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 B次元官网网址� the distance between the building and the property's edge.

B次元官网网址淭he proposed variance to building height is being requested to allow sufficient living space on the upper floors to create family-oriented three-bedroom units,B次元官网网址� reads the application. B次元官网网址淭he 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 neighbourhoodB次元官网网址檚 character. 

B次元官网网址淚t was not easy to purchase in Oak Bay B次元官网网址� it was with sacrifice, and weB次元官网网址檝e worked really hard because we wanted a specific neighbourhood,B次元官网网址� said Desiree Bukowski. B次元官网网址淲e wanted breathing space. We didnB次元官网网址檛 want to be suffocated by an apartment building next door to us or a large complex next door to us.B次元官网网址� 

Others conveyed worries about the buildingB次元官网网址檚 appearance. 

B次元官网网址�ItB次元官网网址檚 a diabolical-looking build,B次元官网网址� said Sally Hubbard, another Oak Bay resident. B次元官网网址淚 used to live in Saudi Arabia. It looks like ... an abode. Very few windows B次元官网网址� just a big box. This isnB次元官网网址檛 Saudi Arabia, and I donB次元官网网址檛 want to live there again.B次元官网网址� 

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 BayB次元官网网址檚 deputy director of community building and planning services. 

B次元官网网址淭he proposed lot coverage is 29 per cent and the bylaw allows 30 per cent, so they are under the maximum lot coverage requirement,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭here 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.

"ThatB次元官网网址檚 going to be added onto the buyers," he said. "WeB次元官网网址檙e trying to do it in a way that can minimize it but also offer the best product.B次元官网网址� 

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,B次元官网网址� he said.