MINUTES of a regular meeting of COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 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 Monday, August 13, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

 

PRESENT:

Mayor Christopher M. Causton

Councillor H. Braithwaite

Councillor S. F. B. Carson 

Councillor A. R. Cassidy

Councillor P. Copley

Councillor J. D. Herbert

Councillor N. B. Jensen

STAFF:

Municipal Clerk, L. Hilton

Director of Engineering Services, D. Marshall

Confidential Secretary, K. Green

 

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

 

PRESENTATION:

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT

Re Core Area Wastewater Management Program Overview

 

(Dwayne Kalynchuk, General Manager, CRD Environmental Services, in attendance for this item)

 

Mr. Kalynchuk, Capital Regional District (CRD), was in attendance to provide a visual presentation overview regarding the Core Area Wastewater Management Program following the directive of the Province that the CRD expedite the process of implementing sewage treatment for the areas covered by the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan.   

 

Attention was drawn to the CRD’s process in developing a strategic direction for wastewater management that takes into consideration development patterns, the coastal geography, the existing infrastructure with its wet weather flow issues, and opportunities for future water reuse.

 

Mr. Kalynchuk commented on the response documents submitted to the Minister, saying they included a reader friendly supporting report, a concise technical document proposed to amend the liquid waste management program and a public education and consultation initiative strategy.

 

Mr. Kalynchuk described each of the four key elements of the program, which are source control, distributed wastewater treatment, water reuse, resource recovery, and wet weather flow management.  He went on to point out potential wastewater management treatment plant sites, and the estimated costs of the project to 2015. 

 

There was discussion around whether or not the amended plan would affect the Province’s directive with respect to twinning the Uplands sewer system.  It was noted that to this point, there has been no response from the Province following the CRD’s submission to the Minister regarding the amended plan, so no other direction has been given from the Province in that respect.

 

Questions arose regarding how the benefits of the program would be measured, and what the cost of the current wastewater management problem is compared to the cost of the proposed solution, taking into account all of the impacts, such as environmental and financial costs of each.

 

Mr. Kalynchuk indicated that no directive was received from the CRD Board in this regard that would provide such a comprehensive comparison, however, operating costs would be analyzed, and the existing system will likely be analyzed with respect to greenhouse gas emissions.  He went on to note that as the region does not meet the requirements of the Province as laid out in the Municipal Sewer Regulation, the CRD is compelled to move forward with treatment in any event.

 

Concerns were expressed by members of the Committee regarding what the actual benefits of the program would be, once all costs and benefits were taken into account, and the view was expressed that Council remains to be convinced of the necessity of the program in this regard.

 

In response to further questions, Mr. Kalynchuk indicated that information with respect to costs to the District of Oak Bay along with other aspects of the program will be forwarded to Council as the process moves forward.

 

Mayor Causton thanked Mr. Kalynchuk for attending the meeting and conveying the information.

 

1.

2007-212

 

CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT, June 22, 2007

Re Parks Land Acquisition Fund – 2006 Summary

 

(Jeff Ward, Assistant General Manager, CRD Parks, in attendance for this item)

 

Mr. Ward, representing Capital Regional District (CRD) Parks, provided the Committee with an update of the CRD Parks land acquisitions noting that the ten-year fund enables CRD Parks to purchase land identified as having regional park potential.  The fund raises approximately $1.6 million per year from an average annual levy of $10 per household.  Oak Bay’s contribution is $475,333 or 6.7% of the budget, noted Mr. Ward.

 

Mr. Ward said that since the establishment of the fund in 2000, CRD Parks has purchased approximately 1900 hectares of greenspace.  A sample of the kind of projects CRD Parks is engaged in is an initiative to develop a park management plan for the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt Regional Park Reserve (Sea to Sea) as well as working toward creating regional trail connections on Vancouver Island, he said.   Mr. Ward further noted that with the value of land rapidly increasing, it has been challenging to find ways to purchase parkland.

 

Following Mr. Ward’s presentation, he answered questions from members of the Committee with respect to parks land acquisitions in the region, and the very recent acquisition of land in the Sooke area.

 

Mayor Causton thanked Mr. Ward for attending the meeting and providing a summary on CRD’s parkland acquisitions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECREATION SECTION: (Chairman – Councillor Carson)

 

2.

2007-213

 

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FINANCE AND PERSONNEL SUB-COMMITTEE, July 26, 2007

Re Minutes of Meeting

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Jensen, That the report of the meeting of the Oak Bay Parks and Recreation Commission Finance and Personnel Sub-Committee held on July 26, 2007, be received.

