Saanich is moving ahead with plans to review the zoning bylaw that currently limits the number of unrelated occupants living in a residence, despite having heard calls for public consultation.
Coun. Colin Plant said he is not willing to wait to hear from the public before asking staff to review the bylaw.
B次元官网网址淚f we have a housing crisis, which I think we do, then I am willing to go directly to staff to ask for a report,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his council has to use a little bit of its political mandate from the election to actually take action, and if we truly believe in words, such as crisis, then we need to respond in the appropriate manner.B次元官网网址�
If council appears unsatisfied with the findings of the report, it can always ask for additional public input, he said.
Plant made these comments after council had heard from concerned residents with several calling on council to ask for input before pushing ahead with the staff review.
Susan Haddon, president of the Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association, was among those voices.
B次元官网网址淲e believe the issue needs more in-depth study and consideration, including community input, prior to any decision being made on the matter,B次元官网网址� she said.
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The issue itself arose after council heard from seven students at the University of Victoria, who had to leave their rented house, after Saanich bylaw had received a complaint about the number of unrelated individuals living in the house. The bylaw states that no more than four unrelated individuals can live in the same residence.
This, in turn, inspired Mayor Fred Haynes and Coun. Zach de Vries to ask bylaw staff to report on options to amend the bylaw to either increase or see the number of occupants align with the number of bedrooms or eliminate the limit.
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Several speakers disagreed with this thrust, citing problems as partying and crowded on-street parking among others.
B次元官网网址淚 know [first hand] what it is like to have students in [a] home because that is exactly what I am living with next to me now in my Saanich house,B次元官网网址� said Jeff St. Gelais in a letter to council. B次元官网网址楾he students are generally good neighbours, but there have been a few times where I had to speak to them because of poor behaviour. Some problems are remedied, some are not.B次元官网网址�
Carolyn Somers questioned why Saanich is catering to students. B次元官网网址淎s a [senior], I am tired of everyoneB次元官网网址檚 entitlement and wanting laws change for their convenience,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he students are here for such a short term, paying no property tax, yet are asking for new rules. Cut down our taxes if you are going to make residential areas free for alls.B次元官网网址�
Haynes reminded the audience MondayB次元官网网址檚 vote did not mean Saanich was about to change the bylaw. It was instead about sending the occupancy issue to bylaw staff.
While Saanich also received public support for its review, council passed a revised motion that broadened the scope of the review in an apparent concession to some of the heard concerns, which draw attention to the often complex relationship between students and non-students.
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Departments other than bylaw will also weigh in on the question while considering B次元官网网址減ossible impactsB次元官网网址� of any future amendments.
While Haynes supported the final motion on the table, he opposed amending the original motion, because it would cause unnecessary delays.
B次元官网网址淗ere is an opportunity to move forward in a short time frame to hear back what is possible from our bylaws,B次元官网网址� he said.
Coun. Judy Brownoff agreed with the need for broader staff review. B次元官网网址淎 better report would be a more fulsome report,B次元官网网址� she added.
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