Dec 7 - Today at council: Housing issues of all kinds

Good morning !

We’ve got our classic council-roundup format for you today. Victoria council is looking at all sorts of housing issues, from constructing towers to renting rooms, and from local projects to federal priorities.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 8 / 1

Tomorrow: ☀️ 8 / 3

Saturday: 🌧️ 7 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria council looking at multiple housing projects & policies today

Changes to fees for short-term rentals and for developers are on the table today, along with a plea to the feds, tweaks to renovation taxes and Missing Middle, and these two prominent developments:

New towers pitched for Yates at Cook

Today’s 9am Committee of the Whole (COTW) will include a proposal to build 483 units on Yates in a 25-storey and a 15-storey tower connected by a 5-storey base. Like several projects in that part of Harris Green, it would replace a car dealership lot (Pacific Mazda). 

Developer Chard seeks more height than the standard zoning of 17 storeys. Chard is completing a multi-phase project for that block, which was originally started by Jawl Properties and produced the nearby Dalmatian affordable housing building (connected to the new fire hall).  

Abkhazi Gardens zoning trade 

Also on the COTW agenda is the latest stage for a long-standing proposal from developer Aryze that would allow 31 units in four-storey buildings while officially protecting nearby Abkhazi Gardens in exchange. The gardens would be down-zoned and heritage-protected in order to prevent future development. City staff supported the project but have a number of notes such as changes to bike stalls and green space. 

Review of Development Cost Charges (DCCs)

Today’s Committee will hear a staff report on DCCs, which are charged to developers and used to fund local infrastructure. Staff seek direction during this check-in on the policy, which happens about once every five years.

Council was interested in waiving DCCs for non-market rentals and non-profit housing; staff advise to help those entities through grants rather than through outright waivers. Staff also recommend that the city not alter three current exemptions to paying DCC:

• Projects under 4 units (the cutoff could technically be lowered)

• Units under 27m² / 290 sq. ft. (cutoff could be raised)

• Projects under $50K (could be raised)

New housing motions proposed at COTW

• Reducing some short-term rentals’ 2024 fees 
  STRs operating under local exceptions should have city fees reduced, the motion argues, because new BC legislation will shut them down less than halfway through 2024. 

• Asking the feds to double affordable housing commitment
  Coun. Dave Thompson’s motion calls for the city to pursue a co-ordinated plan with all three levels of government to “immediately and rapidly” increase funding of deeply affordable, co-operative, supportive, student, and seniors’ housing, and to double the relative share of non-market community housing. 

At the council meeting later today

This afternoon there will be readings of two policy changes intended to help spur housing stock construction and maintenance:

• Missing Middle rule rollbacks [some described here] reducing the requirements and restrictions in the new policy, which has so far not spurred construction as much as hoped.

• A tax incentive for revitalizations of market rental buildings, to reduce emissions or seismic risk.

To watch the meetings or read more from the agendas, go here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Driving past Parksville today? Highway 4 at Cameron Lake Bluffs section closed from 9am-1pm for debris cleanup.

Mount Washington opens tomorrow.

NEWS

Dollars for drones & paper for plankton:
2 Island companies get cleantech funding

Innovate BC is providing funding to two local companies to support and advance the province’s cleantech sector. 

1. Industrial Plankton
   The company designs and builds live algae culture equipment. The funding will allow it to prove the performance of its new seaweed bioreactors, and demonstrate the capabilities of the system in the ocean. Seaweed production has benefits for climate change and ocean health, and many companies rely on algae for the production of pharmaceuticals, omega-3 oils, and more. 

2. Aerometrix Systems 
   Aerometrix develops and uses sensor-equipped drones to survey and measure greenhouse and hazardous gas emissions at landfills, dams, gas wells, processing plants, pipelines, and dairy feedlots.
   The company plans to use the money to help fund its GasMap product which is a drone-based laser spectrometer system that detects the source and scale of methane emissions. 

Learn more about the companies, their projects, and the environmental impacts in the full story at the Vic Tech Journal.

