Good evening everyone, welcome to the June 22nd Regular Beauty
of Council. I'd like to first recognise we are gathered
on the traditional territory, the SNEMAC First Nation, our clerk
tonight will be Mishil Aguri. We also have councillors Prino
and Brown attending electronically tonight. Tonight's regular meeting of council
is being held in accordance with the community charter and
council procedure bylaw 2018 number 7272. So if during the
meeting any member of the gallery has a question regarding
an agenda item, write down your name in the agenda
item on the question period sign up sheet, which is
on the table by the double doors to my left.
And please note that the council procedure bylaw states that
questions will only be taken on staff reports consent items
or other business items. Looking around the audience, I sometimes
feel compelled to read a fairly lengthy bit of instruction
around public decorum and no clapping or cheering and things
of that nature. But I pretty much know everybody in
the audience tonight and you all look pretty civilised anyway.
So I'm going to dispense with that. The first item
on the agenda is the introduction of late items, Ms.
Gurry. Yes, thank you, your worship. Good evening. For late
items we have the addition of a delegation from Carl
Butterworth, director of Harbour Studios, Inc., and that is to
speak to 13C liquor license amendment application number LA15940 Skinner
Street. Thank you, worship. Thank you very much. Motion for
adoption of the agenda is amended. Move Councillor Thorpe, Second
of Councillor Hemmons, all those in favor and any opposed,
none motion carries. Motion for adoption of the minutes is
circulated, move councillor Armstrong, seconded councillor Eastmare, all those in
favor. Any opposed none motion carries. I have a couple
items for the mayor's report tonight. The first is a
little reminder for everyone that the city of Nanomal has
implemented stage three watering restrictions, which began on June the
8th in response to ongoing dry conditions and increased water
demand. The city's watershed is experienced almost two months without
significant rainfall, resulting in steadily declining reservoir levels. At the
same time, water uses risen to above average levels for
this time of year, placing increased pressure on available water
supplies. Understage three reducing outdoor water usage remains voluntary. However,
the city residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to reduce
consumption and eliminate unnecessary outdoor water use. You can take
proactive conservation measures, including the following, avoiding our significantly reducing
lawn watering, minimizing irrigation of landscapes, gardens, and ornamental plants.
Using water efficient methods such as hand watering or drip
irrigation, limited vehicle washing and other non - essential outdoor
use and fixing leaks and reducing indoor water use where
possible. We're also seeking in 2027 temporary public art program.
The city of Vienan was inviting artists to submit proposals
for the 2027 temporary public art program with projects initiated
in 2026 and installed in 2027. This is unique opportunity
for artists of all disciplines and backgrounds to help shape
the city's cultural landscape through public art. The temporary art
program is open to individual artists or artists teams and
welcomes a wide range of proposals, bearing in scale, scope,
and medium. From sculptural installations to socially engaged or community
- based projects, artwork must be designed to remain in
place for up to five years. An information session will
be held Thursday, August the 13th, 2026 at 5 p.
m. via Zoom. And Monday, September 21st, 2026 at 6
p. m. via Zoom. The deadline to submit proposals is
1159 p. m. Pacific time on October 18th, 2026. View
application details and requirements on the city's website. And of
course, we are approaching our nation's 159th birthday, and the
city invites all of you visitors and residents alike to
celebrate Canada Day at Mafeo Sutton Park on Wednesday, July
1st from 11. 30 a. m. to 3. 30 p.
m. The annual celebration will feature a full day of
live entertainment, cultural performances, family activities and community connection. The
festivities begin with opening ceremony in the main stage, followed
by our performance from Unite the Beat International Drumming throughout
the day the attendees can enjoy live music from cosmosaurus,
Lachke Kids, and outsir, as well as interactive performances from
the Harbour City Magicians. A cultural community stage will also
feature a variety of local performers and groups, including the
NINIMO Chinese cultural society, historical fencing club, Vancouver Island Bangra,
Squared Ansing, Ballroom Dancing, Vibrant Studios, Flowers of Nanomo Chinese
dancing Flamingo, and Latin Dance and Ballroom Line Dancing. In
addition to live entertainment, the event will feature games face
painting, bouncy castles, a photo booth, a flower wall, and
interactive booths from community organisations, including the City of the
Nineless Drowning Prevention Coalition. Food vendors will be available on
site along with a water - filled station to help
attend these stay hydrated throughout the celebration. And of course,
residents are encouraged to use alternative transportation as there will
be no general vehicle parking available at matheau - suttonpark
on Canada Day, except for limited accessible parking, free parking
will be available on city streets and in city -
owned parking lots. Again, free parking available on city, streets,
and insidioan parking lots. To support events success, the City
of the Nine was partnering with the regional district of
the NINIMO to provide free shuttle service when we're grove
mall and South Parkway Plaza, a free bike ballet service
will also be offered near the part providing secure bicycle
parking for attendees. I encourage everyone to come out. I
don't think there's a... The time in the last few
years in our troubled world where I think Canadians have
had a more interest and obviously I think comfort in
knowing that we really are the best nation on Earth
and it's a wonderful place to be, and we should
all be grateful for that. And speaking of gratitude, I
have one final item under the mayor's report. I seem
to have been doing this a little too often lately,
so I confess that I'm not getting used to it,
and I don't enjoy it anymore tonight than I've enjoyed
it on the other occasions in the last year or
two. Uh, the City of Nanaimo has had an outstanding
public service for a very long time, long before the
time I became mayor. And on behalf of city council
and staff and the citizens Deniamo, it is my privilege
tonight to extend to our friend Darcy Osborne, our heartfelt
congratulations as she retires after 30 - year career with
the city of Nanaima. Please, please, yes. Since joining the
Department of the City in 1996 in the parks and
Recreation Department, where she has worked her entire career in
eight different positions, she has exemplified that unwavering commitment, professionalism
and leadership that we have come to expect of senior
public servants, and those aspiring to be so. Uh, over
the course of her career, she served the community with
distinction in a wide range of rules that include recreation
programmer, coordinator, supervisor, manager, director, and acting general manager before
taking on the big role. In each of those positions,
she demonstrated a remarkably to inspire. Teams foster collaboration and
exceptional and deliver exceptional programs and services that enriched the
lives of residents across the normal for many, many years.
I think there is no question that our parks, recreation,
and culture department is outstanding. Uh, the people of this
community enjoy access to all kinds of recreation and cultural
activities that aren't necessarily the norm in other communities. Uh,
and sometimes we have taken that for granted just as
we've taken for granted the people who deliver those programs.
Um, Darcy, uh, he's left a pretty lasting imprint on
the department. Advanced division and strengthened its vital role in
building a healthy community. I would say that dedication and
passion and innovation are pretty much the hallmarks of what
she's done for us. For all of us. But it
helped create spaces and opportunities that have benefited generations of
the normal residents and will continue to do so. A
30 - year term is a remarkable thing. Um, you've
earned our admiration and our respect. Um, counsel is grateful
the community is grateful. The people you've worked with are
grateful, and we are going to miss you. The only
comfort I take in this is an entirely personal selfish
one. Um, Tom, her husband, who is also announced is
retirement as the head of parks and recreation for the
regional district of Nanaimo. So we're losing, this is a
twofer, not the kind of twofer that once were expected.
I will tell you honestly, I sent a note to
Tom congratulating him on his retirement and copied it to
Darcy and seeing only one Osborne at a time, even
though in my heart of hearts, I knew that something
like this might be coming. The fact that she is
a person of integrity and had the decency and honesty
not to respond to my comment told me everything I
needed to know that she was in fact stepping into
retirement. Uh, between the two of you. The citizens of
Nanaimo and the regional district have been ablely served. And
I just want to extend to you on behalf of
council and to Tom as well. Tonight our gratitude for
everything. It is a remarkable career and it's a remarkable
contribution. And we will miss you terribly. Although I do
look forward because they are early risers to walking dear
old Stella up and down Bay Street passed our house
where they catch me watering early sometimes, although they're often
done and finished by the time up because they are
too hardworking people of a generation that produced a lot
of hard workers. And it's been exemplified in your career.
So thank you. You are welcome to respond if you
would like, please. Your worship, thank you for such humbling
words. It has been generally an unbelievable honour to serve
our community. I have experiences and stories and friendships and
memories to lost a lifetime. And we work with amazing
people, the city of Nawal staff are incredibly hard -
working people who are committed to our community. And I've
seen that for the last 30 years. And I don't
see that changing in the future. Uh, we just live
in an amazing community. We have amazing recreation facilities. And
our city is just a beautiful city place to live.
That shows myth population growing the way it is. Um,
I feel that this is an incredibly, I'm incredibly lucky
person to have landed in the position that I did
in 1996 and to think that I can still be
sitting here 30 years later. And for that, I owe
appreciation to counsel and to my colleagues and all of
the people that I've had the privilege to work with
over the last 30 years. So thank you very much.
Thank you. Nothing too rise and report on Ms.
