Newsletter November 12, 2022 - Climate Change: What Climate Change and new Council's Decisions?
Alan More once wrote: “People should not be afraid of their Government: their government should be afraid of their people.” Obviously this was not apparent to the many BC mayors and incumbent Councillors who weren’t re-elected in the recent civic election. According to media reports their ouster was considered a very clear anti-development message.
Let’s see how this plays out with Oak Bay’s new Council
Most of the elected Councillors indicated that housing is a top priority and its difficult to quarrel with that. However, what this will look like is the question. There has already been a lot of unwanted development approvals and development proposals in recent council terms. Is it this Council’s Plan to pass liberal single-family, infill zoning legislation, bring back the proposed Oak Bay Avenue 14 plex on a single-family lot or over-densify Oak Bay’s hallmark single-family neighbourhoods?
Oak Bay’s previous CAO had planning credentials and three new planning positions were added to the Planning Department in the last seven years. However, all we have to show for all this planning expertise and exceptional salaries is a lot of overbuilt lots, significant tree loss, the associated environmental damage, and much more pressure on our hundred-year- old infrastructure. This is without mentioning basement suite legislation and the proposed infill legislation.
Residents, in a variety of ways, have made it known to Councils that this is not acceptable. The majority of residents realize they have to pay the bills for the additional administrative staffing and the development impacts, while others reap the benefit of their mega-houses and infill rental income.
Advocating climate change mitigation and striking a climate change working group is not much good if Council’s zoning decisions add much more commuter traffic, continue to destroy so many trees and natural soil filter systems.
It’s difficult to understand how Oak Bay Councils have failed to comprehend that over-building lots with multi million dollar homes, subdividing expensive land, while enriching developers, will not provide affordable housing with rents and housing prices at record levels. There is sufficient evidence to show this has not been a success story in any other community.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
Our concern, and what every Oak Bay resident’s concern should be, is that the fate of Oak Bay hangs in the balance. This will depend on the densification development decisions that the new Council will approve. History will dictate what the last three Councils and Mayor’s legacy will be. This will not bode well in light of the last minute housing decisions of the previous council (September/ October 2022). They legalized multi-tenant basement suites and endorsed an Infill Consultant’s Strategy Report that in part stated,
“Round 3: Survey responses show support for this proposed (zoning) change at 74%.
“Proposed Zoning Change:
• reductions in side yard, front yard, and rear yard setbacks;
• increases to permitted FAR (Floor Area Ratio)
• greater lot coverage and,
• increasing the percentage of permitted paved area.”
Council had previously discussed that infill would only be permitted on large lots. Excessive infill will not mitigate but, only increase the effects of climate change. The Infill Strategy Report used a finding from an infill survey highly criticized for being skewed to suggest 3/4 of the community supports even more unwanted lot coverage - this is at best untrustworthy.
It is obvious that the consultants were not aware of the many resident concerns and protests to councils over the years, about over-development and excessive lot coverage - or they just chose to ignore it.
With the same four single-family densification votes still on Council and the two new Councillors, who have indicated they favour the provincial government’s supply- side housing crisis solution, it seems to us a positive outcome is unlikely. It also appears the Times Colonist May 2022 got it right (See Appendix #1)
It is already the norm for a two traffic-light wait to get in and out of Oak Bay during rush hour and often at other times. With the present parking conditions limiting traffic to one lane on many streets, the formidable infrastructure deficit and bust pipes a frequent occurrence, only time will tell what happens next.
-----------------------------------------------------------
“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.
Appendix #1
Alan More once wrote: “People should not be afraid of their Government: their government should be afraid of their people.” Obviously this was not apparent to the many BC mayors and incumbent Councillors who weren’t re-elected in the recent civic election. According to media reports their ouster was considered a very clear anti-development message.
Let’s see how this plays out with Oak Bay’s new Council
Most of the elected Councillors indicated that housing is a top priority and its difficult to quarrel with that. However, what this will look like is the question. There has already been a lot of unwanted development approvals and development proposals in recent council terms. Is it this Council’s Plan to pass liberal single-family, infill zoning legislation, bring back the proposed Oak Bay Avenue 14 plex on a single-family lot or over-densify Oak Bay’s hallmark single-family neighbourhoods?
Oak Bay’s previous CAO had planning credentials and three new planning positions were added to the Planning Department in the last seven years. However, all we have to show for all this planning expertise and exceptional salaries is a lot of overbuilt lots, significant tree loss, the associated environmental damage, and much more pressure on our hundred-year- old infrastructure. This is without mentioning basement suite legislation and the proposed infill legislation.
Residents, in a variety of ways, have made it known to Councils that this is not acceptable. The majority of residents realize they have to pay the bills for the additional administrative staffing and the development impacts, while others reap the benefit of their mega-houses and infill rental income.
Advocating climate change mitigation and striking a climate change working group is not much good if Council’s zoning decisions add much more commuter traffic, continue to destroy so many trees and natural soil filter systems.
It’s difficult to understand how Oak Bay Councils have failed to comprehend that over-building lots with multi million dollar homes, subdividing expensive land, while enriching developers, will not provide affordable housing with rents and housing prices at record levels. There is sufficient evidence to show this has not been a success story in any other community.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
Our concern, and what every Oak Bay resident’s concern should be, is that the fate of Oak Bay hangs in the balance. This will depend on the densification development decisions that the new Council will approve. History will dictate what the last three Councils and Mayor’s legacy will be. This will not bode well in light of the last minute housing decisions of the previous council (September/ October 2022). They legalized multi-tenant basement suites and endorsed an Infill Consultant’s Strategy Report that in part stated,
“Round 3: Survey responses show support for this proposed (zoning) change at 74%.
“Proposed Zoning Change:
• reductions in side yard, front yard, and rear yard setbacks;
• increases to permitted FAR (Floor Area Ratio)
• greater lot coverage and,
• increasing the percentage of permitted paved area.”
Council had previously discussed that infill would only be permitted on large lots. Excessive infill will not mitigate but, only increase the effects of climate change. The Infill Strategy Report used a finding from an infill survey highly criticized for being skewed to suggest 3/4 of the community supports even more unwanted lot coverage - this is at best untrustworthy.
It is obvious that the consultants were not aware of the many resident concerns and protests to councils over the years, about over-development and excessive lot coverage - or they just chose to ignore it.
With the same four single-family densification votes still on Council and the two new Councillors, who have indicated they favour the provincial government’s supply- side housing crisis solution, it seems to us a positive outcome is unlikely. It also appears the Times Colonist May 2022 got it right (See Appendix #1)
It is already the norm for a two traffic-light wait to get in and out of Oak Bay during rush hour and often at other times. With the present parking conditions limiting traffic to one lane on many streets, the formidable infrastructure deficit and bust pipes a frequent occurrence, only time will tell what happens next.
-----------------------------------------------------------
“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.
Appendix #1
