After final tweaks from council, a “transformative” rezoning proposal for two blocks of Victoria’s waterfront is moving toward a public hearing.
At its committee meeting Thursday (May 22), council approved sending the Official Community Plan amendment and rezoning application for land at 824, 1900, 1907, 1908, 1924 and 2010 Store St., and 530 Chatham St., back to staff to prepare bylaws for first and second readings – paving the way to set a public hearing date.
During discussion, council tasked staff with having the applicant explore several enhancements, including a stronger commitment to green roofs, rain gardens, stormwater treatment and retention areas, as well as permeable paving. Council also requested more specific design criteria to support shoreline restoration; limit construction over water structures and vertical walls; incorporate marine concrete products that support habitat; and ensure piles are not made of creosote-treated wood.
Staff will also ask the applicant to commit to urban site certification through Salmon Safe BC, and to include educational and interactive features – like signage and viewing areas – along the public pathway.
Since the application is for rezoning only, council required the anticipated development permit application to meet the family housing policy: more than 50 per cent of the floor area must be residential use.
Coun. Krista Loughton also asked the proponent to explore a way to reference pre-contact uses, specifically by the Songhees and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations who inhabited the area. The pre-colonial history is referenced in the application, noting that the area was used as a visiting camp to welcome other nations to trade with settlers and merchants at Fort Victoria. The practice ended around 1860 when a smallpox epidemic affected visiting groups.
“It’s important we do this, or at least consider it,” Loughton said.
Coun. Jeremy Caradonna, who made the motion to push it to the next phase of bylaw creation, echoed the sentiment shared around the table.
“I really think this is a transformative proposal for Victoria,” Caradonna said, crediting the creativity of balancing light industrial, commercial and residential land uses. “We have to remember this is a working harbour.
“We’ve seen other parts of Victoria where it works really well. … This is an indication of what Victoria might look like in the future, this more dense, mixed land use.”
The development would pull energy to that part of town, a sentiment shared by several on council, including Mayor Marianne Alto.
While dismayed at the lowering of green roof spaces offered in the latest iteration, she noted the long-term proposal would provide quality of life opportunities with a “fascinating creation” of a new neighbourhood while nurturing light industry.
Alto also voiced hope they would revisit the concept of committing to a water feature, originally proposed, to treat stormwater prior to discharge into the harbour.
In the works for several years, the proposal is dubbed the Capital Culture District, known colloquially as the Capital Iron site in lower Rock Bay, and includes public pathways, a plaza, a square, plus space for a gallery.
Coun. Dave Thompson voiced concern about adding negotiations at this stage of the application.
“I am looking forward to getting this to public hearing,” he said, noting he looks forward to hearing more from residents.
Public hearing would provide another way for residents to weigh in on the proposal, available through the development tracker at victoria.ca.
“Remarkably, out of just shy of 1,000 notifications mailed out, there were only six responses received, and they were split down the middle,” Loughton said during the meeting. “Based on my inbox, it seems there is strong support for this project.”