Gurry. We have no presentations. Committee minutes are just for
receipt. I'm asking for a motion for adoption of the
consent items. Moved Councillor Manley. Secretary Councillor Armstrong. Not seeing
anyone wanting to withdraw anything. All those in favor and
any opposed none motion carries. Thank you. Uh, on to
an item 11 delegations unrelated to agenda items. Tonight, we
are delighted to have Kamal Palmar, our former poet laureate
and Arlene Bundell, who enjoyed the culture award from the
city of Nanaimo. And welcome Eugena Mathewson, president of Project
Bookmark, Canada, who's attending via Zoom to answer questions if
necessary. Good evening to the two of you. Welcome. Five
minutes and I will let you know when the minute
left. If you're still talking. The floor is yours. And
welcome. Good evening everyone. Your worship Mayor Krog respected city
councillors guests and city staff. My name is Gamalpar and
my colleague here is Arlene Blunder. We also have the
president of the Board of Director Project Bookmark, Eudina Matheson
Over Zoom all the way from Hamilton, Ontario. Thank you
very much for permitting us time for our presentation to
give a talk about a project for which we are
very passionate about. We wish to help NaNIMO become a
destination city with the projects that would be part of
a national literary trail site called bookmarks. Project
bookmark Canada exists to mark our stories in our spaces
by placing fiction and poetry in the exact Canadian locations
where it re - scenes are set. From St. John's
harbour to the islands of Heidagoy from our populist Southern
border to the land above the tree line. Our stories
belong to these places. Building Canada's literary trail. A project
bookmark Canada is a nationally registered charitable organisation building Canada's
literary trail. Incorporated in 2007, it unveiled its first bookmark
in 2009 passage from the famous poet Michael on that
chair. In the skin of a lion at the Blue
Street Viaduct in Toronto. There are 30 plus bookmark and
more coming across nine provinces with dozens more in development.
Uh, this is just a map of Canada and showing
that in almost every province we have bookmarks. All provinces,
even BC. Victor. It's in Vancouver, but not on Vancouver
Island. So our effort and our request is that we
give us approval to PudnaNIMO on part of the Canadian
literary trail. This is a picture of the bookmark or
the black. Taken in Botox National Historic Site, which is
in Saskatchewan. And this is a poem. The swing circle
by the famous poet Greg Lee Schoolog. Let's look at
the vision. It's a vision is to create a permanent
series of site - specific literary exhibits using text from
imaging stories that take place in real locations. It's a
unique innovation. While many countries are produced to the nation's
stories and writers, no other country is creating a national
network of site - specific installation celebrating the country's stories.
Project bookmark, Canada is the only national site - specific
literary exhibit in the world. One of a guy in
Canadian Innovation so that you can read your way across
Canada. What are the objectives? We aim to enhance reading
culture in Canada, word by word and kilometer by kilometer.
Strengthen a sense of shared national identity and belonging. Bring
communities like NaNIMO into the national CANLIT rail. Use the
creative bird to link local communities to nationwide conversations. Increase
tourism through literary destinations across all provinces. And one minute.
This is estimated the budget of project bookmark. We have
given you handouts and the president is going to go
into detail about the expenditure. There is a generous donor
that's willing to donate 10, 000 dollars and the person
remains anonymous. It's a one - time request from the
city of Nanaemo Council for around 5, 700 dollars. This
field that way. Thank you very much. Any questions. Thank
you very much. Questions for the delegation. Councillor Eastmyer and
then Councillor Manley, please. Thank you for the presentation. Um,
I know I've spoken with you about your desire to
bring this project to the NIMO. And have you already
been in touch with city staff about the potential to
bring this to the NIMO. What's been your experience so
far, trying to work with city staff on bringing this
to the city, I conducted the cultural arts division. And
then they said ask me to look for grants and
fill in the application. However, I was lucky enough to
get somebody who's giving, as a generalistian of 10, 000
dollars. I also contacted Vancouver Island Regional Library. They were
willing to help but not with the finance as such.
And I contacted and IMO art Nana Mort culture. They
were not able to provide financial. Fun aid. Okay, I
wonder if potentially NaNIMO Foundation, I'm hearing that suggestion could
be a supporter for this. I don't know if you've
spoken to the NaNIMO Foundation, but I've seen them sponsoring
some great local cultural events recently. Um, I guess my
other question that sticks out to me is the fact
that this is all very focused on, um, like Canadian
literature, but then the bookmark itself is manufactured in the
United States. And I'm just wondering like, is there a
way that we could manufacture it locally and that would
deal with some of like the, um, the custo to
kind of eliminate that and support like local manufacturing and
business? Yeah. Thank you for the question. And I'll request
the president of the board of directors, Eugene out to
answer the question. Thank you. I'm Hearina Matheson, our president
of the board and executive director. That question is, I
know at the top of everybody's mind and it has
been particularly since we've had this conflict with the United
States. When the bookmark ProJwickMar Canada started, it was started
by Miranda Hill, the writer. And she in Toronto. She
searched around for a manufacturer that would make that withstand
Canadian climate and withstand many years. And she found the
one in the United States. And it was the same
one used by heritage Toronto. If any of you have
been in Toronto, the many plaques representing historic sites and
buildings, et cetera. Now we have stayed with them and
so has heritage Toronto. I have, because I feel very
much the way you feel. It should be Canadian. We
have searched from Newfoundland in here. I'm in Burlington, by
the way. There's a huge sign factory with guest. Other
people in Alberta. And everybody comes up with the same
comment, that company wins a fireform in Washington state manufacturers
the best product that would withstand years of, you might
say, um, weather, et cetera. The other thing, and I've
asked people, we don't have a large volume. I'm not,
we are not putting many, many plaques in per year.
So for a manufacturer to set up a new line
just for us would be not feasible financially. But if
somebody can come up with and we have tried, my
husband's an engineer and he's been searching as well and
talking to people. We have never found a manufacturer. So
we, we continue with this one. If you're asking people
to donate a certain amount of money, like most of
the manufacturers I've dealt with, they say, okay, your plaque,
this plaque will last about 10 years. Well, that's not
long enough. If you're having people, um, trying to create
a literary trail that is commemorating these authors and honouring
these authors. And if it's only going to last 15
years. And you can check around and I do look
at every sign possible. They do wear out with time.
So if you can, if you have any ideas, I
would be open for them. But right now, and I
have tried. And the board has tried. This is where
we're stuck. I'm sorry. I'm taking a bit more time,
but I've got some issues that I knew would be
before. And it's, and thanks for the explanation. And I
know that we do really excellent signage in the city
of Nanaimo in our parks. It's definitely got to be
possible. So I believe that there's a way. And I
appreciate the challenges you've experienced. Thank you. Okay. Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Manley. Thank you worship. Thank you for
the presentation. Um, I assume that the, um, the book
marks would be local like authors from the local area.
Is that to identify somebody? Have you, um, have you
identified a local author yet? Or is that something that
would be kept under wraps until you figure this out?
Regardless where the money comes from. Well, I'm interested, but
I mean, it doesn't look good, you know, that it's
just my idea to have the project bookmark and have
my poem in there. But I'm open to other local
authors for sure. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Thorpe. Please. Thank you very much. You
worship through you if I may. Ms. Parmor and Ms.
Blindelle. Thank you for being here. We have spoken about
this project and it's certainly one that interests me. Um,
the price point, quite frankly, is off - putting, but
with the contribution that you've referenced, that helps an awful
lot. My question is, and it's too bad that, uh,
Ms. Osborne isn't here still. Our city is, I'm sure
you're aware does have a poetry trail. That is something
that Mr. Neal Sirkan developed last year. I'm just wondering
if there might be an opportunity to partner with that
project. Have you considered that at all? Thank you for
the question, Councillor. When I was former white laureate, it
was at that time that the poetry trail was started.
And it's very neat idea. Yes, we can continue with
that and make this part of a project too. But
I suppose the president have to get her consent. The
president of the board of directors, project bookmark. All right.
That's, that's fine. Thank you. That answers my question. Uh,
appreciate your time and effort in this. I'm not seeing
any. Yeah. It was further answer. I know councillor. East
Mirror suggesting, um, areas that we could go to for
funding. One of the problems is if we apply for
a grant, the grant grants her wants to have, wants
to give them money to nonprofit society. And so they
are looking at, for an organisation that has an executive
and a board, uh, which we don't have. So we
cannot get any of those grounds. Um, because we're not
open to them. And so what we're hoping, what I'm
hoping is maybe there's a slush one or something in
the city here that the staff can look into and
see if there's some way that through public art or
any area where they can put, maybe the five, I
think, if I understand correctly, the city has to or
should show support for this project. Before it goes ahead.
So we need some city input. Uh, whether it's just
a letter of letter of support, letter of approval or
whether it's some money that goes towards the project. Thank
you very much. I think the technical term you're looking
for was mad money. Appreciate you. Thank you, your shipmaker
and the company. Appreciate both of you coming tonight. Thank
you so much. Thank you. Uh, the next delegation is
Anna McKenzie Re Departure Bay Safety and Noise Concern. Is
Ms. McKenzie coming in online or is she.
Helping me here? Um, your worship my understanding was that
she was going to be here in person. So if
she. All right. Well, we'll indulge you if she's. Unsure
of the time or something's happened. We'll get back to
her. That otherwise complete delegations tonight. The next is administered
reports. The 2025 annual municipal report. Ms. Gurie. Thanks. Please.
