The rezoning and official community plan (OCP) amendment for a 21-storey residential building in Esquimalt is poised for final adoption following a public hearing on Monday, July 7.
At the meeting, around a dozen residents shared their opinion on the project, which would offer 335 units, 242 parking spaces, 413 residential bike parking spaces, an 18,500 square-foot public park and 2,500 square feet of retail space.
Most residents who spoke were opposed to the project – voicing concerns with the height, lack of parking, accessibility issues, affordability of the building, and the evictions of the tenants in the two buildings that would be demolished to make way for the development.
Dan McDonald, the executive director of the Nelson Street Tenants Association and a 13-year resident of one of the current buildings on the lot, shared his concerns with safety in terms of access for emergency services, and the view preservation for township residents.
"Height limits preserve the neighbourhood character. This building will clash with the look and feel of the low and medium-rise suburban neighbourhood," he said.
He also rejected the developers' contention that the current buildings are beyond their service lives, saying that 30 per cent of B.C. residential buildings are over 50 years old, and are serviceable, as there is less weather impact in the region
"The landlord is no longer maintaining these buildings. There was a fire on the second floor of the Nelson [Street] building several months ago, (and) the landlord is not renovating or renting those suites. This negligence is creating the problem, not the age of the building," he added.
Kathleen McCallum, who has lived in one of the buildings for 30 years, shared that she was concerned with the height of the building, adding that it could be detrimental to birds, as millions of birds die from window strikes every year.
"I am concerned about the safety and accessibility, and livability in the new building being proposed. How would we evacuate safely if there was a fire or other sort of hazard, [which] has happened in our area, like gas leaks and things like that have happened in the past, and trying to evacuate a 21-storey building is a little more complicated than a four-storey building," she told the council.
Virginia Holden, CEO of the Greater Victoria Housing Society, explained that the building could benefit the community amid an ongoing housing crisis across the nation
"Our organization sees and hears every day from applicants looking for more rental options in the community, especially for families. Our staff works tirelessly to meet the community's growing needs, but we can't do it alone. We need all players in the non-market and market housing sectors to create more supply, to meet this demand and provide more options [for] local households to be able to choose from," she said.
Council members all agreed that it was tough decision, especially after hearing from the current tenants who are being evicted, though the developer, Intracorp Homes, noted that under the township's tenant assistance policy, around 50 per cent of the current tenants have found housing, with more expected.
"This is a really challenging development because of the absolutely daunting task of relocating, and how many people are being relocated," said Mayor Barbara Desjardins.
She said she has questioned the feasibility of other possibilities for the site, but heard there are challenges with the existing buildings and bringing them up to current building standards.
"It's not financially viable to do that," she said.
Council wrestled with the application, sharing their concerns – namely the height, parking and amenities – and what they were happy with, like the half-acre public park, the bike parking, the commercial space and the density.
"[We could] make this area its own little neighbourhood," said Desjardins.
With an amendment put forward by Coun. Tim Morrison to protect the amenity spaces in the covenant, the third reading of the rezoning application and the OCP amendment passed with Coun. Andrea Boardman opposed. Final adoption will likely come at a later council meeting.
