The possibility of a new dementia care and residential living facility being built in Oak Bay is still very much alive.
Baptist Housing, whose proposed replacement for the existing Oak Bay Lodge was stalled when variances needed for the design were rejected by municipal council in November, is putting finishing touches on a new application it hopes to submit to the municipality this week.
B次元官网网址淲e have listened carefully to the neighbours, as well as to the councillors, and taken all things into consideration,B次元官网网址� said Baptist Housing CEO Howard Johnson.
The organizationB次元官网网址檚 original proposal was opposed by neighbours of the current lodge, where Baptist Housing hopes to build the new facility. Much of the negative attention surrounded the six-storey height of the proposed design, as well as the lack of available parking on site. Such details were the focus of the variance permit applications ultimately voted down.
Though he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 go into specifics of the new proposal, Johnson said heB次元官网网址檚 confident it addresses those concerns.
B次元官网网址淔rom what IB次元官网网址檝e understood and heard, the Oak Bay municipality would like to retain beds in Oak Bay.
B次元官网网址淚 think in the spirit of good will, everyone is willing to work together to come up with a solution that works for everyone.B次元官网网址�
Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen agrees.
B次元官网网址淲e certainly want to keep the communication open with Baptist Housing,B次元官网网址� he said.
Money also played a part in discussions back in the fall. Indications were that the projectB次元官网网址檚 financing would fall through if approval was not granted by the end of December. That wasnB次元官网网址檛 the case, Johnson said.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want financing to become the driving force on this and I wish it hadnB次元官网网址檛 become a central issue last time,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎ny financing needs we have, we will work within the time frames to make it work.B次元官网网址�
The Vancouver Island Health Authority, which is responsible for finding appropriate housing for the current residents of Oak Bay Lodge once a new facility is approved, is eager to see how things play out in the municipality.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e still at the table determining what our options for residential renewal in the Greater Victoria area are,B次元官网网址� said VIHA spokesperson Shannon Marshall.
reporter@vicnews.com
