Welcome to the Westshore! As a local reporter covering a beat of six municipalities, I’m deeply aware of the upcoming municipal election. But hanging out with a few friends last night I was reminded that most people are not that engaged in local politics.
I’d love to know where you’re at—do you know who you want to vote for? Have you ever voted in a municipal election? Are you interested but overwhelmed by the options? Let me know at zoe@thewestshore.ca.
Reporter, The Westshore
PUBLIC HEARING
Emotions run hot over Royal Beach rezoning application
Changes to the road planning in Royal Beach and the intersections at Metchosin Road.
The hillside atop Royal Beach has rapidly densified over the last seven years since GableCraft Homes began construction in the neighbourhood north of Latoria Road in Colwood. There are still more homes planned for that area, but most of the future growth will be in two other developments, one south of Latoria Road and the other east of Metchosin Road. GableCraft’s Latoria South complex used to be a gravel quarry, but will soon be a complex of 2,100 homes and a commercial centre that will include the Royal BC Museum’s new collections and research building.
On the other side of Metchosin Road is Royal Beach: a steep plot of waterfront land where co-developers Seacliff Properties and Reliance Properties have proposed 2,850 homes in a mix of single family houses, townhouses, and condominiums, some commercial space, and parks.
The Royal Bay Homeowners Association has that development under a microscope.
Residents filled Colwood council chambers last Thursday night for a public hearing about changes to Seacliff’s zoning plan.
Within the early plans for the development being called Royal Beach, developers had sketched out eight zones with roughly placed roads. On Thursday, Colwood council heard from the developer and the public regarding proposed changes to that zoning map—slight shifts in boundaries between the zones. Seacliff called the application a minor “housekeeping” change that came after their team worked out where roads would actually go.
But the Royal Bay Homeowners’ Association, led by president John English, came out in force to oppose the change. English told council, “The process is, in our opinion, severely tainted and that goes right into the heart of public trust.”
CAMPAIGN FINANCING
Olympic View density proposal came with “potential” conflict of interest
At the foot of Veterans Memorial Highway in Colwood, Olympic View golf course has a sprawling property with a yet-to-be constructed residential development plan. It was initially approved in 2002, and is just now getting closer to being built. The owner, Golf BC, has asked to utilize density bonus options that were not available 20 years ago.
The original plan was for 456 detached houses and townhouses, but with increased financial contribution to the city through community amenity contributions, the developer is asking to build an additional 124 homes as apartments. The contributions are earmarked for community amenities, affordable housing, and the fire hall. The increased contribution to the city adds up to $809,100.
On Sept. 26 at Colwood's council meeting where this increased density amendment was before council, Coun. Doug Kobayashi chose to recuse himself from one of two votes related to Olympic View, because he had received a $200 campaign donation from Len Wansbrough, who is affiliated with the Olympic View development, in 2018.
Kobayshi was not required to do so, but decided there was a “potential perceived conflict of interest.”
Mayor Rob Martin also received a $200 donation from Wansbrough in 2018, but did not recuse himself from making decisions on Olympic View for the same reasons Coun. Dean Jantzen explained earlier in the meeting.
Martin pointed out that since Kobayashi made a declaration of a conflict of interest, he may be prevented from any involvement in Olympic View decisions going forward—that is, if he successfully beats Martin in the bid to be Colwood’s mayor. According to the Community Charter, an elected official may withdraw their original declaration of conflict if they get legal advice that shows they’re not in conflict.
Kobayashi came back to the meeting, and did not recuse himself from the next agenda item, which dealt with community amenity contributions from Olympic View development. Both bylaws, the increased density and adjusted contributions, were passed.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Sooke looks at last pieces of business before election
In July, Sooke council agreed to give leniency to a local landowner who wants to subdivide family land from one large rural lot to three lots; the parents will live in the main house, build a second house for their daughter, and sell the third lot. But re-zoning requirements around individual driveways, frontage requirements, and new roads were making the idea prohibitive. They asked for accommodation before applying for rezoning, because if allowances were not made they would not proceed with the plan to subdivide. Council granted the variance, and now the family has formally applied for the rezoning. The public hearing was held Monday night, and council will decide in a future meeting whether to approve the rezoning.
