Announcement: "We are saddened to have to advise our readers that one of Oak Bay's outstanding citizens is no longer with us. Marion Cumming was such a stalwart and leaves an unmeasurable legacy to our community. She will be sorely missed.".
Oak Bay Watch worked closely with Marion on a number of Heritage issues. Marion introduced us to Eben Foder's book and concept "Better not Bigger: How to Take Control of Urban Growth and Improve your Community".
Newsletter August 6, 2022: Were you aware Council was moving this dramatic zoning change forward?
Approval of Oak Bay Council’s Single-Family Neighbourhood Secondary Suite Densification Initiative:
This is the first of a series of newsletters on the subject of single-family neighbourhood densification and how it relates to the community and housing affordability. They will include information provided by the academic community and many journalists that conflict with information the Development, Investor, Real Estate Industries and the Provincial and Federal Governments provide.
The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) recently recommended policies that included investments in public housing, mandatory inclusionary zoning and tying rent increases to units rather than individual tenancies, also known as vacancy control. They also stated: “Inclusionary zoning (if enacted) requires 10 to 20 per cent of new market housing developments to be affordable. It has proven successful in the U.S. and England, creating hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units, according to research from the government of Canada.”
The question is then why has this not happened in Canada? One answer, explained by a number of prominent journalists, is the BC provincial government, for the most part has “sat on its hands” as the saying goes while downloading the provision of affordable housing to Local Governments.
Another answer is that the Province believes they have the right to override local government development decisions. Perhaps they also do not want to upset the powerful Development Industries who have helped drive the economy by building and marketing housing as a domestic and foreign investment opportunity.
Although the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) have strongly pushed back against the Province, noting housing development is not a one size fits all issue. The UBCM made it clear they did not want Mr. Eby ”taking away housing development power from the citizens of municipalities.”. Oak Bay Council on the other hand has played along with their single-family densification initiatives. This is exactly what the Provincial Government wants. – a supply side solution on unaffordable serviced land.
In the last three Council terms, the “Citizen’s of Oak Bay” have had little influence on development in the District. However, if Council’s Secondary Suite Initiative is approved after the Public Meeting on September 8, 2022. It will have serious environmental and livability changing Impacts and implications.
There is no doubt that, if approved, this will create more high-rent accommodation in Oak Bay. Apartment rents in Victoria for a1-bedroom apartment currently range from $1,725 to $2,525 www.point2homes.com/ /CA/1-Bedroom-Apartments-For-Rent,
However, even some Council members have admitted that legalizing multi-tenant secondary suites in all single-family neighbourhoods will not provide affordability or ease the housing crises. It will, however, create a whole host of problems for residents.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective (more Important Information)
The Academic Community and Journalists have explained that the price of serviced land has been the main cause of the Housing crisis. It is also obvious to us that, if the same serviced land is repeatedly subdivided, the cost of that serviced land and the housing built on it , no matter how it is developed, will keep increasing.
Adding a secondary suite or infill unit will make the house even more unaffordable. The problem for the majority of taxpayers without a suite or infill is that Council expects them to finance the substantial, associated municipal costs.
It seems us that Oak Bay’s Council has followed the Provincial and Federal Government lead. The senior governments have allowed unrestricted development, marketing and investment on land serviced mainly by taxpayers, while failing to provide safeguards for Canadian residents.
Oak Bay Council, despite many resident requests over the years, has failed to stop the destruction of many of our more affordable homes and allowed them to be replaced by much bigger, more expensive and often disproportionate to the lot, houses.
Oak Bay Council has failed to apply adequate development charges for the many impacts new developments have and will result in. Council has not considered that secondary suite and infill development has proven to be very costly for taxpayers
Oak Bay Watch foresees, that If approved, the ability to combine basement suites with laneway houses and garden suites on existing single-family lots, will result in many more demolitions to make way for the expensive new dwellings. This has occurred elsewhere. Vancouver for example, has a demolition season.
This concept of clustering multiple rental units will clearly be attractive to corporate investors, domestic or off-shore.
Oak Bay Council has failed to prioritize the more acceptable, environmentally friendly and climate change beneficial development – i.e. allowing more density on transit routes as recommended by the Urban Development Institute and favoured by Oak bay Watch.
In short, the Provincial and Federal Governments, and Oak Bay Council have done little to protect their residents when it comes to housing. They have given the Development Industries far too much development leeway and profit that has mainly benefited on and off-shore investors.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Much more information will be provided ahead of the September 8, 2022 Secondary Suite Public Meeting. The Infill Resident Survey has been available since July 28, 2022. However, it was not announced in the District’s half-page July 28, 2022 Oak Bay News ad or on the main pages of the municipal website – although much less important issues were.
The Infill Resident Survey can be obtained by typing into your browser www.connect. oakbay.ca/infill or by going to the Districts website main page/municipal hall/ meetings and minutes/minutes and agendas - Curser down to https://oakbay,civicweb.net/ curser down to Infill Housing Strategy: Options for Oak Bay – click on View Project. The Resident Infill Survey ends on September 5, 2022, just after the summer holidays and when people are returning to work.
If you intend to fill out the Residential Infill Survey, we suggest you hold off. Oak Bay Watch will be providing information in a Special Infill Housing Bulletin shortly, information respondents may wish to consider.
