It appears the relentless march of so-called progress has led us to a critical juncture: the proposed official community plan (OCP) for Victoria represents a final surrender. With its adoption, Victoria council would discard the last remnants of leverage to ensure developers respect affordability, livability, and neighborhood character, all while silencing the little public input that remains. The agenda has become unmistakable.
For the last few years, exploitative development has reshaped Victoria through excessive density, unaffordable housing, predatory rents, inadequate parking, and out-of-scale buildings. This has accelerated since the last election, with council approving nearly every proposal brought before it, including those rejected by staff and/or lacking affordable housing components.
Their disregard for community input is exacerbated by several council members' ties to Homes for Living (HFL), which was co-founded by and remains connected to developers. HFL and its council allies claim that unchecked development will help Victoria’s housing issues, but the evidence does not support that their policies will deliver affordability. Instead, these policies assure profits for developers at the city's expense.
Approving the new OCP would signify a point of no return, leading to the loss of the qualities that make Victoria desirable, human-scale neighborhoods, distinct character, and community voice.
I urge councillors to consider the implications of this plan and prioritize the needs of the Victoria community over the interests of developers.
Adella James
Victoria
