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, November 5, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

 

PRESENT:

Mayor C. M. Causton, Chairman

Councillor H. Braithwaite (arrived at 8:22 p.m.)

Councillor S. F. B. Carson 

Councillor P. Copley

Councillor J. Herbert

Councillor N. B. Jensen

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.

 

FINANCE SECTION: (Acting Chairman – Mayor Causton)

 

1.

2007-292

MUNICIPAL TREASURER, October 29, 2007

Re Funding of Post 2004 Capital Regional District Debt Costs

 

In January 2007, Council requested that, at the appropriate time, the Municipal Treasurer bring forward for review the current method of recovering sewer debt costs through utility billing and property taxes.  Ms. Walker noted that prior to 2005 all sewer costs were collected through the property taxes.  Now, she said, Oak Bay funds 70% of the municipal portion of sewer costs as well as the costs relating to any new sewer debt incurred by the Capital Regional District (CRD) for Oak Bay sewer projects through the user charge based on water consumption and 30% is collected through property taxes.  

 

When the current method of recovering costs was originally introduced, Ms. Walker advised that the charges were calculated based on 80% of water consumption due to the fact that not all water goes into the sewers, particularly during the summer months when homeowners are irrigating their property.  Ms. Walker recently re-evaluated a number of properties for the billing period of May to September and found that the percentage of the water consumption in relation to sewer discharge should be reduced to 60%, which will be reflected in the sewer user charge bylaw amendment that will be coming forward.

 

While the majority of Council did not express a desire to change the current formula for collecting sewer costs, a member of the Committee reiterated his opposing points of view as expressed in past years with respect to a portion of sewer charges being collected through utility billing versus being collected through taxation. 

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Carson, That the percentage of water consumption used to calculate the 70% of the sewer costs collected through utility billing be reduced from 80% to 60%.

 

CARRIED

(Councillor Herbert against the motion)

 

PUBLIC WORKS SECTION: (Chairman – Councillor Herbert)

 

2.

2007-293

2007-293-1

 

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, November 1, 2007

SHARON KINAHAN, October 24, 2007

Re Boulevard Encroachment Application – 1021 Island Road

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That it be recommended to Council that approval be given for a boulevard encroachment adjacent to 1021 Island Road for the purpose of installing landscaping, as shown on the sketch attached to correspondence item no. 2007-293-1, subject to the plantings being maintained free and clear of any manhole or other municipal appurtenance for a distance of not less than 1.5 metres, and subject to the owners entering into a boulevard encroachment agreement on terms set by the Municipality.

 

CARRIED

 

3.

2007-294

 

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, November 1, 2007

Re Boulevard Encroachment Application – 959 Island Road

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That it be recommended to Council that approval be given for a boulevard encroachment adjacent to 959 Island Road for the purpose of installing landscaping, as shown on the sketches attached to correspondence item no. 2007-294, and subject to the owners entering into a boulevard encroachment agreement on terms set by the Municipality.

 

CARRIED

 

LAND USE SECTION: (Acting Chairman – Mayor Causton)

 

4.

2007-295

DIRECTOR OF BUILDING AND PLANNING, October 19, 2007

Re Development Variance Permit Application – 2032 Esplanade

 

The Director of Building and Planning provided an overview of the applicants request to demolish the existing house on the small lot and construct a new house in almost the same footprint, which would require a number of variances as laid out in his memorandum.

 

A previous application was made, and notice sent to residents, he said.  However, this new application replaces the old one, and would require notice being given again, should the application move forward.

 

It was noted that the current house is legal non-conforming with respect to height and setbacks and that the new house is very similar in dimensions to the current house with the biggest exception being the height of the proposed house increasing by approximately five feet.   

 

A member of the Committee encouraged the owners to consider deconstructing the old house and recycling materials wherever possible.   

 

Christian Gaujous, Castel Design, responded by saying that the homeowners looked into moving the house but were told that the house was too small and it would not be worthwhile to barge or move the house.  Mr. Gaujous indicated that they have contacted various recycling companies to arrange salvaging as many of the deconstructed materials as possible.

