Concerns about a proposed triplex drew a crowd to Oak Bay's council chambers Monday night (Jan. 27).
Following more than two hours of discussion, council rejected staff's recommendation and voted to deny a developer's request to replace a single-family home on St. Patrick Street with a three-story triplex. Kahlon Developments was told to return to council with a new application that meets Oak Bay's current residential building regulations.
The variance application sought to increase the residential building height to 9.31 metres from the 8.5 metres allowed and halve its three-metre interior side-lot-line setback regulations – the distance between the building and the property's edge.
“The proposed variance to building height is being requested to allow sufficient living space on the upper floors to create family-oriented three-bedroom units,” reads the application. “The proposed reduction of the ... setback requirement ... serves merely to bring the upper storeys of the building in line with the ground floor."
Several meeting attendees expressed concerns about the effect the building could have on the neighbourhood’s character.
“It was not easy to purchase in Oak Bay – it was with sacrifice, and we’ve worked really hard because we wanted a specific neighbourhood,” said Desiree Bukowski. “We wanted breathing space. We didn’t want to be suffocated by an apartment building next door to us or a large complex next door to us.”
Others conveyed worries about the building’s appearance.
“It’s a diabolical-looking build,” said Sally Hubbard, another Oak Bay resident. “I used to live in Saudi Arabia. It looks like ... an abode. Very few windows – just a big box. This isn’t Saudi Arabia, and I don’t want to live there again.”
While other residents spoke about privacy, shade and parking, a few argued the proposed triplex is too big for the St. Patrick Street lot, which prompted a response from Brian Green, Oak Bay’s deputy director of community building and planning services.
“The proposed lot coverage is 29 per cent and the bylaw allows 30 per cent, so they are under the maximum lot coverage requirement,” he said.
The applicant, Chunpreet Hayre, attended the meeting and said the building's designers had taken several steps to work within Oak Bay's current regulations.
“There were many, many different design aspects that we took a look at," he added. "I try to avoid the variances as much as possible."
For example, Hayre noted that lowering the building into the ground would help the triplex meet current height regulations, but installing retaining walls to do so would increase the price of the units.
"That’s going to be added onto the buyers," he said. "We’re trying to do it in a way that can minimize it but also offer the best product.”
Oak Bay's mayor Kevin Murdoch encouraged Hayre to bring the proposal back to council.
"With some nuance, I think it could have a lot of support at this table,” he said.