Thank you, worship. Um, so, uh, each year, uh, the
community charter, section 98 requires that municipalities in BC published
an annual report before June 30th of each year and
make the report available for public review. Um, this year,
marks the 22nd annual report published by the City of
Nanaima. And this year's report is themed illuminate. And it
commemorates 150 years since the first election and meeting of
city of Nanaimo Council and 1875, as well as the
luminous path. And I'm a 150 and beyond festival. The
document contains the following components. Um, for the year ending
December 31st, 2025. And that is messages from the mayor
and CAO, overview of NaNIMO City Council profile of NONIMO,
City Services and Operations. Corporate strategic plan progress report. Audited
annual financial statements and financial statistics. And as you're aware,
because it was just awarded out of recent council meeting,
um, for the last five consecutive years, the city has
been awarded a Canadian Award for Financial reporting from the
government financial officers association of the United States and Canada
for its 2024 annual municipal report. This is, um, it
was last year as well as the Four consecutive years
before that. Um, this award is given to municipal governments
that publish a report that is easily readable, efficiently organised,
and clearly communicates the municipal governance, financial picture. So we
are looking for council to approve the 2012 annual ammunes
of poll report. And as a requirement in the Community
Charter and our procedure bylaw, we first need to hear
from anyone that wishes to speak to it before we
get that recommendation approved from council. Thank you very much,
Councillor Thorpe. Thank you, your worship. If I may through
you a comment and a couple of questions, um, first
of all, I look through this report this morning and
I was very impressed with the format and how easily
readable it is. Full of information. I know it's been
on the city website. And I certainly encourage viewers to
check it. And, uh, I'm sure they'll find the answer
to a lot of things that they might not already
know. Um, the section on taxation is interesting. We're tax
dollars go to. And I especially appreciated the section on
highlights of governance and corporate excellence. Um, my question is
your worship. On page 76. Under Statistics at a glance
development services. I was a little disappointed to see that
the total number of new business licences issued was down
in 2025 from 2024. 1, 237 down to 984.
Those are new business licences. I take that literally. I'm
wondering if we have any statistics on the number of
business licences that we're not renewed. Which would indicate the
business was either closing or moving. And it's possible. We
don't have that information, but I would be curious. Um,
your worship for you to councillor Thorpe. I don't believe
we would have that offhand, but we could definitely get
that back to you. And, um, and have that information.
But you are correct. It does say, um, it's for
new business licences issued, um, so, uh, that would only
reflect the new ones. Whereas, yes, it is less than
2024. Um, but I don't know how many, um, weren't
renewed or possibly they all were renewed. And these are
just the new ones that are noted. All right. Thank
you. And if I may or worship a second question,
this is from page 130 expenses by object 2025 from
our finance department. It indicates that 40. Went to
wages and benefits. But then it indicates that 32. Now,
would that relate to. Physical services or would the technical
advice that we get as we often do. Can somebody
give me an answer to that. Ms. Mayor, sir, please.
Three of your worship. Yes. So contracted services would be
engineering services, management consulting, flagging. Anything and everything that we
contract others to do. That works. Studies, those kinds of
things. Yeah. So highly specialized knowledge is required. Right. I
assume that. But thank you for confirming. Thank you. Thanks,
your worship. Thank you. Uh, is there anyone who wishes
to speak regarding the 2025 annual municipal report. I have
up to three minutes. You just identify yourself for the
record, please. And you get to the mic. Jeff Ansley.
How you guys doing tonight? Um, first question actually just
came from Councillor Thorpe. He said there was a page
130, but in the actual report you gave to this
us, it was only 122. What's the discrepancy on that?
When you were quoting what you were saying, um, you
said page 130, but and the reports that we were
given, uh, just the public, I got. So I'm just
wondering what that described. Your worship. It's the agenda package.
So Councillor Thorpe was looking at the whole agenda package
for tonight. And it's page 130 of the whole agenda
population. Got it. Okay. Okay. Okay. Um, okay. Uh, my
question was between 20, 21 and 2025, we have hired,
actually I think exactly 103 new people. Which roughly a
15 percent increase. I'm just wondering if you with numbers
could give me a breakdown on, on those 120 new
employees. Ms. Curry. That's not information. I think we would
probably have offhand, but we could get back to Mr.
Ronsley on that. Keep in mind, Mr. Annalsley, it's not
question period. So you're three minutes of running here. Okay.
That's fine. All right. Thanks very much. Anyone else. If
not, there is a recommended motion. Move Councillor Thorpe, Secretary
Councillor Hemmons, all those in favor, any opposed, none motion
carries. Thank you. The next is 12B Off Street Parking
Regulations bylaw 2016. Number 7453. Mr. Rosen, you're going to
introduce this, please. Welcome. Your worship council.
At the October 31st, 2025 GPC, council made some decisions
and recommendations for changes and updates to the off -
street parking bylaw. Staff of completed the changes to the
bylaw, and it's now ready for councils consideration. There are
sections on vehicle parking requirements. Loading space requirements, mobility scooter
and bicycle parking, electrical vehicle charging. Transportation demand management, and
variances. So the current report is an opportunity for council
to give the first three readings of the revised bylaw.
And if there are any questions, council has, we have
the city Robinson here, the city's transportation planner. Uh, available
to answer questions as well as, I believe, the consultant,
Mr. Dan Casey. Uh, available. So I'll turn things over
to Ms. Robinson. Ms. Robinson, good evening. Welcome. Good evening.
Thank you, council. Um, Mr. Rosen captured most of it,
but I will just highlight, um, that we've been here
before you several times over the past 18 months as
this work progressed. And we have, um, initially come with
the citywide parking review outlining the NINIMOs, current parking regulations
and key challenges related to growth, housing and transportation. We
then returned with the engagement summary and early directions. That
directly shaped was the direction was shaped by input from
residents. The advisory committee on accessibility and inclusiveness industry stakeholders
and transportation providers. And then more recently this past fall
counsel endorsed the overall direction of the parking review and
directed staff to prepare bylaw and policy updates. So since
then, recommendations have been refined through targeted engagement with frequent
bylaw users, including development professionals, as well as internal departments.
So as Mr. Rosa mentioned, tonight is the first formal
step in bringing forward the new Off Street Parking Relations
bylaw. Um, and our consultant Dan Casey should be on
the line and we're happy to take any questions that
council might have. Thank you very much. Councilprino, pardon me,
Councillor Armstrong, first and count, Ceprino. Thank you. Two questions
through you, FMA. The first one is when I was
researching all this car ownership is rising considerably on Vancouver
Island. And in the NOM, we've been from our own
economic impact. We've shown an increase of over 2, 500
cars. How is this going to impact where they're going
to park if we eliminate parking from a lot of
these places? Thank you, Council Armstrong. So the parking
regulations, we have heard from developers that with more flexibility,
more housing should be able to be built, which is
another big concern in the city. Um, we're hoping that
with the parking bean contextualized with fewer parking spaces required
as the closer you get to urban centres and more
required in suburban areas, that should be aligned with where
transit and alternate modes are supported. So hopefully we do
expect some shift in the short term to on street
parking demand. But that should be managed through the curbside
review that we're going to be undertaking following this work.
And then my second question, and this was sent to
me by a citizen, their point is, and I know
I asked us of the consultant before. Many of people
in new subdivisions have to pay for it rode infrastructure
for their, their garage, which could be add 50 to
60, 000 onto their prices. And they're asking, why are
they expected to do this? And then, uh, condo owners
aren't. And then the condo owners parked their cars on
the streets they paid for. If I understand the question
correctly, people who live in subdivisions, um, have to pay
for the frontage works that people who live in condos
also park out. Is that? Yeah. The question she said,
maybe I didn't say it right. Was she said that
their hose cost them approximately figured between 50 and 60,
000 more for the DCCs, which brought, you know, your
water infrastructure parking, et cetera. And that we hear from,
uh, developers that they don't want to pay for parking
lots because the average parking space costs around 50, 000
dollars so they don't, then the people that buy in
those places end up parking on streets that were paid
for by the owners of the streets. They're not paid
for by city dollars was the question. Mr. Rosen, I
see studiancer. Mr. Rosen, please. Three worship council Armstrong. So
regardless of development, whether it's a single family home or
a commercial or a multifamily residential, they have to construct
frontage works and services. If the road access, typically like
a single family home, like subdivision would be required to
build the road network. It's not a DCC project necessarily.
DCC projects tend to be the larger arterials that a
lot of people are using. Um, so in both cases,
the developer would be responsible for works and services and
potentially road construction, which ultimately gets turned over to the
city as a public asset for the city to manage
in the best interests of the community in terms of
parking regulations and so on and so forth. So I'm
not, I'm not too sure that there's an unfairness there.
Um, single family home would have access to parking on
site. Multifamily or like an apartment, for example, they may
or may not decide to have a lot or a
little bit of parking. So, yeah, I think their point
was that they're paying to have those roads when they
buy their houses when it's a new subdivision. And then
people just come and park on them. That was, I
think, the point they're trying to make. And just one
other thing. When I was at the FCM, I went
to the, um. The building infrastructure, whatever. And that was
very interesting. Stuart Kerig, who's administrator of the Edmonton Housing
Direct Action. They found their developers there did not want
to remove the park in minimum. So that was quite
interesting because it said they couldn't sell. It was fine
for rentals, but not selling. So interesting that we put
it back to the developers. Thank you. Thank you. Any
further questions, Council Aprino, please? Yes. Thank you. What your
worship. The question that I have for staff is this
report didn't talk about those particular roads where there is
generally no parking, but some residents will have a sticker.
So that they won't get ticketed. And I'm just wondering,
is it somewhere, is it coming in in the next
stage? I'm just wondering. Thank you, councillor Prino. I think
you might be referring to resident exempt parking just to
clarify the scope of this work is specific to off
street parking for developments. So that would be reviewed under
further works for the citywide parking review through a separate
bylaw review. Okay. So is that going to be done
or is that just a whole different section altogether? Yes.
It will be done as part of the citywide parking
review. I don't know what the changes, if any, will
be, but it will be considered. Okay. Good. Thank you
so much. Thank you. Thank you. I'm not seeing any
further questions. There was a councillor evidence. Thank you. Your
worship. I moved that off street parking regulations by law
2026 number 7453 to regulate off street parking and transportation
demand management within the city of Nanaimo PASS reading. Second
account, Ceere. All those in favor. Councillor Eastmare Gesselbrock Chemen's
Mary Crowe, Councillor Manley, Councillor Brown and Cassaprino and those
opposed. Councillor's Armstrong Thorpe Motion carries. Thank you. I moved
that the bylaw past second reading. Seconded Councillor Eastmare. Any
discussion. Councillor Thorpe. I'm not sure worship through you. Uh,
I read this really carefully. And there are lots of
things in this report that I agree with and like.
