MINUTES of a regular meeting of the MUNICIPAL COUNCIL of The Corporation of the District of Oak Bay, held in the Council Chambers, Oak Bay Municipal Hall, 2167 Oak Bay Avenue, Oak Bay, B.C., on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

 

PRESENT:

Mayor C. M. Causton, Chairman

Councillor H. Braithwaite

Councillor S. F. B. Carson

Councillor A. R. Cassidy

Councillor P. Copley

STAFF:

Municipal Administrator, W. E. Cochrane

Municipal Clerk, L. Hilton

Confidential Secretary, K. Green

Director of Building and Planning, N. Beattie

Municipal Treasurer, P. A. Walker

Director of Engineering Services, D. Marshall

 

Mayor Causton called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

 

MINUTES OF MEETINGS:

 

Council – September 24, 2007

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That the minutes of the Council meeting held on Monday, September 24, 2007, be adopted.

 

 

CARRIED

 

Committee of the Whole October 1, 2007

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held on Monday, October 1, 2007, and the recommendations contained therein, be adopted.

 

CARRIED

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

 

1.

2007-263

2007-263-1

2007-263-2

2007-263-3

2007-263-4

2007-237

2007-237-1 

2007-237-2

2007-237-3

2007-237-4

2007-237-5

2007-237-6

2007-237-7

2007-237-8

 

    - -

 

2006-360

 

PHILIP WHITE, September 14, 2007

ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB, October 3, 2007

ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB, September 11, 2007

JACK HARRIS, OCTOBER 4, 2007

BARRY PHILLIPS, October 5, 2007

PHILIP WHITE, August 2, 2007

NEVILLE GIBSON, September 4, 2007

GEORGE MACMINN, September 4, 2007

JOHN CHUDYK, September 6, 2007

PAUL THOMAS, September 9, 2007

PETER READER, September 6, 2007

TOM CROFT, September 10, 2007

ATHOLL AND R. SUTHERLAND BROWN, September 2, 2007

SAVE THE SHORELINE OF CADBORO BAY SOCIETY, August 21, 2007

EXCERPT FROM COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES – October 30, 2006

DIRECTOR OF BUILDING AND PLANNING, October 24, 2006

Re Proposal from Philip White for Amendment to Official Community Plan to Restrict Significant Expansion of Moorage Facilities at Royal Victoria Yacht Club

 

Mayor Causton noted that at its September 10, 2007 meeting, Council agreed to defer the proposal from Philip White to amend the Official Community Plan to restrict significant expansion of moorage facilities at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club to a future meeting to allow the Royal Victoria Yacht Club to be heard at the same time as Mr. White with respect to its application to expand the moorage facilities at the Club.  Mayor Causton asked Mr. White to address Council on his proposal first.

 

Philip White, 3525 Beach Drive, provided an overview of his request for an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) pointing out that he, along with 38 associates who are in support of his proposal, feel the OCP ought to be a clear, unambiguous statement of policy. He said he feels an oversight has occurred under the section in the OCP that deals with permanent moorage, and went on to explain that in the current OCP there is wording in place with respect to restricting moorage expansion at the Oak Bay Marina, but none for the same purpose at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.  

 

Additionally, Mr. White drew attention to other sections of the OCP that would, in his opinion, give reason to restrict the Yacht Club’s expansion, such as ensuring maximum public accessibility and use of the waterfront, and preserving the natural qualities of the marine environment.

 

Mr. White suggested that with the proposed moorage expansion increased parking demands would arise over and above the parking shortage already being experienced in the vicinity of the Yacht Club.

 

Christine Warne, spokesperson for Royal Victoria Yacht Club, drew attention to the highly complex nature of the proposed moorage expansion at the Club, noting that further information is being collected, research and consultation is being undertaken, and ultimately, approval from the members of the Club will be sought prior to returning with the information requested by Council back in June 2006.

