The Town of View Royal is likely to see a formal tenant assistance policy adopted in the coming weeks after council signalled strong support for the concept.

At the June 20 regular meeting, Mayor Sid Tobias presented a motion for council to adopt a policy standardizing a development and rezoning application requirement for developers to provide certain supports to renters evicted from their homes as part of renovations or redevelopments.

While council unanimously supported the concept B次元官网网址� which is similar to policies in place or in development in Victoria, Saanich and Colwood B次元官网网址� most of the councillors said they would like to see staff review TobiasB次元官网网址� proposed policy before it is actually adopted.

Tobias agreed, and amended his own motion to instead direct staff to report back to council on the policy by their first July meeting, which passed unanimously. A legal analysis of the policy is to be included in the report.

READ MORE: Colwood exploring protections for tenants facing renovictions

B次元官网网址滻t directs how we as council make a choice about being consistent when it comes to tenant assistance,B次元官网网址� said Tobias. B次元官网网址淭here is inconsistency in what council is deciding, and maybe what we are being told.B次元官网网址�

While most of council voiced their support for a staff review before adoption, Coun. Ron Mattson said his preference would be to adopt the policy immediately in order to send a strong signal to developers coming to the community that tenant rights are valued and protected. He highlighted the fact council was considering a policy, not a bylaw, which means it can be amended easily without much process, though ultimately voted in favour of the motion to direct staff to report back.

Though he too said he would support a staff review, Coun. John Rogers noted his daughter was involved in consultation work with the District of Saanich and City of Victoria as they developed their own policies, and told him she saw no issues or concerns with View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 proposed policy as it was presented to council.

In explaining their support for the policy and the need for it in View Royal, several councillors brought up a proposed redevelopment of Christie Point dating back to 2017 which sparked significant controversy in the town over plans to redevelop 161 rental units into 473 units spread out over four and six-storey buildings.

At the time, council negotiated with developer Realstar to provide some supports to tenants facing eviction, including the grandfathering of rent control for residents who lived in the area for 10 years or more, but Rogers noted those negotiations were tough as council had no policy to back them up.

B次元官网网址滻n hindsight with our experiences in View Royal, we didnB次元官网网址檛 do a good job with Christie Point,B次元官网网址� said Rogers. B次元官网网址淲e basically worked with the developers and the best hopes possible.B次元官网网址�

In an emailed statement to the Goldstream Gazette, Realstar said they have not managed the Christie Point development since 2020, and it was noted during council discussion on June 20 there are currently no immediate plans for redevelopment on the property.

READ MORE: Redevelopment of Christie Point delayed