View Royal Mayor David Screech alleged two councillors made questionable arguments in opposition to a variance that would add an extra storey to the two buildings in a proposed Thetis Lake housing development.
BԪַI cannot understand, when we know the variance for the extra storey is still less than the height allowed, how anyone can vote against that,BԪַ he said. BԪַAll we would do by knocking off that extra storey is put up the rent for everybody and probably [render] the project unfeasible.BԪַ
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Council deliberated variances relating to the development permit application for the proposed mixed-use apartments at 1938 West Park Ln. on Tuesday. Couns. Ron Mattison and John Rogers both expressed opposition to the proposed variance that would raise the apartments from five stories to six.
BԪַI donBԪַt know how anyone, when youBԪַre talking about good use of land, when itBԪַs gonna be less high than what a five-storey building could be, can vote against that BԪַ unless youBԪַre just dedicated to sinking the project,BԪַ Screech said.
Mattison argued that the building would peek further over the cover of trees when driving by on the highway, making the building less aesthetically pleasing.
BԪַThis region is in a housing crisis, thatBԪַs probably the number one thing. To be arguing about the details weBԪַre arguing about is just pointless when people donBԪַt have homes,BԪַ Screech said.
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Vacancy rates for rentals in Greater Victoria are at 1.2 per cent, according to a 2018 Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation rental market report.
BԪַWe talk about housing policy BԪַ with respect to my partners that have been up here on council for as long as I have BԪַ when have we ever talked about it before? When have we ever said we need to have an affordable housing policy in View Royal,BԪַ Screech said. BԪַWhen, seriously, until this application came along? To say we need a plan now is questionable.BԪַ
During discussions, Rogers expressed concern about noise and requested staff look into whether the buildings would amplify highway noises for surrounding neighbourhoods and asked whether triple-paned windows were required for more windows to lessen noise from reverberations throughout the buildings.
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Rogers also asked staff to look into whether a nearby earthen dam would be affected by the development. He also expressed concern that people living in studio apartments at the affordable housing building would feel isolated.
BԪַYeah, I think itBԪַs a miss,BԪַ he said ahead of casting his vote.
The motion for variances was carried with Mattison and Rogers opposed. It raised the number of building storeys from five to six, increased the number of impervious surfaces allowed from 50 per cent to 72, and raised the maximum height of retaining walls from 1.2 to 4.1 metres.
swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com
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