 

Ms. Warne noted that the Club is requesting that Council wait for the above noted information prior to proceeding with Mr. White’s request, noting that the Yacht Club had submitted its application prior to Mr. White.  The Club, she said, is working in good faith to gather important information to lead to good decision making, and once all the data is gathered, the Club will be seeking approval for the required borrowing for the project from its members prior to making a submission to Council.  The Club’s submission, she said, is expected to be delivered to Council in February 2008.

 

With respect to Mr. White’s assumption that there was an error in the current OCP and that there should have been wording with respect to restricting moorage expansion at the Yacht Club as there is for the Oak Bay Marina, she noted the Club’s disagreement, saying there is no evidence of any anomaly in this regard.  There is only the Marina and the Yacht Club with moorage facilities, she said, which the authors of the OCP would have known, suggesting that the absence of any wording to restrict the expansion at the Yacht Club reflects the fundamental difference between the Marina, with the objective of making a profit, and the yacht Club, with the objective of promoting seamanship with facilities available for the use and benefit of members as well as for training students in sailing.

 

Ms. Warne went on to note that the original plans to expand the moorage into Cadboro Bay have since been revised to move the new births out past the current breakwater instead, which acknowledges the concerns some have regarding expanding into the bay.

 

Don Thain, Chair, Moorage Expansion Special Committee, Royal Victoria Yacht Club, responded to questions from Council with respect to the Club’s approval process for the proposed project, noting that given the borrowing that would be required, approval from 75% of the members would be required.

 

There was discussion regarding the two requests, and it was the view of Council that inasmuch as the Yacht Club had submitted its application first, and was still in the process of collecting pertinent information, Council’s October 30, 2006 resolution to consider the two requests concurrently was a fair way to proceed.

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That the request from Philip White for an amendment to the Official Community Plan be included on the agenda of all meetings of Council or Committee of the Whole at which the application for an Official Community Plan, Zoning and Development Permit from the Royal Victoria Yacht Club is to be considered.

 

The question was then called.

 

CARRIED

 

Mayor Causton called a two minute recess at 8:37 p.m.

 

2.

2007-264

KIWANIS CLUB OF OAK BAY, September 26, 2007

Re Request for Grant for Halloween Community Event

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That a grant to the Kiwanis Club of Oak Bay in the amount of $500 to assist with the cost of the 2007 community Halloween event be approved.

 

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

3.

2007-265

HERITAGE STEERING COMMITTEE, June 14, 2007

Re Minutes of Meeting

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Carson, That the minutes of the Heritage Steering Committee be received.

 

CARRIED

 

4.

2007-266

2007-266-1

HENRY MCCANDLESS, September 12, 2007

MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATOR, September 12, 2007

Re Equity Statement – Proposal for Land Use Applications

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That correspondence items no. 2007-266 and 2007-266-1 be received.

 

Members of Council noted their appreciation that the proposal from Mr. McCandless served to draw attention to the aspects of a development proposal that should be considered by them during the review process, although there was no appetite amongst members of Council to incorporate the equity statement concept into the formal land use application review process.

 

The question was then called.

 

CARRIED

 

5.

2007-267

 

OAK BAY BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, October 3, 2007

Re Request for Approval of Plans for Oak Bay Christmas Festival

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That the closure of Oak Bay Avenue and Hampshire Road, the occupancy of the closed roads and the front lawn of the Municipal Hall and the various events planned, including the sales of goods and services pursuant to the requirements of the Streets and Traffic Bylaw, in relation to the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association Christmas Festival, as laid out in correspondence item no. 2007-267, be approved subject to the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association:

 

1)         indemnifying the Municipality against any liability arising from the staging of the      events and providing evidence of adequate insurance to cover this indemnification;

 

2)         obtaining approval  of a traffic management plan by the Chief Constable for the District of Oak Bay that safely accommodates diverted vehicular and pedestrian traffic;

 

3)         assuming all responsibility for any and all extraordinary costs incurred by the Municipality in connection with the event; and

 

4)         with respect to the request for approval of a Fire Show, obtaining approval from the Fire Chief for the District of Oak Bay of a plan for the management, containment, size and location of the fire that ensures the safety of persons and property.