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Herbert, That a resolution authorizing the issuance of a development variance permit for 2032 Esplanade be prepared and brought forward to Council for formal consideration.

 

CARRIED

 

5.

2007-296

DIRECTOR OF BUILDING AND PLANNING, October 30, 2007

Re Development Variance Permit Application – 520 Falkland Road

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Herbert, That a resolution authorizing the issuance of a development variance permit for 520 Falkland Road be prepared and brought forward to Council for formal consideration.

 

CARRIED

 

6.

2007-297

2007-297-1

DIRECTOR OF BUILDING AND PLANNING, October 30, 2007

EVELYN HAMBLEY, [Undated]

Re  574 Island Road:

      1)  Development Variance Permit Application

      2) Request to Undertake Work on Trees Protected by Restrictive

           Covenant

 

The Director of Building and Planning explained that the applicants wish to develop the rear yard by constructing a paved patio and pathway areas, which are considered to be structures, and as such, are limited to 5% of the total lot area.  The proposed works would develop more that 5% of the total lot area as patio, therefore requiring a development variance permit. 

 

Staff responded to various questions from the Committee with respect to the application and the proposed plans, noting that the proposed patio wall would be three to four feet high in most places, and that patio stones would be utilized as well as concrete.

 

Attention was drawn to the two restrictive covenants registered against the property, and the Municipal Administrator advised that the covenant between the applicant’s property and an adjoining property owner was now spent and of no further effect.  However, he said, the covenant registered in favour of the Municipality was implemented when the re-subdivision of the area took place and is binding today.  At the time of subdivision, said Mr. Cochrane, Calvert Crescent was a well used pathway, and there was a desire to ensure that the rear yards of the lots in the new subdivision adjacent to Calvert Crescent remained in a natural state so as to not change the forested ambience of the area.  For this reason, the covenant was registered to prohibit any work on trees on those lots without Council permission and to prohibit the construction of any buildings within the back 50 feet of the lots.

 

Responding to questions, Mr. Cochrane agreed that the development variance permit application is out of keeping with what the Council of the day had in mind when placing the covenant against the property, but the plans do not contravene the covenant.

 

Marke Hambley, 574 Island Road, assured members of the Committee that he is sensitive to keeping the spirit of the environment, and feels that his proposed plans will enhance as well as beautify the area.  Dr. Hambley noted that with the sloping property the proposed expansion to the patio would provide more use of his yard. 

 

Further questions arose regarding the application, and it was suggested that it would be helpful if the Designer was in attendance to respond.  Noting this and the fact that some members of the Committee had not yet been able to visit the site, Mayor Causton suggested that a site visit with members of the Committee, the homeowner and the architect be set up prior to a recommendation being made as to whether or not to proceed to the next step of the development variance permit process.

 

Mayor Causton indicated that the request to undertake work on trees protected by the restrictive covenant registered to this property would also be addressed at the next scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting.

 

Councillor Braithwaite arrived at the meeting at 8:22 p.m.

 

MOVED by Councillor Herbert

Seconded by Councillor Jensen, That the development variance permit application and the request to undertake work on trees protected by a restrictive covenant be deferred to the next scheduled meeting of Committee of the Whole.

 

CARRIED

 

7.

2007-298

2007-298-1

2007-298-2

2007-298-3

2007-298-4

2007-298-5

2007-298-6

2007-298-7

2007-298-8

2007-298-9

2007-298-10

2007-298-11

2007-298-12

2007-298-13

2007-298-14

 

MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATOR, August 29, 2007

RICK GONDER, August 22, 2007

CAROLYN CHODECK et al, [Undated]