 

CARRIED

 

PUBLIC WORKS SECTION: (Chairman – Councillor Herbert)

 

3.

2007-214

 

GRAHAM LAMB, July 31, 2007

Re Request to Place Signs on Public Property

 

MOVED by Councillor Braithwaite

Seconded by Councillor Cassidy, That it be recommended to Council that permission be given for the placement of no more than fifteen (15) signs on municipal property, not more than one week prior to the event, for the promotion of the Terry Fox Run to be held Sunday, September 16, 2007, with the signs to be as proposed in correspondence item no. 2007-214.

 

CARRIED

 

4.

2007-215

 

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, August 9, 2007

Re Request to Place Information Signs for Water Park on Public Property

 

MOVED by Councillor Carson

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That it be recommended to Council that permission be given to erect, at Oak Bay’s cost, two directional signs to the Oak Bay Water Park which were provided by the Rotary Club of Oak Bay, in the locations indicated in the memorandum from the Director of Engineering Services dated August 9, 2007 (correspondence item no. 2007-215).

 

CARRIED

 

5.

2007-216

2007-216-1

 

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, August 9, 2007

KEY WHA LEE, July 27, 2007

Re Application for Boulevard Encroachment—3039 Devon Road

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Cassidy, That it be recommended to Council that approval be given for a boulevard encroachment for 3039 Devon Road for the purpose of installing landscaping, as shown on the sketch attached to correspondence item no. 2007-216-1, subject to all plantings being maintained at a height of 0.9 metres (approximately 36 inches) or less and maintained 2 metres (approximately 6.5 feet) from the edge of the road, and subject to the owners entering into a boulevard encroachment agreement on terms set by the Municipality.

 

CARRIED

 

6.

2007-217

 

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, August 9, 2007

Re Oak Bay Fire Hall Concrete Apron Reconstruction Tender

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That it be recommended to Council that the tender to replace the concrete apron at the Oak Bay Fire Hall be awarded to Capital Surface Impressions at a cost of $40,234.42.

 

CARRIED

 

TRAFFIC SECTION: (Chairman – Councillor Copley)

 

7.

2007-218

 

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, August 9, 2007

Re Tod Road—Speed Limit, Signage, Speed Bumps

 

Councillor Copley noted that at its June 18th meeting, Committee of the Whole recommended to Council that staff be requested to draft an amendment to the Streets and Traffic Bylaw to reduce the speed limit on Tod Road from 30 kilometres per hour to 20 kilometres per hour, and that the existing parking signs along Tod Road be replaced and relocated where necessary.  She indicated that it was also directed that comment from the Fire, Police, and Engineering Departments regarding the possibility of installing speed bumps on Tod Road be obtained.

 

The Director of Engineering Services advised that the speed limit has now been reduced and the parking signs have been installed.   Regarding the Police and Fire Department’s view of installing speed bumps, he said it is not a preferred practice by either as it tends to divert traffic to other streets and limits the ability to respond to an incident in a timely manner.  However, he said, given the nature of Tod Road, both departments have acknowledged that speed bumps may be acceptable if there are no other options for addressing traffic concerns. 

 

From the Engineering Department’s perspective, said Mr. Marshall, speed bumps are not endorsed for the reasons laid out in his report, and it would be preferable to consider devices such as chicanes for calming traffic.

 

Mr. Marshall felt that an observation period of six months should be considered to allow staff time to monitor the traffic situation on Tod Road in response to the lower speed limit and the refreshed signage prior to making a decision on installing speed bumps.

 

MOVED by Councillor Herbert

Seconded by Councillor Cassidy, That it be recommended to Council that staff be requested to monitor both volume and speed on Tod Road over the next six month period and report back to Committee of the Whole.

 

CARRIED

 

LAND USE SECTION: (Chairman – Councillor Cassidy)

 

8.