 

And further, that approval be given for the payment of staff overtime costs for the Business Improvement Association’s Christmas light up event on Sunday, November 25, 2007.

 

Heather Leary, Project Coordinator, Oak Bay Business Improvement Association, responding to a question regarding Christmas lights, said that the Oak Bay Avenue Village is introducing energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) lights for its annual Christmas Festival light-up this year.

 

The question was then called.

 

CARRIED

 

6.

2007-268

2007-268-1

 

RAYMOND AND ELIZABETH CARTER, October 5, 2007

ANITA JOHNSON, October 5, 2007

Re Development Variance Permit – 2808 Dunlevy Street

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That correspondence items no. 2007-268 and 2007-268-1 be received.

 

CARRIED

 

7.

2007-269

 

LINDA AND ALAN THOMSON, October 7, 2007

Re Development Variance Permit – 2032 Esplanade

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That correspondence item no. 2007-269 be received.

 

CARRIED

 

NEW BUSINESS/REPORTS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES:

 

Mayor Causton noted that the Municipality received a plaque in recognition of Oak Bay’s support in presenting the FIFA Under 20 World Soccer in Victoria. 

 

Oak Bay also received a Community Recognition Award for its support of the BC Wood Industry by using wood in the Oak Bay Recreation Centre, noted Mayor Causton.

 

TABLED:

 

Development Variance Permit – 2808 Dunlevy Street

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That the following motion be lifted from the table:

 

That the Director of Building and Planning be authorized to issue a Development Variance Permit with respect to 2808 Dunlevy Street (Lot 3, Block 42, Section 31, Victoria District, Plan 8777), varying the following provision of Bylaw No. 3531, being the Zoning Bylaw, 1986, with respect to the siting of an accessory building:

 

Bylaw Section

Required

Requested

Variance

 

 

 

 

6.2.4(2)(c) and Schedule “C”

Minimum Interior Side Lot Line Setback

 

3.00 m

 

1.02 m

 

1.98 m

 

to accommodate the construction of a gazebo in the north west corner of the lot, as more particularly shown on the sketches appended to Committee of the Whole agenda item #2007-244, being a memorandum from the Director of Building and Planning dated September 11, 2007.

 

CARRIED

 

Melanie Smith, 2808 Dunlevy Street, provided an overview of her application, noting that the proposed gazebo is intended to house the pool equipment, which will cut back on noise issues related to that equipment. 

 

Bill Johnson, 2617 Dorset, noted that he is the neighbour next to the lot line along which the gazebo would be constructed, noting his concerns with the height of the gazebo and the shadows it would cast across his property.

 

Mr. Johnson went on to note that the applicants have also placed a heat pump between the fence from his yard and the proposed gazebo, stating that his most serious concern is regarding the potential for the heat pump to cause even more noise than already exists, affecting his enjoyment of his own property.

 

Ms. Smith, responding to the concerns raised, indicated that the heat pump has only been placed against the fence temporarily, noting it has not yet been connected.  Once the gazebo has been constructed, she said, the heat pump would be housed within it.

 

Noting that there are noise level limits with respect to the pool equipment, Ms. Smith confirmed that the equipment would be placed in such as location so as to meet the requirements of the Bylaw in this regard.

 

The question on the main motion was then called.

 

CARRIED

 

Development Variance Permit – 3032 Esplanade

 

Mayor Causton stated that the applicants had advised that changes may be forthcoming with respect to their plans to construct a single family dwelling, and there was consensus to leave the motion to issue the permit on the table until such time as further information was received from the applicant.

