Wherefore art thou heritage commission and planning departments? 

As with many others who live in Oak Bay, I love the older homes and the ambiance of this community. And like many others in Oak Bay, I believe that we can adapt and change with grace to meet the challenges and needs of growth and climate change. So why oh why were the new owners of two older Beach Drive properties granted demolition permits?

How did this get by the heritage commission and the planning department and why oh why did our mayor and council not require development plans that preserved and converted the older homes and added much-needed housing units on the land?  Both certainly worked hard to respond to Mike Miller's proposals to develop properties and in my view, these are what we need to be doing as we change. So what happened here?

Where is the vision for the future of Oak Bay? Mine includes all types of housing for single people at all life cycle stages and for all family types, full public schools, busy well well-used public parks and spaces and a viable commercial village that is not mostly banks and real estate offices.

What is yours?

Jan Mears

Oak Bay