And unfortunately there are also some things that I really
disagree with personally. Um, and I'll start by saying I
have absolutely respect for Mr. Rosen and his staff and
for urban systems. Um, I always appreciate their advice. Um,
and this report, I think is in line with council
direction over the past several years. So I acknowledge that.
Um, our emphasis has very heavily being in recent years
on active transportation. And. You know, I support act of
transportation. Until it gets to the point where it has
a negative impact on, uh, traffic flow and the ability
of people to move around our streets and vehicles, whether
it's cars or delivery trucks, which we are seeing a
lot more of. So it's great in theory. But I
look at the report and I look at disadvantages of
this option. Adoption represents a cultural shift away from traditional
car - centric parking expectations, which may raise concerns about
parking availability in urban centres. Yes, it does. For me,
it does. Huge concerns. So, um, I think back to
the master transportation plan that was developed back in 2016
that indicated that the trips taken per day in our
city, 88 percent of them wereby vehicles. 2. 5 percent
of them were trips taken by bus. 8. 5 percent
were trips taken by people walking. And people riding bikes
was one percent. So the reality is our population is
growing. We have more people. We have more autumnobiles. We
have more delivery trucks. Uh, and now we're taking away
parking. To me, it's just not in line with the
reality that we're faced with. So again, in theory, it's
fine. It is in line with council direction, but high
count support it. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Gesselbrock, then
Councillor Armstrong. Uh, thanks Mayor. Through you. Um, I'm in
support of this bylaw. I think it's a well balanced
by a lot. That gives developers the flexibility with the
parking regulations to reduce barriers to build much needed housing
units and to meet the transportation needs of the residents.
Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Armstrong. Thank you. I agree
with much of what councillor Thorpe said. My biggest concern.
I agree with a lot of it by biblicist concern
is having maximum. It's parking. And we saw that when
the developer from the one up off Mary Ellen Drive
wanted more parking and couldn't get it. And that was
a concern. And it remains a concern for them because
they're struggling to rent some of them because the enough
parking. So I have a, I have a big issue
with, with that. That's one, that's my main reason for
not supporting this. I agree with a lot of the
other stuff. But the fact that we wanted to put
in parking maximums, again, I just can't agree with that.
Thank you. Thank you not seeing any further questions. All
those in favor, councillors e - smear, Guessle Rock, Councillor
Hens, Merrick Crowe, Councillor Manley, Councillor Brown, Councilprino, those opposed.
Councillor Storp and Armstrong Motion carries. Councillor Hemins. Thank you.
I move. Thank you. I moved that the bylaw pass
third reading. Seconded. Councillor Manley. All those in favor. Councillor
Eastmire, Councillor Gesselbrock. Councillor Hemmons, Mayor Crow, Councillor Manley, Council
Brown, Councilprino, and those opposed. Councillor Thorpe and Councillor Armstrong.
Thank you. Uh, I move that Council endorse amendments to
consideration of variance as policy COU - 246 and repeal
the existing city of Nanaimo Policy for consideration of a
parking variance. Subject to adoption of Offstreet Parking Regulations by
a law 2026, number 7453. Seconded. Council Reichmer. All those
in favor. Councillor Eastmere, Councillor Guesserok. Councillor Hemmons, Mayor Crowe,
Councillor Manley, Councillor Brown, Count Screno, and those Pose councillors,
arms throwing in Thorpe, Motion carries. Thank you very much.
Uh, item C, Traffic Demand Management Reserve Fund bylaw. Ms.
Mercer, please. Thank you, your worship. So with the creation
of the new Off Street Parking Regulation bylaw, a corresponding
reserve fund bylaw is needed to keep an account of
the funds collected for this function. So under the local
government act, all cash and lieu payments collected for transportation
demand, sorry, transportation, demand management measures must be deposited into
a reserve fund. So the funds can be used in
this reserve for capital infrastructure costs, as well as debt
surfacing. So staff are here looking for the first three
readings of this by - law. Thank you very much.
No, I have a question. Yeah. My question is on
number one capital infrastructure cost. Does that include crosswalks. Would
that be a capital or is that just, like I
never know. Anybody know. If not, I can ask later.
Okay. Thanks. Thank you. Any other questions. Councillor Hemens.
Uh, I move that traffic demand management reserve fund bylaw
2026, number 7456 to establish a traffic demand management reserve
fund PASS First Reading. Second account, sir Armstrong. All those
in favor. And any opposed, none motion carries. I move
that the bylaw passed second reading. Second aid, Councillor Armstrong.
Any discussion, not seeing any, all those in favor. Any
opposed none? Motion carries. And I move that the bylaw
pass third reading. Secretary of Councillor Thorpe. All those in
favor and any opposed, none, motion carries. Thank you. Ron
Titem D, Officer Designation and Delegation of Authority bylaw and
zoning bylaw amendment, servicing officer amendments. That's a mouthful. Mr.
Holm, good evening. Welcome. Thank you. Good evening to you
and council. So this is coming out of direction provided
by council February 2nd at its meeting on February 2nd
to prepare amendments to. I'll just call it the delegation
by law for simplicity. To designate a servicing officer pursuant
to section 513, two of the local government act. This
is coming out of, um, authority granted to local governments,
to municipalities through Bill 16, the housing statute's amendment act.
Which allows local government to create a servicing officer, which
is a class of person designated by bylaw, uh, who
can require road dedication at the time of issuance of
a building permit. So the province in some of the
housing related legislative changes that they've made, uh, they recognise
that if local governments are pre - zoning land, uh,
one of the challenges that, uh, can run into is
not being able to secure road dedication, uh, because typically
road dedication is required through at the time of rezoning
or subdivision. So designation of a servicing officer would allow,
uh, that person to, uh, to require road dedication at
the time of building permit issuance. Um, staff are recommending
three classes of persons be designated as servicing officer. Director
of Planning and Development Manager of Development Engineering Manager of
Subdivision. Uh, these positions are people occupying these positions. They're
also subdivision approving officers currently designated by council. Um, also,
uh, company and due to the timing of road dedication
required by the servicing officer. At building permit stage. It
can be challenging for developers. To face uncertainty of having
to dedicate land at the building permit stage when they've
planned for development on existing parcels. Uh, that can impact
such issues as florary ratio. That's a density. Relationship between
the area of the building and the area of the
lot. Uh, lot coverage and setbacks can also be impacted.
So in a company amendment, uh, staffer recommending, um, amendments
to the zoning bylaw that would allow, uh, those provisions
of the zoning bylaw, um, to apply at building permit
application based on the predication area of the lot. I
hope that makes sense. I can explain it more clearly
if needed. Um, and I'm happy to take any questions.
Thanks. Thank you very much. Any questions, councillor Hemmons and
Councillor Ishmir. No, sorry. Councillor, you smeared. Thank you. It
says that, um, sorry, when, when would be the public
hearing that this would get added to the gender for,
would it be this Thursday or a future public hearing?
Thank you through your worship councillor. That would be July.
It would be the next scheduled public hearing for this
item. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. No further questions for
staff. Councillor Hemins. Thank you. I moved that officer designation
and delegation of authority by law 2026, number seven, three,
five, three point zero five, an amendment to designate servicing
officers PS1. Secretary councillor Thorpe, all those in favor and
any opposed, none, Motion carries. I moved that the bylaw
pass second reading. Seconded. Councillor Eastmare. All those in favor,
any opposed, none motion carries. They moved at the bylaw
past third reading. Secretary Councillor Thorpe, all those in favor,
any opposed non carries. I moved it zoning amendment by
law 2026. Number 54500. 257 is zoning in bylaw amendment
to allow certain zoning provisions to apply based on the
lot area and dimensions prior to road dedication required by
your servicing officer PAST 1's reading. Secretary Count 3 Eastmare.
All those in favor and any opposed. None. I move
that the bylaw pass second reading. Second councillor Eastmare. All
those in favor. Any opposed, none. I move that council
direct staff to hold a public hearing for zoning amendment
by law 2026. Number 4500. 257. Councillor Thorpe. All those
in favor. Any opposed and motion carries. The next is
E neighbourhood association priority request 2026. Mr. Holmes, please. Thank
you, worship. Um, happy to present this item. Um, council
is familiar with this as an annual process. Um, city
plan, the official community plan, um, encourages counsel along with,
um, council neighbourhood supports policy encourages counsel to host an
annual engagement event with neighbourhood associations. Uh, to hear their
priorities. And, uh, the fourth such event, um, took place
on April 29th. We had 14 neighbourhood associations in attendance.
Um, as well as, um, staff from all departments of
the city. And many on council attended, uh, this event
provided an opportunity for neighbourhood associations. To discuss their requested
priority actions in their specific area with council members and
staff. And, uh, that was a facilitated event following the
event. The recorded requests were sent out to neighbourhood associations.
To allow them an opportunity to verify the, uh, the
wording. And intent of their priority requests. Uh, there's an
attachment to the report attachment AU. Contains the finalised 2026
priority request for council to consider on, um, responses received
from based on responses received from, uh, neighbourhood associations. And
it's recommended that staff receive the, or sorry, that council
received the 2026 neighbourhood association priority requests. Um, which, um,
which would be considered could be considered for the inclusion
in the city's capital plans, budgets and departmental work plans.