MARGARET MORRISON, August 29, 2007

SAFER CYCLING OAK BAY, September 3, 2007

CYNTHIA BENNETT, September 4, 2007

ANIELA WOODWARD, September 4, 2007

PHILIP JACKSON, September 9, 2007

DIANE DAVIS, September 10, 2007

JOE KERKHOVEN, September 25, 2007

ERIC NIELSEN, October 9, 2007

DONNA AND BRIAN MCCONNELL, October 9, 2007

ELANA SCRABA, October 12, 2007

LUCILE AND NORMAN HUTCHINGS, October 15, 2007

RICK AND JILL LEE, October 15, 2007

Re Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment/Official Community Plan Amendment for Municipal Parking Lot at 1531 Hampshire Road

 

The Municipal Administrator noted that at its August 13, 2007 meeting, the Committee of the Whole requested that staff 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. 

 

Drawing attention to his memorandum, the Municipal Administrator noted that the property was purchased with funds from the Land Sale Reserve Fund with the intention of eventually developing the property for parking use.  

 

With respect to the rental income from the house currently on the property, Mr. Cochrane commented that the net proceeds are returned to the Land Sale Reserve Fund and are not treated as current revenue so there are no property tax implications with respect to the loss of income.

 

The allowable uses of the Parking Reserve Fund would include parking areas in and around the Village, said Mr. Cochrane, and as an example, some of the funds have been used for creating parking under the library and constructing the parking lot across the street from the Monterey Centre.

 

Members of the Committee expressed their views and concerns regarding 1531 Hampshire Road being developed into a parking lot.  It was suggested that the current proposal before the Committee does not offset the removal of any current Village parking in the effort to move towards a more walkable or environmentally ‘clean’ Village through widening sidewalks, and therefore some members of the Committee felt it was not supportable.

 

It was the view of some members of the Committee that the information obtained from the comprehensive traffic and parking studies supplied in relation to the Penny Farthing Public House development did not seem to indicate that there was a great demand for additional parking in the Village.

 

Mayor Causton commented that with respect to the neighbouring residents, it would appear that they are reasonably satisfied with the current parking regulations.  However, he said that while walking the area at various times of the day, it was observed that many of the Village employees are parking close to the businesses and he pointed out that there are various sites available for employee parking such as at the United Church, Fireman’s Park, and on weekends the Municipal Hall parking lot sits virtually empty.   

 

It was the consensus of the Committee that although at some point there would be a need to address parking in the Village and to utilize the Parking Reserve Fund that has been contributed to by developers for that purpose, it was agreed that at this time the plan for the parking lot at 1531 Hampshire Road should not be proceeded with. 

 

Mayor Causton thanked Councillor Herbert for his diligent efforts in exploring alternate parking options in the Village as he had been requested to do.

 

MOVED by Councillor Herbert

Seconded by Councillor Braithwaite, That correspondence items no. 2007-298 to 2007-298-14 be received.

 

CARRIED

 

8.

 

2007-299

2007-299-1

2007-299-2

2007-299-3

2007-299-4

2007-299-5

2007-299-6

2007-299-7

2007-299-8

2007-299-9

2007-299-10

2007-299-11

2007-299-12

2007-299-13

2007-299-14

2007-299-15

2007-299-16

 

 

MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATOR, October 16, 2007

DE’LISH FINE FOODS AND CATERING, October 31, 2007

D. E. BIRD, August 25, 2007

RAY ELFORD, September 10, 2007

SCOTT AND SANDI PIERCY, October 14, 2007

DIANE AND PAUL ERICKSON, October 16, 2007

CLAIRE PATERSON, October 18, 2007

JENNIFER DEROCHER, October 19, 2007

SOPHIE DRINNAN AND MARY UNWIN, October 28, 2007

JOHN PIRQUET, October 27, 2007

LAUREL BOWMAN, October 29, 2007

DOUG AND BARB RUTHERFORD, October 29, 2007

JANE WEBB AND FAMILY, October 30, 2007

JAMES BAIRD, October 18, 2007

JAMES BAIRD, November 2, 2007

MARY DOUGLAS HUNT, October 19, 2007

MICHAEL WEBB et al, November 2, 2007

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

2164 McNeill Avenue

 