In the Whiffin Spit neighbourhood, a homeowner is asking for permission to build a seawall to protect their yard from erosion. Normally a 15 metre buffer from the ocean prevents any structures from being built, so an exemption is required. Neighbouring properties already have seawall-like structures.
Sooke Fire Rescue is asking for permission to buy a $900,000 fire truck with debt financing. The truck it would replace still has three years of useful life, but the fire department says demand has increased and this unit has long been tagged for replacement.
A $4.5 million contact to expand Sooke’s wastewater treatment plant has been drafted for Industra Construction Corp., based in Surrey, pending council’s approval. Industra’s quote was lowest—four bids ranged from $4.5 to $6.3 million. The total cost of the upgrades is budgeted at $7.9 million. Sooke received a provincial grant for $4.6 million, and the rest will come from the sewer reserve fund and wastewater development cost charges fund.
Tonight the district will hold a public hearing to hear comments from the public about the Official Community Plan. There’s still one more meeting before this council dissolves ahead of the election, which means there’s a chance the OCP will be passed. Read on to catch up on the issues surrounding Sooke’s draft OCP.
Around the ’Shore
**🏥 Partial funding in place for dementia and long-term care facility in Colwood.**The Capital Regional Hospital District's 2023 budget includes $12.6 million towards the facility in Royal Bay, and another $211 million in the following three years. The CRHD will cover 30% of the total $224 million budget. The centre is planned like a small village, which has been shown to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia. This item was on the CRD’s budget last year too, and the total price has increased by about $18 million.
🌏 **Leave the earth better than you found it.*The 2022 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Awards gala celebrates innovation and regeneration with recipients Ratana and Arran Stephens, Nature’s Path Foods co-founders. Oct. 19 | Victoria Conference Centre
🗳 He doesn’t live in Langford, and has no political experience, but Scott Goodmanson is running for mayor of Langford anyways, hoping to take on political veteran, Stew Young. [Times Colonist]
💻 Victoria Tech Journal is your resource for chronicling and connecting Greater Victoria’s fast-growing tech ecosystem. Subscribe to the twice-weekly newsletter today to keep up.
🥇A Sooke octogenarian earned impressive hardware at the 55+ BC Games last week. [Sooke News]
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Meet your Westshore candidates
**Tonight:**Online forum with candidates for Colwood council, hosted by WestShore Chamber of Commerce. 6-8pm.
Tomorrow: Online forum with candidates for Langford council, hosted by WestShore Chamber of Commerce. 6-8pm.
**Thursday:**Online forum with candidates for View Royal council, hosted by WestShore Chamber of Commerce. Sept. 29, 6-8pm.
Saturday, Oct. 1: In-person forum for Sooke council candidates, hosted by Sooke Chamber of Commerce, Edward Milne Community School Society, and Sooke Multi-Belief Initiative. From 2-4pm at Edward Milne school.
**Sunday, Oct. 2:**Speed dating style Sooke candidate mixer hosted by Transition Sooke. At Sooke Community Hall, 2-6pm.
Tuesday, Oct. 4: All candidate forum in Metchosin, hosted by the Association for the Protection of Rural Metchosin. At the Metchosin Community Hall, 6:30pm.
**Sooke School Board:**The Sooke Parents’ Education Advisory Council is hosting forums for the Sooke School Board candidates. There are seven seats: four from the Belmont zone (Colwood, Highlands, Langford, and Metchosin), and three from the Milnes Landing Zone (Sooke and Port Renfrew). Submit questions here before the forums.
What’s Offshore?
Esquimalt Lagoon looking towards Washington State, taken on Sept. 27, 2022 (📸 Tom Gierasimczuk)
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🚢 #3The Polymniais a Bulk Carrier built in 2012 and is sailing under the flag of Marshall Island. It is sailing from 🇯🇵 Nagoya, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive last week but seems to be delayed.
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Westshore Snaps
A short boat ride from the Colwood shores takes you to Cole Island, and its historic Royal Navy ammunition storage buildings dating back to 1859. — Richard Steward, View Royal
📸 Snapped a photo you’d like to share? Send it with a caption and don’t forget to add where you live.