Island Highway and Helmcken Road Transit Corridor Classification
A staff report recommending that the Town confirm to BC Transit that the transit service classifications for Island Highway and Helmcken Road remain as 'frequent transit' classifications.
Standing Committee on Housing Minutes
April 5, 2024
- Land subject to tsunami and sea level rise hazards identified in the Capital Regional District (CRD) Coastal Flood Inundation Mapping Project
- Provincial exemptions include large lots and lots within Transit Oriented Areas
Potential extensions – public safety in underserviced areas
- Mapping of areas for extensions is requested, identifying areas where master plans for services need to be updated and where there are no sidewalks
- Storm and sanitary sewer capacity
- Staff noted that:
- The changes will not bring immediate capacity issues, but long-term capital plans may be accelerated.
- There are mainly two areas in the Town that are at capacity for sanitary sewers. One of the areas is outside of the Town’s control and dependent on the timing of the CRD Shoreline Trunk upgrades (2-5 years, although sanitary sewer flow reduction techniques could be applied to allow development: this is not preferred by the Engineering Department). The other area will be addressed as part of the Town’s Development Cost Charges (DCC) program with expected commencement in 1-2 years.
- Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw No. 985 requires that there be no change between pre and post development storm water flows for the minor event. This requirement would continue to be the case for all developments, including ones identified as small scale, multi-unit housing (SSMUH).
- Rationale for extensions should be based on reports already done or identify which reports and plans require updating. Drainage and Sanitary plans were identified by staff as being updated in the near term.
- Staff noted that:
- On street parking and pedestrian accessibility concerns
- Pedestrian safety, in particular in areas with narrow roads and no sidewalks, was discussed
- Loss of boulevard trees
- Access for emergency and garbage/recycling vehicles
- Additional costs to enclose roadside ditches if road widening
- Potential for upgrades in road class as a result of local and regional growth
- Staff noted that:
- Off street parking regulations, parking requirements in accordance to the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw No. 985, and safety considerations will continue to apply when determining off street parking requirements in areas outside of Transit Oriented Areas.
- Sidewalks do have taxation implications due to the need to maintain and replace these amenities. As a result, implementing sidewalks on all roads would have significant capital and taxation costs; staff indicated that this should be taken into consideration when determining whether sidewalks should be installed on roadways that are not warranted in accordance with current bylaws (for example, rural roadways).
Development Cost Charges
- Staff noted that following amendments to the Official Community Plan, Council should commission updates to the Transportation Master Plan and Development Cost Charges Bylaw to ensure that growth related upgrades are at the cost of the developers.
- It should be noted how much development has occurred.
- Information should be provided in bite-sized increments to assist decision making.
6. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
7. REPORTS
8. CORRESPONDENCE
9. NEW BUSINESS
- Next meeting proposed for April 19, 2024.
10. TERMINATION
MOVED BY: D. Wilson SECONDED BY: C. Walker
THAT this meeting now terminate at 5:50 p.m.
CARRIED
Letter from the Minister of Housing
Ref: 66408 April 10, 2024
His Worship Sid Tobias Mayor of the Town of View Royal Email: mayortobias@viewroyal.ca
Dear Mayor Sid Tobias:
RE: Notification of the Town of View Royal Selection for Housing Targets Assessment
I am writing to notify you that the Town of View Royal has been selected as part of the next cohort of municipalities prioritized for housing targets.
Municipalities across the province have recently taken steps to increase housing supply; however, more action is needed to respond to current unmet need and forecasted demand. The Housing Targets Program is designed to strengthen the relationship between the Province and municipalities to increase housing supply across BC. We want to work together to identify opportunities, challenges and develop solutions that result in more housing being built, as well as collecting better data to inform policy development.
About the Housing Supply Act (Act)
The Act was brought into force by Regulation on May 31, 2023, and gives the Province authority to set housing targets in consultation with specified municipalities (identified in Regulation) and to monitor municipalities’ actions and progress toward meeting those targets.
The Program is being implemented in a phased approach, with cohorts of municipalities being issued Housing Target Orders approximately every four to six months until all listed communities receive targets. Municipalities are prioritized based on an empirical index of housing availability, affordability, urgent housing need and rural/urban location.
About Municipal Consultation
We anticipate holding three meetings from approximately late-May through June to validate the housing needs, review housing targets and reporting requirements. Once the Town of View Royal receives the proposed Housing Target Order (anticipated after the first meeting), you will have 30 days to respond and provide written comments before the Order comes into effect. There will be frequent opportunities for engagement throughout each stage of the program.
As guided by the Declaration Act, provincial consultation with Indigenous Peoples will occur concurrently with municipal consultation to ensure Indigenous interests are considered in the analysis of housing needs and setting targets.
Next Steps
The Province will issue a news release announcing the next 20 municipalities on April 23, 2024. Please provide the name and contact information of a senior planning staff member (or designate) no later than Friday, April 19, 2024 to email: housing.targets@gov.bc.ca. Housing Targets Branch staff will coordinate with this contact to schedule the series of meetings. Please see the attached What to Expect: Housing Targets Consultation primer for background and an overview of the process.
Follow up questions can be sent to Matthew Pawlow at: matthew.pawlow@gov.bc.ca or by telephone: 778-405-9403.
We look forward to working with the Town of View Royal on our shared interests to build more much needed housing in the months and years ahead.
Sincerely,
Ravi Kahlon Minister of Housing
Attachment
pc: Scott Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer (ssommerville@viewroyal.ca)
Links
Housing Supply Act https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/bills/billsprevious/3rd42nd:gov43-1
Housing Supply Regulation https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/crbc/crbc/133_2023
Selection Index https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Selection_Index_Indicators.pdf
News Release: Housing Target Orders and Methodology https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0123-001505
Letter from Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission
9, April, 2024
Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Avenue View Royal, BC V9B 1A6
Dear Mayor Tobias and Council,
On behalf of the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission, I send our sincere appreciation for your support and investment. Your backing helps market a local film industry that brings creative sector jobs and millions of dollars in direct spending to the local economy every year. As a municipal funder, your support allows us to position the CRD as an international filming location and attract major film and television productions to View Royal and the south island every year.
The film commission helps create jobs for local film crew who live in View Royal. Film dollars spent by domestic and foreign productions support a wide range of businesses in the District and throughout the CRD, including accommodations; airlines; vehicle and equipment rentals; taxis; private locations; parking facilities; restaurants; caterers; print services, and so much more.
In 2023, the Film Commission’s productions services team: serviced more than 38 productions, delivered 20 script breakdowns to producers and trained more than 50 new Production Assistants through Camosun College’s ProSIT Microcredential Program. Taking advantage of the downtime during 2 labour strikes, our team also increased the registered locations assets in ReelScout, the digital locations library to 2541, and updated our service directory to include over 1350 crew members and over 200 local businesses and services, including adding 2 new Post-Production facilities and several new catering companies to our Production Services Directory. We hosted events with over 100 members in attendance, including our Summer Mixer. We also reached out to more education institutions than ever before, presenting at several Career Fairs, including the School District 61 event at Archie Browning Centre, as well as at Camosun College and U Vic.
We know that View Royal hosted the Hulu series, Under the Bridge, premiering in the US this month (Canadian air dates, still unknown at the time of this writing). We would like to thank you again for hosting this production and for continuing to be film friendly!
Your continued partnership will help develop this thriving industry to its full potential, by promoting our locations, crew, talent, and business community in the global marketplace.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Gilbert, Film Commissioner
Document Images
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