It became apparent watching councilB次元官网网址檚 deliberations of March 14 regarding the 2326 Oak Bay Ave. (Quest) land-use application that our process is deeply flawed and unwieldy. This is true for staff, council, community, and likely developers. A checklist and a review of Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 governance practices for land use applications are in order.

The plannerB次元官网网址檚 report does not contain critical pieces: a traffic study; geotechnical study; analysis of services access (garbage, fire, traffic, vehicle entrance and exit); and environmental challenges during construction.

The result is councillors, without knowing these critical pieces, are asked to sign a blank cheque. B次元官网网址淲e will provide that information later,B次元官网网址� is not acceptable. Would you sign a cheque without knowing what you are getting? Not bloody likely.

It is an Oak bylaw (not a provincial mandate) that the public has no right to communicate with the advisory design panel, advisory planning commission or council while they are deliberating a land-use application. This means that the first and only opportunity for the public to comment about a land-use application is at a public hearing if that occurs.

Why do Oak Bay councils continually regard staff, council and community as disconnected silos when processing land issues? This is a miscommunication, conflict-creating model. Why not create a task force consisting of a developer, planner, council, and community to produce a checklist, and an updated, transparent, made-in-Oak Bay land-use application process bylaw?

Imagine the gift B次元官网网址� a checklist and an agreed-upon updated land application process B次元官网网址� the present council could provide to the incoming council.

Mike Wilmut

Oak Bay