Thank you. Thank you very much. I'll move the recommended
motion. This is a secondary councillor. Yeah, I just want
to say, I think this is probably one of my
favourite events that we hold all year as council. I
love hearing from residents. I love how residents want so
much to speak to staff. And we get to be
there and be that facilitator. So just kudos to the
staff who put this on. Kudos to the people from
the neighbourhoods who came out and advocated for what they
wanted to see. This is a great program. Thank you,
Councillor Ishmir. Thank you. Yeah, I think likewise, it's also
one of my highlights just because, um, it's a great
example of when people are really engaged in their neighbourhoods,
the value of having that neighbourhood association. I'm really glad
the city's doing more to support the neighbourhood associations. Um,
and if you live in a neighbourhood that doesn't have
one, I think this is a real credit to show
why it can be valuable. I would love to one
day see all of these items actually checked off. And
I know that, um, it's taken, like it takes an
immense amount of work from the neighbourhoods to come up
with the priorities and then follow up with staff on
them. And I know it also takes a lot of
staff work to track these things and try to incorporate
them into our existing plans and look for opportunities. So,
um, I just know that a lot of effort goes
into both making these lists and then trying to get
these things done. And I wish we could wave a
magic wand and do all of them. Cause I think
the city would be a really, um, great place if
we could get all of these things done. But I
do think they're all, um, possible in manageable. So I
really appreciate the time that's gone into refining them and
making sure that they're reasonable and achievable goals. And, um,
yeah, I just, I'm really grateful for people thinking in
such detail about what items will make the city a
better place to live. So thank you. Thank you. I
concur with, uh, my learned friends, as they say in
the court of appeal, Ms. Curie. Just Councillor Prano has
her hand raised. Oh, Council Prano. Please. Thank you, your
worship. Just a quick question through you to Staff. So
we now have this list. It's Exland. I agree with
everything that the last two councillors have said. I'm just
wondering, do Staff stay in touch with the different, um,
associations so that they know what's happening. And when some
of these things are checked off, do they hear back
to the neighbourhood associations? How does that work. Three worship
to council Prino. Yes, great question. So there are check
- in. So the staff pending council's support for these
action items. Um, they can be considered in work plans,
budgets. And, uh, staff do check back with neighbourhood associations
and date on the status. Of the items and in
preparation for March 2027 would be a report on the
program that's provided as well. A progress report update in
advance of the, uh, 2027, the next year's engagement event
with neighbourhood associations. So we do check in on specific
projects, um, and some of them require, you know, meetings
with neighbourhood associations as well. And then there is an
update status update prior to the next engagement event next
year. Okay. Great. Thank you so much. Thank you. There's
no further discussion or questions. Although is in favor. And
any opposed none motion carries. On to F prezoning for
social housing, Mr. Holm again, please. Thank you, your worship.
I won't say too much here. I'm going to, this
is an important project. I know council has been anticipating
this and I'll turn it over to Ms. Beegan to
give you an overview of where we're at with this.
Thanks. Is being a good evening. Welcome. Good evening Mayor
Council. So before I begin, I just want to remind
everybody what we mean by social housing because that is
commonly. The first question I get when I speak about
this project. And so social housing is a housing for
everybody. And it is intended to be subsidized to be
lower than the average cost of market housing. And it
does not include supportive housing and shelters. Uh, so, uh,
council recalls, we presented in January of this year at
draft framework. We went out in March or February and
March to seek feedback on that draft framework, uh, we
used a variety of outreach tools, including a video on
social media to get the word out. And we held
survey workshops as well as, uh, presentation dispatch on interest
groups to receive feedback. Cumulative, we heard 740 inputs, uh,
that have been summarized in the what we heard engagement
summary. Um, and if you look through that report, we
received a mix of support, uh, for some of the
various elements that we were proposing. Um, and very constructive
feedback, uh, we recommend perhaps looking expanding into the future
with this program. So based on the engagement results, we
did amend the original approach, uh, to address some of
the concerns raised. And we are proposing a zoning amendment
bylaw, uh, with which includes a social housing zone that
is optional and allows for an increase in height and
density, if a set of conditions are met. So I
just want to go through a few of the things
that were amended and to address some of the concerns
that council had mentioned in January. So, uh, we're recommending
about seven percent of all parcels in the city be
pre - zoned or be called eligible parcels for this
optional zone. Heritage properties listed in city plan. Our official
community plan have been excluded to address concerns raised by
council and the community. A height limit of six stories
has also been placed for the majority of the primary
urban centre, also known as our downtown, to align with
the downtown area plan policies. We also heard regarding the
tenure limiting it to rental. Um, there was a desire
to include both rental and ownership. However, as we mentioned
in January, um, ownership, um, is very challenging and resource
intensive to establish, manage and enforce. Ownership qualification criteria, uh,
rental and specifically non - market rentals also provincial housing
target, uh, priority. Uh, we also address concerns around a
hundred percent of the Capitol costs having to come from
some level of government, uh, and we heard that that
is too restrictive. So we opened that up to be
more flexible. And lastly, we did undertake architectural testing to
ensure that the social housing zone is drafted in a
way that is in line with city plan policies. So
in conclusion, it is recommended that council proceed with first
and second reading of a zoning amendment bylaw, uh, number
4, 500 256, which is a social housing zone. And
that, uh, if that moves forward, that we would move
forward to public hearing. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Any questions, Councillor Armstrong? Thank you. I just wanted to
thank you for the report. It came to the accessibility
committee and it was really appreciated, learned a lot from
it. I think this will help us get stuff up
a lot faster and eliminate a lot of costs. So
I think it's a great report and a great idea.
Thank you. I concur. Thank you, worship. Yeah. I completely
agree with Councillor Hennons. I am curious, however, the, pardon
me. I agree with myself. Um, oh gosh. Hello Monday.
Um, the survey and the workshop data are remarkably different.
So the capital cost 41 percent that they strongly agree
that it should be fully funded by government. But the
workshop is one hundred percent disagree. So what's the variation
there? Were we targeting developers in the workshop and residents
in the survey. Uh, through the MayorT Councillor Hemons. Yes,
the workshop was held specifically with nonprofit housing providers. For
profit housing providers and faith - based organisations because they
have experience, uh, with, uh, providing social housing in an
NINIMO as well as supportive and shelters. And so it
was directly engagement with them, um, on these topics. Okay.
Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Geselbroch. Thanks. Just a question
on the. Barrier, the limit for affordability. We landed on
20 percent below market. And the range was 10 percent.
And I guess, um, if we look at average CMHC
housing costs, For a lot of people like low in
the low income bracket, it's still going to be unaffordable.
Uh, so it doesn't seem to me like it quite
meets the mark in that sense. And I'm curious, um,
one, using the average CMHC rent for NaNIMO as the
benchmark. And then just going 20 percent below the average
as opposed to like the low end. Because if we're
doing average rent and say it's like 1800 dollars and
going 20 percent while it's going to be like, you
know, 1, 400 and that's still, you know, the limit
of price range for like quite a lot of people.
So, uh, yeah. So many of you could speak to
that. Yeah. Through the mayor to, uh, councillor Gesselbrock, we
heard from the community, a desire for upwards of 30
percent or more, We heard from the developers a desire
for 10 percent or less. And we heard from the,
uh, nonprofit housing provider is somewhere between 15 to 25
percent We use the average market rent per CMHC because
that aligns with the new DCC reduction definition, uh, that
council looked at recently. And so we did ensure there
was alignment there. Um, in terms of the level of
affordability, um, it's a starting point. And it gives us
an opportunity to amend it if we're seeing that it's
not, um, affordable, but we also have to make sure
that, um, it is financially viable for development to come
forward. And so it's a recommendation right now that we
start at 20 percent below market and then see how
the program progresses over time. Right. Okay. Yeah. And I
guess the concern, you know, just looking at the different
needs to make it, you know, actually affordable for low,
medium income. And it does require, you know, building innovation,
the cheaper financing and the removing some of these barriers.
And so I think what we could see, and maybe
it is just a matter of like sit back and
see what happened. But I am concerned that we'll pre
- zone a bunch of properties and get something that
really isn't that affordable for the actual demographics we're trying
to hit. So I just want to flag that as
a, as a concern, um, and also I want to
see something get done, um, and put forward and supportable
and then adjust as we need to, as a strategy.
But, uh, I do hold some serious reservations about the
bar that was set there at the 20 percent. Thank
you. Mr. Holmes, did you want to say something in
response? Uh, sure. Thank you, your worship. Maybe I'll just
add, uh, to a bit of context. So we did
hear from, uh, we do hear from a number of
the nonprofit housing providers as well, and from BC Housing
that often now, they're looking to, um, is maybe even
more than what we're going to see in some of
the BC housing projects that are coming forward. But we
do see that they're targeting low end of market. Housing
as well. So they have to, um, the viability, uh,
issue, uh, if they, um, if they go too low,
but actually over time, the idea is over time. And
if we held, um, if public housing had been developed
continuously developed through the 90s, early 2000s, um, it would,
it would be held. You're not going to see the
same rate rental rate increases as we've seen in the,
in the private sector housing. So if, if nonprofit, um,
holders do bring more to the table, even though it's,
um, like you say, it's maybe not deeply affordable. Um.
You know, based on current rents, you won't see the
idea, part of the idea is you won't see the
rents increase. As greatly as we've seen in the, um,
in the market rental over time. Uh, so over time,
we'll see the idea is we'll see a greater pool
of non - market housing that's going to have, um,
more gradual renting creases. Um, that's in line with the
nonprofits mandates, um, so that's one of the things that
we did here from some of the participants. I just
thought I'd add that. Thanks. Thanks. Thank you, Councillor Manley.