 

 

RESOLUTIONS:

 

Development Variance Permit – 1021 Island Road

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That the Director of Building and Planning be authorized to issue a Development Variance Permit with respect to 1021 Island Road (Lot A, Section 23, Victoria District, Plan 9081), varying the following provision of Bylaw No. 3531, being the Zoning Bylaw, 1986, with respect to the siting of a sound-emitting structure:

 

Bylaw Section

Required

Requested

Variance

 

 

 

 

4.10.4

Minimum Setback From Lot Line

 

3.00 m

 

2.13 m

 

0.87 m

 

to accommodate the installation of a heat pump on the south side of the lot, as more particularly shown on the sketch appended to Committee of the Whole agenda item #2007-259, being a memorandum from the Director of Building and Planning dated September 25, 2007.

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That the motion in respect of the development variance permit for 1021 Island Road be tabled to allow notice to be given in accordance with the Local Government Act.

 

CARRIED

 

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Housing Outlook Seminar

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Cassidy, That Council approve payment of the registration fee of $70.00 plus GST for Mayor Causton to attend the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Housing Outlook Seminar, to be held in Victoria, BC, November 15, 2007.

 

CARRIED

 

BYLAWS:

 

For First, Second and Third Reading

 

Bylaw No. 4379

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Cassidy, That Bylaw No. 4379, Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, 2007, be introduced and read a first time.

 

CARRIED

 

 

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Cassidy, That Bylaw No. 4379, Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, 2007, be read a second time.

 

CARRIED

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Cassidy, That Bylaw No. 4379, Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, 2007, be read a third time.

 

CARRIED

 

Bylaw No. 4383

 

MOVED by Councillor Copley

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That Bylaw No. 4383, Kiwanis Manor Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, 2007, be introduced and read a first time.

 

CARRIED

 

MOVED by Councillor Copley

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That Bylaw No. 4383, Kiwanis Manor Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, 2007, be read a second time.

 

CARRIED

 

MOVED by Councillor Copley

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That Bylaw No. 4383, Kiwanis Manor Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, 2007, be read a third time.

 

CARRIED

Bylaw No. 4382

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That Bylaw No. 4382, Land Use Application Procedure and Fee Assessment Bylaw Amendment Bylaw, 2007, be introduced and read a first time.

 

CARRIED

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That Bylaw No. 4382, Land Use Application Procedure and Fee Assessment Bylaw Amendment Bylaw, 2007, be read a second time.

 

Attention was drawn to comments made previously by the Director of Building and Planning regarding his intention to provide a partial refund with respect to the development permit security paid in relation to the Oak Bay Beach Hotel redevelopment (the only development, at this time, which would be affected by the bylaw) should the amendment be adopted.

 

The point was raised that the bylaw amendment allows for Council to require an amount of security higher than that calculated in accordance with the sliding scale where it has determined, having received advice from a qualified professional, that the location or nature of the project creates a demonstrable risk of damage to the environment.  In this regard, it was suggested that prior to refunding a portion of the deposit made in relation to the Oak Bay Beach Hotel redevelopment to be in line with the bylaw amendment, if it was adopted, the potential risks should be assessed and considered by Council, applying the same due diligence as if considering a new development application.

 

Mr. Cochrane drew attention to the permitted uses of development permit security, which are limited by statute to satisfying a landscaping requirement, ensuring public safety, and addressing environmental damage.

 

It was agreed that staff would report back to Council following an examination of the property with respect to any potential risks that may affect the amount of security retained for the Oak Bay Beach Hotel property.

 

The question was then called.

 

CARRIED

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Cassidy, That Bylaw No. 4382, Land Use Application Procedure and Fee Assessment Bylaw Amendment Bylaw, 2007, be read a third time.

 

CARRIED

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That the open portion of the meeting of Council be adjourned and that a closed session be convened to discuss labour relations or employee negotiations.

 

CARRIED

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m.

 

 

Certified Correct:

 

 

 

 

_______________________________

Municipal Clerk

 

 

_______________________________

Mayor