Where is Oak Bay’s Heritage Really Headed?
Much has been said about “preserving" Oak Bay, how desirable we are, how fortunate we are to live here etc. Political candidates tell us to not worry we have preservation covered, the Official Community Plan wallows in it, many Councillors, even pro-development Councillors (and we have had our fill of those in recent years) preface many of their density decisions and resolutions with, “while maintaining Oak Bay’s character” rhetoric. However, when push comes to shove more often than not, Oak Bay’s all-inclusive Heritage is abandoned.
Such is the curious case of the Heritage subdivision, slated for 602 Newport Lane and already at the Public Meeting (rubber-stamp?) stage. Another Alice’s white rabbit, “No time to say hello goodbye, let’s approve this as is”. Remember the Bowker: no time to back up, take a deep breath, collaborate with dissenting Council members, and most of the neighbours who showed up at Council, many after a day’s work, and see how we could come to an acceptable agreement.
However, the 602 Newport Lane proposal stands out because it personifies, i.e. embodies a quality concept for the whole community. Are we going to continue to save the odd old, worth-saving house saying we have preserved our heritage or, are we going to get serious and save a glorious lane, just one of our many greenways, laneways and pathways that makes Oak Bay stand out? This is not to say the York Place Conservation Area is not commendable however, it applies to only a small number of houses
Neighbour negotiations (IF this had been an option provided by Planning) could have been directed toward scaling back the big laneway new-lot house so it fit in or was obscured. Or perhaps allowed dividing the big Heritage house into two units – this could easily be the next spot zoning “housing options needed” request.
Could not our greatly expanded Planning Department have done this spontaneously and do what Council originally hired a planner to do - not just site inspect and recommend almost every development with their catch phrase, “this application is supportable”. A “negotiated compromise” would in all likelihood provide the developer and realtor with just about the same profit.
Do residents want to:·
* Save a few old houses (many not even on the Heritage register) by using a development Heritage Restoration Subdivision process OR
* Save our streetscapes, laneways, parkways, greenways and the look and feel of Oak Bay
that is attracting so much attention
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
Every so often a prominent Oak Bay resident shows up at Council on appropriate occasions, and makes the case for designating all of Oak Bay as a heritage conservation area. He is an environmental and heritage advocate and bases his proposal on Oak Bay’s uniqueness and standing as a community in Canada, its connection with the environment, and presumably Council member’s stated primary objective of sustaining Oak Bay`s single-family neighbourhood character and conserving the community’s architectural, streetscape and garden heritage.
There are so many unanswered questions about this Newport Development Subdivision Application: Is it a misuse of Heritage Restoration Agreements that New Westminster’s policy points out must be avoided; Will it start a “gold rush” as it is just splitting a lot and labeling it a subdivision? (note: Oak Bay has many lots with old houses on them); what is the Developers sudden interest and concern about heritage?; why not register it as heritage long before this?; why the conflict between the developer’s public consultation version of majority, neighbour enthusiasm about the development and so many residents showing up at Council in opposition?
As stated above, the District can negatively impact streetscapes to save an old house and give away density, on the other hand demolition after demolition occurs. Homes are replaced by a large percentage of big rural sub-division like, similar looking, limited setback and garden space houses. Is this really what Council wants their legacy to be and our heritage to look like? (See Appendix #2 for an interesting real estate perspective.)
When we reflect on providing community-wide Heritage coverage, this does not mean there will not be the zoning flexibility for residents to renovate their home or raise and enlarge it to fit the streetscape. It does mean our Community will remain Oak Bay, homes will fit in and be proportional to their lots, and the common good of the Community will be served.
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*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed please sign up for our “based on facts” newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Appendix #1
The following post was published in 2017 by a major Real Estate Company. The past Council 4-3 majority were promoting Infill in Development in Oak Bays single-family neighbourhoods. explains what occurred in the United States after the 2007/ 2008 Economic Downturn. The Communities that kept their desirability and heritage maintained their property values, those that didn't dropped significantly in the selling price.