Thank you, Mayor. And through to you. Thank you for
the report and for the, for the work. This applies
mainly to future or for the, um, secondary urban cores,
the urban core and corridors. Does it apply to the
neighbourhood corridors or any other areas that we're for story
buildings. Gonna be okay. Uh, through the mayor to councillor
Manly, currently the scope includes primary centre, which is downtown.
The seven secondary urban centres makes use quarter in urban,
or sorry, and residential corridor. It will exclude the neighbourhood
designation, the suburban neighbourhood designation and any other designation at
this time. We're focusing where we have the higher, um,
higher density and height options to make the projects viable.
And where the good solid transit routes? Correct. Near transit
routes and services and amenities. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
Councillor Him and please. Thank you. I move it at
zoning amendment by law 2026. Number four five zero zero
point two five six social housing zone past first reading.
Secretary Council Eastmare. All those in favor. And getting opposed
on motion carries. I move that the bylaw pass second
reading. Second did Councillor Manley. All those in favor. Any
opposed. Sorry, Councillor Gesselbrock. Thanks. Um, Mayor. Through you, I
just wanted to say that, um, I do think that
the prezoning for social housing makes a lot of sense.
Um, I think it's important that we do reduce barriers
to getting the much needed affordable housing built in the
community. And it is one piece of a very multi
- piece puzzle that can help. I will support this.
I do want to recognise that I do have some
reservations about the twenty percent threshold being set and we'll
be watching this closely to see the uptake. And if
it needs to be adjusted. So thank you. Thank you,
Councillor Manley. Thank you. I'm very supportive as well. Anything
that we can do to accelerate affordable housing in the
community is important. And so looking forward to seeing this
quote of a public hearing. Thanks. Thank you. Any further
discussion, all those in favor and any opposed on motion
carries. Thank you very much. The next is 13 development
reports. And a development variance permit application. Number DVP. You
were reading two third reading. Sorry. Pardon me. I'm rushing.
Calhastron Heaven's through the time. Uh, I moved that council
direct staff to hold a public hearing for zoning amendment
by law 2026. Number four five zero zero point two
five six. Second of councillor Thorpe, all those in favor,
any opposed on motion carries. Now we're on to development
variance, pyramid application number. DVP491 - 202 and 2104 Street.
I'm going to declare a conflict. I know the family
involved very well. And I just don't feel it would
be right for me to deal with this matter. Accordingly,
I'll turn the chair over to Councillor Hemins.
And I will turn it over to staff for a
staff report, please. Madam Chair, there usually isn't any introductions
for the development reports, but you are, um, going to
request, um, anyone wishing to speak to this matter come
up. Thank you. Is there anyone in the audience wishing
to speak to this matter. I see none. With someone
care to make the recommended motion. Councillor Easmir, seconded by
Councillor Armstrong. Any discussion. Seeing none, all those in favor.
Opposed. I see none opposed.
The next is item 12, 13B rather. Development permit application.
Number DP1357 - 5180 Universal Place. There is a recommended
motion. So moved, Councillor Manley is a secondary councillor Hennons.
Any discussion. Councillor Armstrong and Councillor Gesselbrock. Yeah, I just,
um, I have some concerns about this for the simple
fact. We already have so many issues on Lost Lake.
Is that road going to be able to take the
added traffic? Was that look that I know it probably
doesn't require a traffic study. But, you know, we're getting
constant complaints about how narrow it is. There's no sidewalks.
There's so many issues. Will that put an added issue
on it? Or can it move off to another road
that I'm missing? Mr. Holm, thank you three worship to
Councillor Armstrong. So you correct it. The development didn't meet
the threshold to trigger traffic impact assessment. Um, and, uh,
anticip, we do anticipate that, uh, there will be additional
parking obviously on, uh, universal place. Sorry, I can't hear
you. Thank you. Yeah. Sorry. The development did not, you
correct the development did not trigger the threshold to require
traffic impact assessment. And, uh, we do anticipate additional, um,
on street parking on universal place. Um, as well. I
don't know how far, I mean, it'll be, um, difficult
to predict, but I don't know how your rate lost
Lake Road is, you know, challenging with respect to on
street parking. I don't know how far. From the development
people would be, I guess it would be a behavioral
thing that how far from the development they'd be willing
to park and walk. The developer did provide, um, is
proposing to provide additional. Opportunity for bicycle parking as well
on site. And, uh, and supports for alternative transportation. It
is well, as it's a, um, co - housing development
and they anticipate the vehicle usage in behaviour will be
different than a typical market development and they anticipate that
they're providing sufficient parking to, uh, to meet the needs.
And just one other question, if I may, um, with
the removal of all those trees seen as it is
steep slopal, that have a big impact on slope stability.
Uh, they will, um, through your worship council Armstrong. So
they will, um, undertake appropriate geotechnical assessments to ensure that
slope stability is retained. Um, and, uh, yeah, it is
a steep site and they do anticipate a fair amount
of sight grading. And they've designed the buildings to help
to achieve some of the site grading as well. So.
Thank you. Thank you, Councillor GesabRaktin Council Spear. Thanks, Mayor,
through you. I'm very insupportive this rezoning. We've kind of
tracking the process of getting into this place. And the
co - housing model is a really interesting one. And
I, and I know the folks behind this will be
really focusing on livability and making this a really great
place to live. And so I'm happy to see that
it's made it this far. And, uh, wish all the
luck to the folks behind this project. Thank you. Thank
you, Councillor Schmir. Thank you. Um, I wanted to speak
in support of this, um, because I think the co
- housing model is one that people are looking for.
It gives an avenue into the ownership market for people
who are sometimes not able to access it. Otherwise. And
the unit types with like the three bedroom townhouses, um,
it includes five of those nine two bedroom townhouses. And
then it also in the one and two bedroom apartments
for our accessible in the one bedroom and two are
accessible in the two bedrooms. So I think that's, um,
that's a really important aspect here because it's a type
of housing that we do need. And I remember it
coming through Design Panel and the Design panel was pretty
supportive of this. They did make some recommendations. And as
a result, um, a few tweaks have been made, including
adding some more trees. So I'm appreciative of the design
panels work on this. And we'll be voting in support
of this. But I do hear the concerns about the
increased traffic and loss Lake Road. And I, um, remain
committed to trying to do what we can to slow
traffic along Las Lake Road and to make it a
safer experience for pedestrian. So I would support any future
traffic calming and pedestrian improvements along loss Lake Road. Thank
you, Councillor Manley. Thank you through your mayor. Um, I
am very supportive of this as well. I think the
co - housing model is very interesting community building model
and the co - housing Pacific Gardens co - housing
community on 7th. This has been very successful. And I,
I know, um, they have less parking spaces there as
well, but also co - op car. Andy, uh, which
is well used. And, um, it's a real community building
projects. So I think, uh, I wish them all the
success from getting this done. Thanks. Thank you very much.
Any further questions, comments. Yes. Council Thirt. Thank you, your
worship. I'm sorry, but I can't resist. Um, I support
this project and I will vote in favor of it.
But I, I have to express my, my ongoing concern
about parking variations. And we saw it in the last
proposal that we just passed. And I voted for. We
see it in this proposal where the variation, uh, goes
from 50 to 39 parking spaces. And the staff report
even notes that, uh, this may result in spillover parking
on the surrounding neighbourhood. We're doing this more and more.
And we're just putting more cars parked on neighbourhood roads,
which causes other problems. Uh, in this case, it's 29
units. Um, and there's only allowance for three visitor parking
spaces. On the other hand, we have 29 spaces for
secure bike parking. Again, this is great in theory. I
don't think it reflects the reality of transportation patterns or
parking problems in the city. So I will support the
project, but I'm really discouraged by this ongoing, not ignoring,
but varying of parking. Thank you. Thank you. And further.
It's great. Did we move the motion? We've been chatting
so long. Oh good. It's on the floor. All those
in favor. And any opposed, none motion carries. Uh, the
next is C liquor license amendment application number LA159 -
240 Skinner Street. We do have a delegation. Carl Butterworth,
director Harbour Dan Studios Inc. Mr. Butterworth. Good evening. If
you can introduce yourself for the record, you'll have five
minutes. And when the minute left, I'll let you know.
Good evening. Thank you, your worship. Um, and perhaps I
can introduce myself through my speech that I've cared for
written out. And I won't require the one Morning. Thank
you very much. Your worship councillor, city staff. Thank you
for the opportunity to speak. I'm Carl Butterworth. My wife,
Stacey and I own Harbordant Studios. We've been a little
literal cornerstone of the arts district for 37 years. With
an enrollment of 350 students, we bring approximately 300 families
downtown several times each week. We are in anchor business
and many businesses state that our clients are a significant
factor in their success. We operate from 9 a. m.
until 9. 30 p. m. Monday to Friday and 9
a. m. until 6 p. m. on Saturday and Sunday.
30 years of continuous operation means that we predate all
downtown clubs except the Palace Hotel. Noting have we earned
the right to be where we are. We make downtown
a brighter, more diverse, and a friendlier place. Five minutes
is not enough time to relate all of the negative
impacts the sweet spot lounge has had on our business
since switching to strippers in February. Increasing the hours during
which the sweet spot lounge can serve alcohol will further
damage our business and the reputation of downtown than IMO.
The proponent has stated that he will use the increased
hours for a sports bar and special events. We can
all guess what the special events will be as the
interior has been purpose renovated to accommodate only one kind
of event. In my discussions with the proponent, he stated
that he couldn't keep operating as a karaoke club because
people came in ordered water and sat there all night.
