 5	More commercial space + variety of sizes Transit connections Getting from one point to others (crosstown) More parking More mobile service parking Helping customers get to business. E.g. shuttle Gathering space for pop-ups e.g. Langford station Help start ups Drive throughs in the right locations E.g. coffee shops

NEXT STEPS

The input received through this engagement touchpoint (Phase 1 Visioning) will help shape the updated OCP vision statement and guiding principles for the Town. A draft vision statement and guiding principles will be presented to community, OCP Review Advisory Committee, and Council later in the Spring of 2025. At this point, additional opportunities to provide feedback online or in-person will be available.

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Extracted from: 2025 05 13 Council Agenda - Agenda - Pdf

WHAT WE HEARD REPORT Business Mixer March 2025

WHAT WE HEARD REPORT

Business Mixer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Official Community Plan Business Mixer & Consultation

Event Promotions

What We Heard

WORKSHOP SUMMARY

Overall Themes

Responses From the Business Mixer Workshop

Question 1: What is View Royal doing well that helps the growth of your business?

Question 2: Are there any challenges, specific to View Royal, that are affecting your business?

Question 3: What can be improved in View Royal to facilitate economic growth?

NEXT STEPS