2007-219

2007-219-1

2007-219-2

2007-219-3

2007-219-4

2007-219-5

2007-219-6

2007-219-7

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, August 10, 2007

JIM KIRK, July 14, 2007

KAREN POTTS, July 6, 2007

BRIAN D. JONES, July 4, 2007

RON MERNER, June 24, 2007

WILLIAM JESSE, June 23, 2007

BRENDA PEARSON, [undated]

LUCILE AND NORMAN HUTCHINGS, August 12, 2007

Re Possible Official Community Plan Amendment/Zoning Bylaw Amendment – 1531 Hampshire Road

 

It was noted that at the June 18, 2007 Committee of the Whole meeting, staff were asked to report back with various pieces of information in relation to the condition of the Municipally owned dwelling at 1531 Hampshire Road and the required upgrades, the estimated number of street parking spaces that would be lost should portions of the sidewalks in the narrow sections of Oak Bay Avenue in the Village be widened to accommodate a more pedestrian friendly Village, and to bring forward the traffic and parking studies that were supplied during the application process for the Penny Farthing Public House development, along with staff recommendations for augmenting the information contained in the existing studies, all of which was contained in the memorandum from the Director of Engineering Services.

 

There was discussion regarding the parking study done in 2000 in relation to the Penny Farthing development, and questions were raised regarding its validity seven years later inasmuch as various businesses have changed along Oak Bay Avenue since that time.   It was suggested that the development of a parking lot should be based on need, and that need should be demonstrated through updated statistics.

 

The point was made that since funds for the proposed parking lot would come from the parking reserve fund, paid into by developers instead of providing the parking required under Oak Bay’s bylaw, this would seem to indicate that there is a parking shortage according to Oak Bay’s own requirements. 

 

The discussion turned to the condition of the existing house at 1531 Hampshire Road, and the Director of Engineering Services answered questions from the Committee in this regard, noting that the roof should be replaced within a few years, however, there was no urgency related to the other maintenance/upgrade items outlined in his memorandum.

 

Cathy Waters, Manager of Grafton Book Shop, commented that Oak Bay residents alone cannot sustain the book shop business and many of the shop patrons drive in from all over the Greater Victoria area, either to pick-up or drop-off books.  Because of the number of patrons coming from outside of Oak Bay, said Ms. Waters, additional Village parking is desirable, as is a loading area near her store for dropping off heavy book deliveries from patrons.  She went on to note that many of her patrons have complained to her about the need for more and extended time parking as they tend to also frequent other businesses and restaurants in the Village in conjunction with their visit to her store.

 

Responding to a member of the Committee, Ms. Waters commented that the parking behind the shop is always full or busy with deliveries to surrounding businesses.

 

Bruce Williamson, 1655 Hampshire Road, said there is always a trade off when residential meets commercial areas.   Mr. Williamson inquired about the status, from a budgeting point of view, of the property at 1531 Hampshire Road and its value and association with the parking fund reserve, and where the funds come from to purchase properties for parking, and what compensation would there be to taxpayers should it be developed as a parking lot.

 

Mayor Causton explained that some properties in the Village area were originally purchased by the Municipal Council of the day for the purpose of developing future parking lots.  Funding to develop the proposed parking areas, he said, would come from the parking reserve fund.  He drew attention to the municipal parking lot on Monterey Avenue, the development of which included a similar process to this current one in relation to 1531 Hampshire Road.

 

Martin Taylor, 1539 Wilmot Place, said that he was curious to know what restraint there may be on the parking reserve fund and if the taxpayers are expected to subsidize the lost revenue of the valuable property at 1531 Hampshire and in a sense subsidize the parking as well.

 

Mr. Taylor asked where is Oak Bay going as a community, what is the vision as a whole, what will this parking development solve.  He commented that there is plenty of parking overall, however, perhaps not convenient to all and he said he sees employee parking as an issue in the area.  Mr. Taylor noted that due to the nature of some of the new shops in the Village they are attracting more traffic.

 

Mr. Taylor commented that he recalled when the Monterey Avenue property was rezoned for development of a parking lot, it was supposed to accommodate all of the additional parking needs of the Village, questioning the need for more parking now.

 

Mr. Taylor stated that he would like to see more of a public process with respect to the proposed rezoning and Official Community Plan amendment in relation to the development of a parking lot.

 

Responding to questions from the Committee, the Municipal Clerk advised that an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw and the Official Community Plan, to change the designation to “Institutional” from “Residential”, would be required in relation to the proposed parking lot should it move forward.  A member of the Committee pointed out that there was wording in the Official Community Plan that referred to the continuing evaluation of properties adjacent to the Village for possible parking use.

 

Further discussion ensued with respect to the implications of the proposed project on the surrounding area, and the role of the Official Community Plan and whether or not it was perhaps time to review it, and some members of the Committee noted their support for taking a wholistic approach to making decisions within the context of a larger vision of the Oak Bay Avenue Village in the future.    

