85 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Developers and the public are tired and worn down by the pick-apart style of scrutiny that involves staff (an ever changing make-up of staffers), CALUCs, special interest groups, the general public and eventually council. If a project meets the OCP objective, it shouldn’t get mired by years of controversy.

 

Especially when there is no proof this delivers a better outcome.

 

Gatekeepers gonna 'keep.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 September 2023 - 06:31 AM.

[Mike K.]

Ten years ago, we all remember the handwringing over 15 storeys. Now that’s an irrelevant height, with buildings approved at up to 32. Some projects dragged out for years to secure 14 floors. The outcome was ultimately less housing. Extrapolate that across 50 projects since 1990, each carving off a floor or five, and you’ve got at least a hundred storeys of unbuilt housing in already completed buildings.

Lame.

[dkuitu]

This thing should be 30+ stories.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria approves 91-unit project at Quadra and Fisgard with minimal parking

Project that replaces 15-unit apartment proposes four parking stalls while existing zoning calls for at least 60

https://www.timescol...parking-7551568

The project itself didn’t come in for a lot of criticism, but councillors Stephen Hammond and Marg Gardiner, who voted against approval, were concerned about city staff recommending that the project bypass a public hearing.

Gardiner noted that, in the past, surprising things have been brought up when the public gets a chance to weigh in.

“I think that I would support this, except that I think that there should be a public hearing,” she said.

City staff pointed out after the vote that the recommendation that the project bypass a public hearing was due to the fact it complied generally with the official community plan, and that it wasn’t a judgment call on the project itself.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 September 2023 - 04:52 AM.

[GaryOak]

I'm glad to see they are removing bureaucracy and getting things built!

Edited by GaryOak, 15 September 2023 - 07:29 AM.

[Mike K.]

Built is another matter! Approved for now.