MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023

January 16, 2024Pages 20–242 sections

Official record of the public hearing regarding Rezoning Application No. 2023-01 for 339, 341 and 345 Island Highway.

3.b) Minutes of the Public Hearing held December 5, 2023

December 5, 20237:00 p.m. start8:35 p.m. terminationSubject: 339, 341 and 345 Island Highway

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023 VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE - COUNCIL CHAMBERS

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

PRESENT ALSO: S. Jones, Acting Chief Administrative Officer/Director of Corporate Administration L. Taylor, Director of Development Services I. Leung, Director of Engineering S. Vella, Manager of Accounting S. Scory, Community Planner B. Cameron, Bylaw Enforcement Officer E. Bolster, Deputy Corporate Officer

34 members of the public 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Tobias called the Public Hearing to order at 7:00 p.m.

The Mayor acknowledged that the meeting is being held on the traditional territory of the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the agenda be amended to include items 5. a) 4.d) – g); AND THAT the agenda be approved as amended.

CARRIED

3. PUBLIC HEARING

a) Statement of Public Hearing Procedure Mayor Tobias made a brief statement regarding the procedures for public hearings.

b) Statement of Publication of Public Hearing The Community Planner advised that the notice that advertised this Public Hearing was posted on the notice board at Town Hall on November 22, 2023. The notice was also advertised in two issues of a newspaper being the Times Colonist on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 and Wednesday, November 29, 2023. A total of approximately 603 notices were mailed on November 22, 2023 to owners and residents of land located within a 400 metre radius of the subject property.

4. REPORTS

4.1 STAFF REPORTS

a) Rezoning Application No. 2023-01 for 339, 341 and 345 Island Highway

Report dated November 28, 2023 from the Community Planner

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT the report dated November 28, 2023 from the Community Planner titled “Rezoning Application No. 2023-01 for 339, 341 and 345 Island Highway” be received for information.

4.2 OTHER REPORTS

5. BYLAWS FOR CONSIDERATION

a) Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1128, 2023 A Bylaw to Amend the Zoning Bylaw with Respect to Rezoning of 339, 341 and 345 Island Highway

1. Comments from Municipal Staff

Council and staff discussed that the proposed zoning is consistent with the current Official Community Plan designation, timing of building permit application vis a vis Zero Carbon Step Code level required, and installation of a signalized crosswalk.

The Director of Engineering discussed commuter and site-specific traffic. He stated commuters would likely not short-cut through the neighbourhood as the route would be twice as long as remaining on Island Highway. Site residents will primarily leave the development and go down the short distance on Prince Robert Drive to Island Highway. Monitoring in the area could take place and Council could consider the use of community amenity contributions for traffic calming measures in the area. A report on speed limit reductions in residential areas is currently being prepared by staff.

The Director of Development Services noted that the applicant, D. Foord, has indicated below market units will not be financially feasible given the costs to construct a signalized intersection and the over $900,000 community amenity contribution to be provided.

2. Comments from the Applicant

D. Foord, Invictus, introduced members of his team to Council.

Mr. Foord noted in addition to the Town’s 400m radius notification, they also delivered notices to residents within a 400m radius and over the course of the project’s inception, have held five neighbourhood consultation meetings.

J. Kay, Town Square, and R. Whetter, DHK Architects, gave a presentation to Council regarding the rezoning application, specifically:

community engagement;
planning process and timeline;
public benefits from the development including OCP implementation, housing, tenant support plan, environment and livability, transportation, and economic;
potential uses of DCCs and CACs;
changes informed by feedback;
tree preservation;
site coverage;
building massing and height; and
site plan and anticipated architectural style.

D. Foord noted that, from his understanding, tenants had been notified regarding community and Town Hall meetings, and regarding tenant concerns, he will be contacting the property management company for further clarification noting that a tenant relocation coordinator has been hired.

Council and the applicant discussed the potential construction start date of July 2024, possible rental rates, and the affordable housing context vis a vis site coverage.

3. Comments from the Public

a) J. Devonshire, View Royal Climate Coalition, spoke to Council regarding the need for this development to be zero carbon to support the Town’s and its residents’ goals.

b) Resident, 345 Island Highway, spoke to Council stating her concerns with the existing property management company.

c) S. Brown, Bessborough Avenue, spoke to Council in support of the application and noted additional housing is required. She stated a potential concern for cut-through traffic, parking, and a desire for transit capacity improvements.

d) M. Dalzell, Prince Robert Drive, spoke to Council regarding community engagement, tenant relocation, and parking. She expressed pleasure for the tree preservation identified on the plans.

e) S. Presho, Pallisier Avenue, spoke to Council regarding proposed building height, and need for affordable housing.

f) B. MacDonnell, Prince Robert Drive, spoke to Council regarding community engagement, installation of a fence and cedar hedge for privacy, left turn movements, and installation of an intersection and sidewalk.

g) D. Wilson, View Royal Avenue, spoke to Council regarding lack of timely information provided to the public, implementation of Step Code 3, what constitutes an amenity, increase in local traffic, and need for traffic calming measures.

h) D. Frewing, View Royal Avenue, noted her opposition to the application, stating the proposed development is too dense and additional rental housing is not required. She stated her concerns regarding an increase in “rat-running” and asked if any archeological work was or will be done on the site.

i) D. Ridout, Burnett Road, spoke to Council regarding an increase in traffic, affordable housing, impact to fire services, and an increase in property taxes.

j) L. Nye, Gibraltar Bay Drive, via Microsoft Teams Chat, questioned traffic management and whether the proposed development would be rental or owner occupied.

k) H. Cairns, Prince Robert Drive, stated neighbourhood impacts should be resolved prior to rezoning. She noted Island Highway is congested at this location. She indicated support for this kind of development in the area, but stated the Official Community Plan review engagement should be undertaken.

4. Correspondence

a) Email dated November 24, 2023 from C. Baur, Re: Rezoning Application for 339, 341 and 345 Island Highway