 

Attention was drawn to previous comments regarding the current value of the Hampshire Road property and the potential financial impacts should it be developed as a parking lot, and questions were raised regarding the allowable uses of the parking reserve fund, and it was felt by the Committee that further information in this regard would be useful.

 

MOVED by Councillor Carson

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That it be recommended to Council that staff be requested to provide a report with respect to the financial implications regarding the proposed parking development at 1531 Hampshire Road, and information relating to the allowable uses of the parking reserve fund.

 

CARRIED

 

9.

2007-220

2007-202

2007-220-1

2007-220-2

2007-220-3

2007-220-4

2007-220-5

2007-220-6

2007-220-7

2007-220-8

2007-220-9

2007-220-10

2007-220-11

2007-220-12

2007-220-13

2007-220-14

2007-220-15

2007-220-16

2007-220-17

2007-220-18

2007-220-19

MUNICIPAL CLERK, August 9, 2007

DIRECTOR OF BUILDING AND PLANNING, July 17, 2007

MARTIN AND BETTINA KORS, August 10, 2007

MICHAEL AND JANE WEBB, August 4, 2007

JAMES O’CONNELL, August 9, 2007

SHARON FAIRCHILD, August 9, 2007

S. HOLLINGSWORTH, August 9, 2007

JIM AND JUDY DODGSON, August 9, 2007

JACK SCISSONS AND RUTH DECARY, August 10, 2007

JACK SCISSONS AND RUTH DECARY, August 10, 2007

LEE AND PAUL DRUMMOND, August 10, 2007

NANCY PEKTER, August 10, 2007

VALERIE AND BARRY ARNSDORF, August 12, 2007

KENT JACKSON AND LINDA GILBERT, August 12, 2007

GERALD GERMAN AND CANDACE KENYON, August 12, 2007

PAUL AND KJERSTINE HOLMES, August 12, 2007

GLENN AND BONNIE MILBURY, August 12, 2007

DOUGLAS AND BARBARA RUTHERFORD, August 13, 2007

ELIZABETH BERGEN, August 13, 2007

GWEN EWAN, August 13, 2007

MAURICE DUNNER, August 13, 2007

Re Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments—677 St. Patrick Street/

        2164 McNeill Avenue

 

The Municipal Clerk provided a brief overview of her memorandum noting that staff was requested to consult with the business owners of 677 St. Patrick Street and 2164 McNeill Avenue and to draft an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw to allow seating for up to 20 customers at both those businesses to be brought forward to Committee of the Whole for consideration.  She noted that the first draft bylaw in the agenda package would make various changes to the C-4 (Local Commercial/Neighbourhood Deli Use) Zone, including increasing the seating from 10 to 20, and the second draft bylaw would rezone 677 St. Patrick Street from C-1 to C-4.

 

Members of the public were invited to speak at this time.

 

Ray Sundby, 1043 Roslyn Road, asked if a traffic study has been conducted in the vicinity of the Demitasse Bakery Store, noting the roadway is narrow and when vehicles park on both sides of the street it compromises the safety of the neighbourhood.  He also commented that the area behind Demitasse is aesthetically a disgrace with a broken down fence and a garbage mess.

 

Paul Holmes, 2186 McNeill Avenue, explained that he was speaking on behalf of approximately 24 residents that have formed a group, the McNeill/Roslyn Community Association, in response to the proposed amendment to the Zoning Bylaw that would allow a seating expansion at the Demitasse Bakery Store.  Mr. Holmes said that the residents would appreciate being a part of the process and that they support the current operation of Demitasse.

 

However, said Mr. Holmes, the McNeill/Roslyn Community Association’s concerns stem from the proposed seating being doubled from 10 to 20 seats and the anticipated increase in traffic and parking, potential damage to parked resident vehicles, noise and air pollution, additional idling delivery vehicles, and an increased threat to the safety of children in the neighbourhood. 

 

Another concern, said Mr. Holmes would be the potential traffic and pedestrian traffic flow changes due to the reconfiguration of Monterey School. 

 

In conclusion, Mr. Holmes said the community would have appreciated being a part of the consulting process from the onset. 

 

When asked by a member of the Committee if the concerns noted were also directed to de’lish Fine Foods and Catering located at 677 St. Patrick Street, Mr. Holmes indicated that he did have the same types of concerns in relation to that property.  He further added that there has been no consultation on what the impacts of adding seating capacity will be at either establishment.  Mr. Holmes drew attention to the role of the Official Community Plan in forming the basis of how residents want their community to be. 

