Link to letter on the Times Colonist website
Oversized proposal returns to council
James Bay voters will be watching closely this Thursday as Victoria council’s committee of the whole makes a decision regarding another oversized and out-of-character housing proposal not unlike the recently rejected brutalist condo tower on Blanshard.
The focus this week is on a 5-1/2 story building proposed for a single lot at 50 Government St. If approved, it will completely overwhelm its site, its neighbours and additionally make mock of last year’s OCP update.
I’d like to add my voice to that of the city staff who’s report to council on this matter concludes: “The proposed variances to the frontage and setbacks are not supportable as the scale of the proposal is too large for the lot and reduced setbacks are contrary to guidelines as it relates to building orientation and perimeter block form. The recommendation is therefore to decline the application.”
This is the ninth revised submission by the same proponent. Again it seeks multiple extensive variances to design, height and setback guidelines.
Repeated non-compliant submissions are a waste of city staff and council time and resources, aka taxpayer dollars.
Time to say that no means no!
—Terry Loeppky, Victoria