As a result, he was so desperate to make money
that he convinced himself that it was okay to open
a strip club next to a children's school. If a
strip show at noon afternoon evening and nighttime is what
makes money, that is what he will do. That is
what he has done so far. To believe that he
will operate a sports bar from 11 a. m. until
7 p. m. is naive at best. I should point
out to counsel that the old city station pub is
an actual sports bar that is open from 11 a.
m. until 2 a. m. and is one block away
from the proponent's location. The palace hotels alcohol from 11
a. m. to 2 a. m. and is located 30
feet from the proponent's location. Creeding even more daytime opportunities
to serve alcohol will not improve the vibrancy of downtown
as city staff characterizes it in the report. It will
cause more conflicts. I have serious concerns with the report
produced by city staff. The public notice and comment sheets
circulated by staff says the city is quote responsible for
gathering the views of local residents and business owners. Nowhere
on the forum does it state that the city will
only use feedback from entities located within a hundred metres
of the subject property. Staff stated that seven feedback forms
were received from within the arbitrary 100 metre radius and
175 were received from outside of it. To change the
rules after the consultation this process has been concluded represents
a breach of procedural fairness by ignoring the results of
feedback it's solicited which was provided in good faith. This
also represents a failure to consider relevant considerations by deliberately
limiting the information given to decision makers. I believe is
incumbent on council to discard this report. I say this
because some of the forms receive were simply comments, but
many of the sheets are better described as victim impact
statements. I will bring up one example. One of our
clients was leaving the dance studio where their children. As
she walked past our parking lot she and her two
children heard a group of men smoking outside the club
comparing the vaginas of different strippers. Who doesn't like a
good vagina was part of the commentary. If you don't
like hearing the word vagina in council proceedings, imagine the
level of discomfort where you're a mother on her own
at night walking past a group of men who clearly
have little respect for women. Then imagine trying to explain
the situation to your daughters who are eight and ten.
The people whose comment city staff have ignored spend between
two and twenty five hours downtown at our DANS studio
each week. That's more time than many part - time
employees in the surrounding businesses. Their comments deserve to be
considered. And once again, five minutes is not long enough
to describe all of the negative impact. The Nine was
official community plan asks the question, what does a healthy
Nanaimo look like in a neighbourhood? It follows with seven
aspirational statements that achieve a healthy NNIMO. Four of these
statements are. A caring, healthy, accessible, inclusive, and safe community
that empowers its community members to realise their aspirations. A
high degree of perceived an actual public safety and security
where all people can equitably live, work, play, create and
learn. A safe down. A safe downtown with less instances
of people encountering negative experiences in downtown and throughout the
community. Safe and security in all parts of the city
supporting a diverse community members and businesses to thrive. Council,
I ask you, how does extending the hours during which
a strip club can serve alcohol reduce the number of
negative experiences people have downtown. I was increasing the amount
of time per day that women are degraded and exploited
for profit create a healthier Nanaimo. How does more daytime
intoxication in the arts district improve safety and security. How
does the removal of a business like ours create a
more diverse community of businesses downtown. It is bad enough
that a Nimo is now known across Canada for having
strip club and extra children's school. We beg you not
to compound this problem. Please do not approve the extension
for the liquor license to this club. Thank you for
your consideration. Thank you. Councillor Manley. Uh, thank you. Thank
you for your presentation. Um, have you had neighbours like
this in the past? Was there a club like this
in the, um, below the painted turtle. There was not
in the last 37 years. We've had the club concept
where this club is now operating before that there wasn't
a club there that I'm aware of. Uh, we'll always
have club two for one slash club concept slash the
jungle and the POS hotel. But in the painted turtle
was her, was there, there was a gambling facility there.
Was there a script club there at one point? Does
anybody know. There was an off racetrack horse betting thing
there when I came here? Okay. Yeah, I'm just curious.
Thank you for your presentation. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor
Smear. Thank you. So just to. Clarify in the
report, it says that they're asking for the extended hours
to have a sports bar and potential events during that,
uh, those earlier hours. It doesn't give you any sense
of, um, more confidence that it wouldn't be like, let's
call them the nighttime activities that happen at that club.
And it's more like the sports bar oriented thing during
the day. Having worked with the proponent tried to find
a way forward on this. No, I don't believe that
what he is saying is what will happen in fact.
However, we don't know that until that goes forward. I
know that we come into considerable conflict with their patrons
and their staff over use of our parking lot, which
they're using abuse that they're willing. I know if they
start earlier in the day, that means our staff who
are all female will be struggling to find parking at
our building and we'll have to part further away and
walk into work, not being able to get parking at
their own place of work. So you have a, you
have a shared parking lot or it's just the, we
own the parking lot entirely and they use it at
their own discretion. We struggled because if we start towing
people, then as drunk come out of the club, find
their car towed, then I'm getting rocks through the back
of my building and all the windows, which are three
thousand dollars of peace. So I am loath to toe
cars when I know I'm going to experience the negative
low back from drunk people. Okay, appreciate you sharing your
experience. And I'm sorry you're experiencing this. Thank you. Thank
you. I appreciate that. Cal Ceprino. Uh, thank you, your
worship and thank you to the speaker this, um, your
presentation was excellent. I'm just wondering you had talked about
a couple of the other establishments that, you know, serve
food and alcohol and they're open from the 11 to
the 2 a. m. Do you experience any problems with
them for your business. We do councillor, but it's been
37 years. We're quite used to it. I clean up
puke feces. Urine needles, um, all sorts of stuff on
a regular basis. Yes. However, we are downtown and we
appreciate that. And there is, you know, there's a certain
amount of being downtown. This is what we put up
with. And the clients who come to us are used
to that. So that hasn't been an impediment in the
past. With the specific nature of this business with its
conflict with a school that has been an ongoing issue.
And honestly, the other bars employee professionals in terms of
bouncers and other staff, we're able to control their patrons
to a much higher degree. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you
so much. I appreciate that. And your worship when it
comes time for Staff, I have some questions for staff
if possible. Thank you. Thank you. Um, Mr. Butterworth, a
couple of questions. The entrance to the dance school is
off Bastion, is that correct? When entrance is off of
Bastion and one is through our parking lot sir. We're
parking lot. But you said the parking lot is for
staff use. Yes. First half of a Harbour Dance Studios.
Okay. So the general public though is entering off Bastion.
I just want to be clear here and try and
understand it. We have two entrances. So Bastion Street is
where about 80 percent of our clientele going through. We
have a lower studio in the basement that you require
to go around the building into the parking lot and
then enter into that through that area. Okay. So we
do have clients of all ages from six, I think
at the youngest up to 20 at the oldest plus
centre adult classes who are all ages who go in
through the parking lot entrance. And I say this and
I want to emphasize not as a patron, but, um,
old enough to remember that, uh, the flat roof building
beside the palisatel was the office, la office of gear,
rear Morton and spruel, as I recall. And that operated
as a strip club for his number of years too
during your tenure. Is that correct and fair. The one
that's across the road, this now club evolve. Yes. When
we first purchased the studio, it was still a jungle.
Thank you. Um, and look, I'm going to ask you,
you said it would take a long time to discuss
them, but, but what other kinds of incidents are you
referring to when you say that it's been very, uh,
challenging for you. Um, we've had two incidents. We have
a fence that protects the backstairs into our building on
two incidents now. That's been knocked down by cars. The
second one was by a drunk driver. Fortunately, there was
a witness to that one who reported that a person
came out of the club. Had parked their truck in
our parking lot backed up, hit our fence and then
drove away in a very erratic manner. Uh, that was
reported to police, thankfully. The person was charged with leaving
the scene of an accident, but was not able to
be charged with impair driving. I have a video camera
on the back parking lot. I regularly see patrons come
out of the sweet spot going to our parking lot,
go to our dumpster pee on the dumpster and go
back with the bouncers watching them. Um, we had our
neighbour who owns the park and block. Had an escort
agency tried to set up in their business about two
months after this club had opened. I don't suggest that
had anything to do specifically with the people from the
club. However, one kind of business draws in other kind
of business. We were very, very thankful that she turned
that down much to her own financial detriment. Um, the
emotional impact to our clients. I related one story, but
those impact reports, the surveys you got back, I would
welcome you to read them. There are many more in
there. Um, our problem is that we're looking at having
to fence our parking lot as a minimum and that's
50, 000 dollars and really nobody's making a lot of
money teaching children how to dance. So that's an incredible
financial burden for us to bear. The garbage and waste
our property has always been a problem. It's gone up
a little bit. Um, but it's not in the thing,
anything that's not unutil. Thank you very much. I'm not
seeing any other questions. Crown Soprino again. Yes, please. Thank
you. You worship a couple of questions for staff. My
understanding is that Council Brino, if may I let the
delegation sit down then? Oh, yes. Yes. Sorry you worship.
Thank you Mr. Butterworth. Appreciate your time. Counselprino. Sorry you
worship a question. A question to staff. If I might,
I'm just wondering my understanding is, is that, um, the
proponent is asking for the hours of course to switch
from 7 PMs to start time to 11 AM start
time. Is, is that, are they asking, um, or I'm
saying it incorrectly, would they be allowing exotic dancers from
as early as 11 a. m. on as far as
we know or is that just for the evening hours.