 

Martin Kors, 1030 Roslyn Road, commented that although he supports Demitasse and it is a good place to meet the neighbours, he has three children and is concerned about their safety due to parked vehicles causing limited visibility.  Mr. Kors referred to page 65 of the Official Community Plan, noting that the highest portion of children living in an area in Oak Bay is the Roslyn and McNeill residential neighbourhood.

 

Judith Andersen, 1265 Roslyn Road, said it is wonderful having businesses that mix in with the neighbourhood and offer a place to mingle, noting she does not see how ten seats could produce that many more delivery trucks or traffic.  Ms. Andersen suggested that the parked cars provide traffic calming and that she looks forward to the proposed changes to de’lish and Demitasse.

 

Kent Jackson, 1050 Roslyn Road, commented that more seating and people will add more traffic to his neighbourhood.  Mr. Jackson also expressed the view that Demitasse and de’lish should be considered as separate issues.

 

Glenn Milbury, 1027 Roslyn Road, expressed his concern that residents were only notified of the potential increased seating at Demitasse by way of a newspaper article, to which Councillor Cassidy responded by outlining the required public hearing process, should the application proceed to that point. 

 

Mr. Milbury stated that the proposed changes seem to be “ad hoc” and agreed with earlier comments that the proposed changes would result in increased large truck deliveries.  He also said that the Municipality should wait and see what the change in traffic patterns may be due to the Monterey School re-configuration before changing the zoning regulations.

 

Jack Scissons, 657 St. Patrick Street, said he lives two lots down from de’lish and the commercial area at St. Patrick and Central, noting that there are only three parking stalls in front of the hair salon for all the businesses.  Mr. Scissions said he delivered a notice to the neighbours strongly opposing the increased seating at de’lish.  The concerns he expressed were with respect to limited parking availability, the early morning delivery times, noisy vehicle idling, speeding traffic and the danger to children.

 

Mr. Scissions urged the Municipality to consider posting new ‘residential parking only’ and ‘no idling’ signs in the area.  He also suggested changing the St. Patrick Street and Central Avenue intersection to a four-way stop. 

 

Nancy Pekter, 2160 McNeill Avenue, said that the Demitasse owners, Kathryn and Rob, are good neighbours and that she is happy with the status quo but wishes for some improvements as identified in her letter.  Ms. Pekter commented that she is concerned with the proposed increase in seating, and drew attention to the fact that Kathryn and Rob may not always be the owners of this business and another owner could be less congenial.

 

With respect to a portion of the rental unit attached to Demitasse potentially being reduced in size to accommodate the proposed increase in seating, Ms. Pekter expressed concern that small quiet families may no longer ‘fit’ as tenants and that there could be a potential to limit the type of future renters. 

 

Ms. Petker noted that while her family personally experiences parking issues being adjacent to a business, from a community safety perspective there are also other issues.  She went on to note that the crosswalk lines are faint and with parking in the area being an issue, delivery trucks stop in front of the crosswalk causing a visual obstruction for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and further, she said,  the crosswalk is part of the route to both St. Michaels and Monterey Schools. 

 

Jim O’Connell, 650 St. Patrick Street, referred to the memorandum from the Director of Building and Planning (correspondence item no. 2007-202) attached to the agenda package regarding seating.  Mr. O’Connell said that de’lish has always offered seating and light meals since opening in May. 

 

Chris Goudie, 989 Victoria Avenue, said that the neighbours are not opposed to the current business, and noted that Demitasse was already in operation when he bought his house.  If the increased seating goes through as proposed it will double the capacity and increase demand for parking, negatively impacting the neighbourhood, he said.   As it is, said Mr. Goudie, vehicles have to back out to leave the premises and his car has been hit two times on McNeill Avenue.

 

Richard Mimick, 1019 Roslyn Road, said he lives across the street from Demitasse and has incurred property damage including his cars being hit three times.  Mr. Mimick advised the Committee of issues that affect him, such as truck lights shining in the windows during early morning deliveries, noise and pollution, garbage from customers strewn on his property, and on occasion unattended or noisy dogs.   When the property was rezoned ten years ago he said, the neighbours were forced to capitulate to the changes at that time, saying the current proposal for more seating should be rejected now. 

 

Mr. Mimick said he felt that the neighbours should have been notified at the onset of the current rezoning application, and urged Council to look at the Official Community Plan goals and objectives with a respect to keeping the ‘residential nature of the neighbourhood’ in tact.

