With reference to the Aug. 5 Oak Bay B次元官网网址 front-page article, the information provided just supports all of the criticism heaped on this secondary suite survey. The survey designers did not provide an option to allow residents to say that they did not favour changing the zoning to allow multi-tenant suites. The survey only asked B次元官网网址渋fB次元官网网址� the zoning were changed to allow more suites in Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 single-family neighbourhoods (the consultant estimates a 1,500 increase) what conditions would you favour?

The secondary suite survey summary, the consultantB次元官网网址檚 presentation on July 19 at a special council meeting and the Oak Bay B次元官网网址 article did not just report what the survey asked, which was, B次元官网网址渨hat regulatory conditions did residents prefer?B次元官网网址� They also all reported that somehow this indicated B次元官网网址渢here is strong support for secondary suites.B次元官网网址�

A comparable analogy: If a survey asked residents, B次元官网网址渋f high-rises were to be allowed in Oak Bay, how many storeys would you favour?B次元官网网址� If the results showed the majority of residents supported 10 storeys, it would not be an acceptable survey standard-of-practice to conclude that residents were in favour of allowing high-rises in the district.

The director of building and planning has stated that the secondary suite housing option is only one of a number being B次元官网网址渃onsidered.B次元官网网址�

The Official Community PlanB次元官网网址檚 housing objectives state, B次元官网网址淪upport a modest expansion of housing within Oak Bay while addressing concerns such as tree protection, parking, traffic, noise, effects on other properties and neighbourhood character.B次元官网网址�

Changing the zoning to allow many more suites and infill units is not B次元官网网址渁 modest expansion of housing,B次元官网网址� and many of the associated problems the OCP lists are not solvable. The district reports that on average, one complaint a month is received about Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 estimated 750 suites. The fire department has not reported any safety problems. It seems council and staff are looking to solve a problem they do not have.

Anthony Mears

Oak Bay