Much has been said about “preserving" Oak Bay, how desirable we are, how fortunate we are to live here etc. Political candidates tell us to not worry we have preservation covered, the Official Community Plan wallows in it, many Councillors, even pro-development Councillors (and we have had our fill of those in recent years) preface many of their density decisions and resolutions with, “while maintaining Oak Bay’s character” rhetoric. However, when push comes to shove more often than not, Oak Bay’s all-inclusive Heritage is abandoned.
Such is the curious case of the Heritage subdivision, slated for 602 Newport Lane and already at the Public Meeting (rubber-stamp?) stage. Another Alice’s white rabbit, “No time to say hello goodbye, let’s approve this as is”. Remember the Bowker: no time to back up, take a deep breath, collaborate with dissenting Council members, and most of the neighbours who showed up at Council, many after a day’s work, and see how we could come to an acceptable agreement.
However, the 602 Newport Lane proposal stands out because it personifies, i.e. embodies a quality concept for the whole community. Are we going to continue to save the odd old, worth-saving house saying we have preserved our heritage or, are we going to get serious and save a glorious lane, just one of our many greenways, laneways and pathways that makes Oak Bay stand out? This is not to say the York Place Conservation Area is not commendable however, it applies to only a small number of houses
Neighbour negotiations (IF this had been an option provided by Planning) could have been directed toward scaling back the big laneway new-lot house so it fit in or was obscured. Or perhaps allowed dividing the big Heritage house into two units – this could easily be the next spot zoning “housing options needed” request.
Could not our greatly expanded Planning Department have done this spontaneously and do what Council originally hired a planner to do - not just site inspect and recommend almost every development with their catch phrase, “this application is supportable”. A “negotiated compromise” would in all likelihood provide the developer and realtor with just about the same profit.
Do residents want to:·
* Save a few old houses (many not even on the Heritage register) by using a development Heritage Restoration Subdivision process OR
* Save our streetscapes, laneways, parkways, greenways and the look and feel of Oak Bay
that is attracting so much attention
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
Every so often a prominent Oak Bay resident shows up at Council on appropriate occasions, and makes the case for designating all of Oak Bay as a heritage conservation area. He is an environmental and heritage advocate and bases his proposal on Oak Bay’s uniqueness and standing as a community in Canada, its connection with the environment, and presumably Council member’s stated primary objective of sustaining Oak Bay`s single-family neighbourhood character and conserving the community’s architectural, streetscape and garden heritage.
There are so many unanswered questions about this Newport Development Subdivision Application: Is it a misuse of Heritage Restoration Agreements that New Westminster’s policy points out must be avoided; Will it start a “gold rush” as it is just splitting a lot and labeling it a subdivision? (note: Oak Bay has many lots with old houses on them); what is the Developers sudden interest and concern about heritage?; why not register it as heritage long before this?; why the conflict between the developer’s public consultation version of majority, neighbour enthusiasm about the development and so many residents showing up at Council in opposition?
As stated above, the District can negatively impact streetscapes to save an old house and give away density, on the other hand demolition after demolition occurs. Homes are replaced by a large percentage of big rural sub-division like, similar looking, limited setback and garden space houses. Is this really what Council wants their legacy to be and our heritage to look like? (See Appendix #2 for an interesting real estate perspective.)
When we reflect on providing community-wide Heritage coverage, this does not mean there will not be the zoning flexibility for residents to renovate their home or raise and enlarge it to fit the streetscape. It does mean our Community will remain Oak Bay, homes will fit in and be proportional to their lots, and the common good of the Community will be served.
------------------------------------------------
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed please sign up for our “based on facts” newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Appendix #1
The following post was published in 2017 by a major Real Estate Company. The past Council 4-3 majority were promoting Infill in Development in Oak Bays single-family neighbourhoods. explains what occurred in the United States after the 2007/ 2008 Economic Downturn. The Communities that kept their desirability and heritage maintained their property values, those that didn't dropped significantly in the selling price.