The Municipal Administrator provided an overview regarding de’lish Fine Foods and Catering’s application to amend the Zoning Bylaw to allow dining on the premises and to permit the associated seating.  Mr. Cochrane reiterated the possible options he drew attention to at a previous meeting for the Committee’s consideration:

 

1)         deny the rezoning application for 677 St. Patrick Street, which would see the zoning remain as C-1 which allows a small array of uses that does not include a delicatessen, or seating for food consumption, therefore de’lish would have to revert back to what is permitted;

2)         create a new zone for de’lish only that would allow twenty seats, which would leave Demitasse at ten seats, with an option to apply for rezoning to allow twenty seats;

3)         rezone de’lish to C-4, the same as Demitasse, and also increase the number of allowable seating from ten to twenty seats in that zone;

4)         rezone de’lish to C-4, the same zoning for Demitasse, which currently allows ten seats.

 

From the four options, staff was directed to draft an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw, which is attached to correspondence item no. 2007-299, to rezone de’lish to C-4, the same as Demitasse, and also increase the number of allowable seating from ten to twenty seats in that zone, said Mr. Cochrane. 

 

With respect to the Zoning Bylaw amendment before the Committee, Mr. Cochrane drew attention to his memorandum describing the reasons for the re-write which represents a more extensive revision than just substituting “10 seats” for “20 seats”. 

 

It was further noted by Mr. Cochrane that the draft bylaw contains a new section that would restrict the location on the property for outdoor seating and for the location of any outdoor display of produce and other goods. 

 

Following discussion with respect to the sections of the draft bylaw addressing outdoor use, it was the view of the Committee that the section restricting the siting of outdoor seating on an exterior lot line to 3.65 metres from such a lot line where adjacent to a residential zone, and that prohibiting the display of goods for sale along an exterior lot line where adjacent to a residential zone, were not necessary.

       

Regarding delivery vehicle noise and parking, it was observed by a member of the Committee that the parking seems to be more of an issue in the vicinity of Demitasse than de’lish and he felt that this issue could be addressed by working with the owners of Demitasse and that the noise concerns could be addressed through the Anti-Noise Bylaw.  It was also noted by a member of the Committee that cars back out onto Roslyn Road in front of the Demitasse and that Engineering could possibly consider a reconfiguration of the parking or consideration could be given to installing a sidewalk on Roslyn Road to help alleviate some of the safety concerns in the area.

 

In response, the Director of Engineering Services acknowledged that the parking adjacent to Demitasse along Roslyn Road could interfere with a sidewalk installation.  As well, Mr. Marshall indicated that it is unclear as to whether this parking area spans public or private property.

 

The issue of whether or not a separate zone should be considered in relation to the rezoning application for 677 St. Patrick Street versus potentially including it in the C-4 zone and increasing the seating in the C-4 zone, thereby affecting 2164 McNeill Avenue, the only other C-4 zoned property, was raised once again.  While there was some support noted for dealing with 677 St. Patrick Street separate from 2164 McNeill Avenue the Committee did not make a change from its previous decision to continue down the path of considering changes in the zoning in relation to both properties.

 

MOVED by Councillor Jensen

Seconded by Councillor Copley, That the draft Zoning Bylaw attached to the memorandum from the Municipal Administrator (correspondence item no. 2007-299) be amended to only restrict the siting of outdoor seating to 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) from an exterior side lot line and to permit the display of goods for sale along an exterior side lot line up to 1.5 metres from a principal building, and that the draft Bylaw, as amended, be brought forward to the next meeting of Council for formal consideration.

 

CARRIED

 

ADJOURNMENT:

                                   

MOVED by Councillor Herbert

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

 

CARRIED

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

 

 

Certified Correct:

 

 

 

 

Municipal Clerk

 

 

 

 

Acting Chairman, Finance Section

 

 

 

Acting Chairman, Land Use Section

 

 

 

 

Chairman, Public Works Section