“Nothing is inevitable if you are paying attention” Oak Bay Watch
Oak Bay Watch is a volunteer community association and its members have a variety of professional backgrounds in both the public and private sector.
*******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 and sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Oak Bay Watch worked closely with Marion on a number of Heritage issues. Marion introduced us to Eben Foder's book and concept "Better not Bigger: How to Take Control of Urban Growth and Improve your Community".
Newsletter August 6, 2022: Were you aware Council was moving this dramatic zoning change forward?
Approval of Oak Bay Council’s Single-Family Neighbourhood Secondary Suite Densification Initiative:
This is the first of a series of newsletters on the subject of single-family neighbourhood densification and how it relates to the community and housing affordability. They will include information provided by the academic community and many journalists that conflict with information the Development, Investor, Real Estate Industries and the Provincial and Federal Governments provide.
The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) recently recommended policies that included investments in public housing, mandatory inclusionary zoning and tying rent increases to units rather than individual tenancies, also known as vacancy control. They also stated: “Inclusionary zoning (if enacted) requires 10 to 20 per cent of new market housing developments to be affordable. It has proven successful in the U.S. and England, creating hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units, according to research from the government of Canada.”
The question is then why has this not happened in Canada? One answer, explained by a number of prominent journalists, is the BC provincial government, for the most part has “sat on its hands” as the saying goes while downloading the provision of affordable housing to Local Governments.
Another answer is that the Province believes they have the right to override local government development decisions. Perhaps they also do not want to upset the powerful Development Industries who have helped drive the economy by building and marketing housing as a domestic and foreign investment opportunity.
Although the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) have strongly pushed back against the Province, noting housing development is not a one size fits all issue. The UBCM made it clear they did not want Mr. Eby ”taking away housing development power from the citizens of municipalities.”. Oak Bay Council on the other hand has played along with their single-family densification initiatives. This is exactly what the Provincial Government wants. – a supply side solution on unaffordable serviced land.
In the last three Council terms, the “Citizen’s of Oak Bay” have had little influence on development in the District. However, if Council’s Secondary Suite Initiative is approved after the Public Meeting on September 8, 2022. It will have serious environmental and livability changing Impacts and implications.
There is no doubt that, if approved, this will create more high-rent accommodation in Oak Bay. Apartment rents in Victoria for a1-bedroom apartment currently range from $1,725 to $2,525 www.point2homes.com/ /CA/1-Bedroom-Apartments-For-Rent,
However, even some Council members have admitted that legalizing multi-tenant secondary suites in all single-family neighbourhoods will not provide affordability or ease the housing crises. It will, however, create a whole host of problems for residents.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective (more Important Information)
The Academic Community and Journalists have explained that the price of serviced land has been the main cause of the Housing crisis. It is also obvious to us that, if the same serviced land is repeatedly subdivided, the cost of that serviced land and the housing built on it , no matter how it is developed, will keep increasing.
Adding a secondary suite or infill unit will make the house even more unaffordable. The problem for the majority of taxpayers without a suite or infill is that Council expects them to finance the substantial, associated municipal costs.
It seems us that Oak Bay’s Council has followed the Provincial and Federal Government lead. The senior governments have allowed unrestricted development, marketing and investment on land serviced mainly by taxpayers, while failing to provide safeguards for Canadian residents.
Oak Bay Council, despite many resident requests over the years, has failed to stop the destruction of many of our more affordable homes and allowed them to be replaced by much bigger, more expensive and often disproportionate to the lot, houses.
Oak Bay Council has failed to apply adequate development charges for the many impacts new developments have and will result in. Council has not considered that secondary suite and infill development has proven to be very costly for taxpayers
Oak Bay Watch foresees, that If approved, the ability to combine basement suites with laneway houses and garden suites on existing single-family lots, will result in many more demolitions to make way for the expensive new dwellings. This has occurred elsewhere. Vancouver for example, has a demolition season.
This concept of clustering multiple rental units will clearly be attractive to corporate investors, domestic or off-shore.
Oak Bay Council has failed to prioritize the more acceptable, environmentally friendly and climate change beneficial development – i.e. allowing more density on transit routes as recommended by the Urban Development Institute and favoured by Oak bay Watch.
In short, the Provincial and Federal Governments, and Oak Bay Council have done little to protect their residents when it comes to housing. They have given the Development Industries far too much development leeway and profit that has mainly benefited on and off-shore investors.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Much more information will be provided ahead of the September 8, 2022 Secondary Suite Public Meeting. The Infill Resident Survey has been available since July 28, 2022. However, it was not announced in the District’s half-page July 28, 2022 Oak Bay News ad or on the main pages of the municipal website – although much less important issues were.
The Infill Resident Survey can be obtained by typing into your browser www.connect. oakbay.ca/infill or by going to the Districts website main page/municipal hall/ meetings and minutes/minutes and agendas - Curser down to https://oakbay,civicweb.net/ curser down to Infill Housing Strategy: Options for Oak Bay – click on View Project. The Resident Infill Survey ends on September 5, 2022, just after the summer holidays and when people are returning to work.
If you intend to fill out the Residential Infill Survey, we suggest you hold off. Oak Bay Watch will be providing information in a Special Infill Housing Bulletin shortly, information respondents may wish to consider.
“Nothing is inevitable if you are paying attention” Oak Bay Watch
Oak Bay Watch is a volunteer community association and its members have a variety of professional backgrounds in both the public and private sector.
*******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 and sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.