 

Kathryn Pineo, 2164 McNeill Avenue, co-owner, Demitasse Bakery Store, said she and her partner previously lived at Demitasse with their three children, noting that they are still residents of Oak Bay.  Their goal, Ms. Pineo said, has been to run the business together and feel proud of it being a part of the community. 

 

Ms. Pineo, responding to previous comments, said they try to be good neighbours and have addressed the concerns as best they can, such as limiting the times and number of deliveries, requesting truck drivers to shut off their engines, posting ‘idle free zone’ signs, and composting to reduce waste removal.  Commercial businesses, Ms. Pineo noted, are required by the District of Oak Bay to arrange for independent recycle pickup, which takes place once a week.  Further, she said, regular attempts are made to clean up garbage in the surrounding area, which is often distributed by crows.   As for the rental suite, she said, it is intended for it to continue to be a family residence in the future.

 

Ms. Pineo commented that as a property owner in the area they were not invited to participate in the newly formed McNeill/Roslyn Community Association.  

 

With respect to concerns about vehicle damage, Ms. Pineo suggested that residents put their cars at risk of being hit by vehicles backing out of the parking lot when they park on McNeill Avenue to discourage customers parking on the street.

 

Since the 1930’s, she said, this location has been home to a variety of stores operating in the community.  As for the proposed increase in seating, Ms. Pineo said that they are not planning to change the nature of the business but just want to add a few more seats, which she said, she would like to have inside.

 

Rob Rogers, 2164 McNeill Avenue, co-owner, Demitasse Bakery Store, said both he and Kathryn are emotional about this and find it hard to be criticized by the community so harshly.  There are some neighbours that will not speak to them, Mr. Rogers said. 

 

With respect to their previous rezoning application ten years ago, said Mr. Rogers, Council accepted an offer for Demitasse Bakery Store to register a covenant against its title to restrict the hours of business from 7 o’clock a.m. to 10 o’clock p.m..

 

Mr. Rogers said he has tried to explain to the neighbours that have asked, that Demitasse did not initiate the application for rezoning at this time, but that it was suggested at a recent meeting of Council that staff meet with the business owners of de’lish and Demitasse to discuss the needs of both businesses that could benefit from the proposed rezoning to allow seating for up to 20 customers, which they would welcome.

 

McNeill Avenue is busy, Mr. Rogers agreed, but the traffic is not all due to Demitasse; if anything, he said, having the business there likely calms traffic.

 

Attention was drawn to concerns raised by residents regarding traffic safety and parking issues, and it was suggested that up-to-date traffic counts and information on accident statistics and parking would be useful at this point in the process prior to considering moving forward with the proposed zoning changes.

 

It was noted that the increase in seating was not formally initiated by Demitasse, although it was acknowledged that the changes are desired by its owners, and questions arose regarding the proposed change to 20 seats for both establishments.  It was pointed out that when de’lish Fine Foods and Catering opened they believed they could put seats in, similar to those associated with the previous establishment, Boland’s Bakery.  It was then suggested at the last meeting of Council that if de’lish was seeking zoning changes to allow seating for the consumption of its foods on the premises, it may be desirable to have similar zoning regulations for Demitasse.

 

Mayor Causton recalled that some years back, when he had come into contact with them through his restaurant business, he had encouraged the owners of Demitasse to go into business themselves as he felt confident in their ability to be successful business owners at that time, and that he felt they had done a fine job with Demitasse.  He also noted that prospective business owners had spoken to him about the de’lish property, and that he feels both those businesses have the ability to build community through providing an opportunity for neighbours to connect.

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Herbert, That it be recommended to Council that staff prepare a report on traffic counts, accident reports and parking for the area surrounding 677 St. Patrick Street and 2164 McNeill Avenue to be brought forward to a future Committee of the Whole meeting.

 

CARRIED

 

 

Blethering Place Collector Car Festival and Bowker Creek Brush up

 

Mayor Causton expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the Blethering Place Collector Car Festival and the Bowker Creek Brush Up held August 12th saying both events were a great success.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOVED by Councillor Cassidy

Seconded by Councillor Herbert, That the meeting of Committee of the Whole be adjourned.

 

CARRIED

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:52 p.m.

 

Certified Correct:

 

 

 

 

Municipal Clerk

 

 

 

 

Chairman, Recreation Section

 

 

 

Chairman, Public Works Section

 

 

 

 

Chairman, Traffic Section

 

 

 

Chairman, Land Use Section