SPONSORED BY UVIC CONTINUING STUDIES

Shorter, immersive learning is on the rise

With more layoffs, pivots, and career changes happening every day, more people are turning to online learning to upskill or reskill, and it’s no surprise. 

“Between climate change, new technologies, shifting demographics, and the recent pandemic, there is a lot happening in the workforce these days,” says Jo-Anne Clarke, dean of Continuing Studies at the University of Victoria (UVic). “These are big, complex trends to grapple with—exciting and scary at the same time.”

Professionals are busy and want more control over the opportunities that will fit their schedules and lifestyles. Jo-Anne mentions the surge in micro-credentials—short, focused learning opportunities—from something as universal as Essential Soft Skills Training to co-developing custom training options with organizations.

Interested in learning more? Explore our professional development programs.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎼 Carolling at Victoria city hall: Guests can join in towards the end as Margaret Jenkins Elementary sings in the antechamber. 

🤰 What every pregnant woman needs to know about how to improve pelvic health outcomes during labor. Join Tall Tree’s Pelvic Floor Birth Prep class on January 20 to find out.* 

🍪 Made Here Holiday Market features 20 Island and BC artisanal vendors. 

📈 Join over 2000 subscribers getting the latest insights on our region's pressing economic issues like housing, healthcare, and more from South Island Prosperity Partnership’s weekly newsletter.*

🤝 Now hiring: Manager - The Dining Room Restaurant at The Butchart Gardens. 

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Medical event kills driver; minivan crashes into Saanich house
The woman, 46, was pronounced dead at the scene of yesterday morning’s low-speed crash on Rogers near the Pat Bay Highway, Saanich Police said. There were no injuries to passengers or residents.

Victoria man dies waiting for chemo: Opts for assisted death
The grandfather, 52, chose MAID (medical assistance in dying) because, his family says, he was in so much pain and unable to walk or eat. After 10 weeks in hospital he did not want to keep waiting on a timetable for chemo, they said. Long wait times have forced the BC government to send some cancer patients for treatment in Washington state clinics. [Vancouver Sun]

Bus tap payments come to Comox Valley, Campbell River, and Port Alberni
BC Transit’s new UMO system featuring reloadable cards and apps, is in operation up-Island, with first-day runs slated to have begun yesterday. The pay system was introduced in Victoria in Aug. and in Nanaimo, last month and is to be instituted in 24 more BC communities. [BC Transit]

SPONSORED BY HEATHER FERGUSON

Something beautiful! Jazz with Heather Ferguson

Prepare for an enchanting evening of jazz as vocalist Heather Ferguson takes the stage at Hermann's Jazz Club in Victoria on Dec. 8. With Tony Genge, Scott White, Kelby MacNayr, Alfons Fear, and Ryan Oliver, and special guest, Attila Fias. Musical magic with original songs and timeless jazz standards.

Get your tickets here!

🗓️ Things to do

♯ Music in a Victorian Drawing Room: Gwyneth Evans will transport you with her harp playing. Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum. Tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

🕯️Colombian Christmas Market: Prepare for the Night of Little Candles and celebrate Colombian culture with a variety of vendors. Victoria Event Centre. Today. 3-6pm. Free. [Info]

🎸 Tribute to Wayne Shorter: The David Santana Quintet will pay homage to the legendary American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. Hermann’s. Tonight. 7pm. [Details]

🎶 K-Pop Night: Check out the 3-screen K-Pop extravaganza. Lucky Bar. Tonight. 10pm. [Tickets]

🎮 Game: Play is a theatre show about games and wonders. Belfry’s BMO Studio Theatre. Thu. to Sun. until Dec. 16. [Details]   

👀 In Case You Missed It

Blue Box changes to CRD’s recycling service in the new year. 

New Biggs killer whale calf: The calf has an orange tint and was spotted near the T0468B pod. [Photo via PWWA] 

Largest spill response ship in Canada at Ogden Point: It’s being retrofitted with $6M of equipment and will be used in the event of an oil spill on the BC coastline. [Capital Daily]

That’s it!

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