Mr. Holm, thank you through your, uh, worship to Councillor
Prino. That's not their stated intent, although the use, the
adult entertainment use is permitted anywhere, uh, nightclub is permitted,
which this is operating as. So this is, uh, a
permitted use on the property. What we're being councils being
asked to consider is a, um, expansion of the liquor
service hours. And that's a requirement of the province for
council to consider, uh, input from the community and provide
comment on the, um, expansion of ours to the liquor
primary license. So I know, um, the challenge with the,
uh, some of the concerns in the community. You know,
it's understandable, um, related to the adult entertainment use, but
it is a, uh, it's a metic. It is a
permitted use. And what's being asked, uh, expansion of the
liquor service hours, uh, not, not explicitly the expansion of
the adult injurtainment use. It's really a separate issue. But
I can understand the concern. And so the, the application
was reviewed. In accordance with the, um, city's liquor license
review policy. Council is established as well as the liquor
control and licensing act, the requirements of the province. And
in council's liquor license review policy, there's a requirement to
provide notice within 100 metres. Um, provide a 30 day
comment period. Although, um, notices the report, the staff report
speaks to 180 comments, 182 comment sheets being provided. It
does include all of the comment sheets provided. Um, it
just breaks down that, um, seven of those were from
within the 100 metre notification area. Whereas 175 were from
outside the notification area just to clarify that item as
well. So. Okay. And just, just one more quick question.
My understanding with the way these applications work is that.
If we, if we agree and move it forward, then
it goes on to the government. The government may or
may not agree to it. Even if we vote against
it, it may still go to the government and they
still be passed. Is that correct? Uh, good question. I
think, I think, um, the liquor control and liquor cannabis
regulation branch takes council's input strongly. They do hold the
final decision. But, uh, they do look, um, strongly to
local government comment as well. Okay. Okay. Thank you very
much. Thank you, your worship. Thank you, Councillor Thorpe. Thank
you, worship, through you to staff. If I may, I
just want to be clear, because I sense that we're,
we're confusing a couple of different issues here. And one
of the issues we seem to be talking about is
the type of club or operation that this is. And
that's not, that's not under debate. It's a night club.
It's, it's allowed to be there. It's allowed to have
adult entertainment. That's not at issue. All we're talking about
is extension of the hours to serve liquor. From 11
instead of from 7 p. m. 11 a. m. instead
of from 7 p. m. So I think we need
to focus on that and as councillor Perino has indicated,
even if we indicate support, it still has to go
to the, uh, liquor and cannabis regulation branch to make
a determination. To me, most restaurants or clubs, uh, and
I could stand to be corrected here. But I think
most do have liquor sales, uh, earlier in the day.
So I'm, I'm not sure that I see anything compelling
here to deny this application and to confuse that with
the type of club it is. Uh, where they're allowed
to have the entertainment they do. I think is, uh,
is, um, is not irrelevant, but I don't think it's
germane to our decision. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Armstrong.
Thank you. I agree with the comments of Councillor Thorpe.
We have to recognise it doesn't matter what's in there.
It's, do we agree with having a liquor license from
11 o'clock or do we leave it at seven. Uh,
I work this area for many, many years back in
the 90s when there were seven strip clubs in the
area. No issues. Um, I followed this on Facebook with
the majority of people in favor of, of the extension
of the license. And most of them said they're more
concerned about CNADX and people passed out on the street
and what they're doing than somebody leaving a place where
you can't see inside. So I think as Councillor Thorpe
says you have to remove what's being used there, whether
it was a restaurant or whether it's a bar, do
you extend the liquor license? You can't go to what
the use is. Thank you. Thank you. Council Rear. Thank
you. Through you just a procedural question. Like there's, I
believe someone involved with the application in the audience. Usually
like putting their hand up. And I'm just wondering like
there was an opportunity to sign up as a delegation.
So at this point like Ms. Scurry. Yes. You worship
there was an opportunity to sign up as a delegation.
Um, so the procedure bylaw doesn't allow speakers from the
audience. Okay. Yeah. I appreciate that, um, that clarification. Like
I wish that I could have heard more in response,
particularly to the first delegation. Um. And so like I
can't just take comments from the audience and to consideration,
but I appreciate being here. Like I would say that
councils received a fair bit of, um. Concern from the
community about this establishment and whether those concerns are warranted
or not. Um, I do appreciate hearing from the first
delegation. And I understand why people have concerns. And I
think that like the read that I'm getting from the
community is that the whole lot of like social license
for this extension. I haven't seen or read very much
support at all. Um. And I find it a really,
a really tough one. So I'm appreciating hearing people's comments
tonight. Thank you. Councillor Gesselbrock. Uh, I'd like to move
that council deny the application to the liquor cannabis regulation
branch. Um, well, the motion is that I can't recommend
that the liquor and license cannabis regulation approve the application
to amend existing liquor primary license. So I move that
council recommend that the liquor and cannabis regulation branch deny
the application to amend an existing liquor primary license to
foreign entertainment use at 240 Skinner Street. Second. Secretary Councillor
Brown discussion on this. Yeah. Um, I appreciate the discussion.
I think, uh, what we need to focus on here
is that there's a strip club that has been allowed
because we haven't updated our, uh. Zoning bylaw, um, which
includes strip clubs to be allowed as part of the
entertainment district. And it is unfortunately led to a strip
club be located right beside a children's dance studio. And
I think we can all appreciate the consternation of the
many families that utilise this DANSTSDio with their young children
going through there being co - located by a strip
club. Uh, there's been a tremendous amount of opposition towards
this. And I think realising that it is a permitted
use. There's been a certain level of acceptance that this
is going to be a strip club operating from seven
to two o'clock in the morning. Um, around this. Uh,
however now the request is to allow it to be
able to serve liquor and operate, um, starting at 11
o'clock in the morning. And although there may be sports
entertainment that will be there, uh, this is a strip
club. And we will be extending the hours where liquor
is going to be allowed there. And I think that
it's very unreasonable to do this for multiple reasons. Um,
you know, some very colourfully outlined by the, uh, delegation
that spoke. Um, so I think that, um, it is
responsible to deny this application. Um, and that I do
think council in the future, um, given that I think
this is a bit of a social dinosaur. There's only
two strip clubs left on Vancouver Island. The other in
Campbell River to look at amending our zoning bylaw. Um,
so that strip clubs are not allowed in part of
the entertainment district in the future. So we don't run
into this ridiculous situation of having a strip club being
co - located right beside a children's dan studio. Thank
you. Thank you, Councillor. I'm strong and Councillor Manley. Thank
you. I won't vote and support. I think the big
issue that again has said, we can't look at it
as a strip club because that can change tomorrow. It's
not a strip club. It's an entertainment. Like we have
to be really careful with that. And I think because
this council has approved other ones, whatever. I think we
wouldn't even last in a court challenge because you can't
use look at the purpose that it's a strip club.
This is, can they extend their liquor license? That's all
it's about. Secondly, strip clubs have been around this community
for years. Some were gone. They're back. Whatever. I don't
know what the big issue is because they never see
the women that are operating in there. We see more
coming out of some PUBs at night that are with
drunk people. It doesn't matter whether it be a strip
club or a regular pub or a restaurant. I've seen
them come out of that as well. I've seen more
people pass out on the streets and different acts of
sexual stuff by some of our homeless people and others
that are strung out. Then what I'm seeing coming out
of a strip club, the police have zero issues with
it. They're quite happy with the performance saying that they've
got a good neighbourhood agreement, which from their perspective is
excellence. So when your police are in favor and your
biology and your staff are, I feel it's incumbent to
be opposed to this particular motion. I'm in favor of
extending the license. Thank you, Councillor Manley. I'm in support
of, um, denying the extended license. I think there's not
a social license for this. I don't think it's into
public interest to be having serving liquor in a script
club, uh, during daytime hours in our downtown. We've been
working hard on trying to revitalize our downtown space. And
it's a party zone at night. Let's just keep it
a party zone at night. Thanks. Thank you. Um, and
just to confirm, uh, Mr. Holm, uh, the staff report
provides that out of seven common sheets received from the
notification area. In other words, other businesses essentially within the
area. Um, five supported the application and two opposed, correct?
Yes. Your worship. Thank you. That's correct. And the 175
submissions were received from outside the notification here. And they
were all opposed to it. I believe that's true. HDS,
they were opposed. Yes. That's correct. Thank you. Um, and
they're all included in attachment B to the report. Your
worship councillor Brown has his honoraged. Councillor Brown. Thanks for
worship. Very much like the motion on the floor. Um,
uh, unlike some of the other comments, though I that
have been made, I would say it's incorrect to say
that the type of use camp you looked at, uh,
part of the, that's very clear the provincial policy on
what councils can look like. I look at and one
of them is the impact to the community. Arguably the
extension of liquor hours for an exotic dancing establishment. Is
a very different type of proposal than an extension of
liquor license hours for a restaurant or a pub. Um,
so I do think it's, uh, well, I can appreciate
the argument. I actually don't think it's valid because we're,
we're talking about provincial policy here and the things that
council can consider. One of them being impacted to the
community. For those reasons, um, and I think, uh, very
highlighted by Councillor Guestlebrock, I won't repeat, um, I support
the motion on the floor and, uh, I think at
some point in the future, it would be very much,
uh, wise to change the zoning and do these on
site suspecific use if a proposal comes forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Prino. Uh, thank you, your worship. This
is difficult. I think, um, councillor Armstrong and councillors both
made some excellent comments in that. This isn't allowed use
of the building. And, and I have, I have no
problem with that. That's, uh, it has been allowed. It's
fine. I don't have a problem, but I do have
a problem with it going from 7 p. m. to
11 a. m. And I think it's important to note
that, uh, some of the people who may have sent
in comments may have been families of, uh, some of
the children attending the dance school. I certainly know of
one who's been in touch with me. And they're very
concerned about their children attending the school. And they love
the school. So that's not an issue for them. And
I think it's important that, you know, from school's perspective,
they're concerned about this, but also from the actual establishment,
um, that is hosting the strip, they have a right
as well. So I'm not proposing that I would be
against, um, necessarily closing them up. You know, or changing
the zoning necessarily, but I do think that having them
opened with alcohol at 7 p. m. is certainly early
enough. And it, um, it, it attracts a different kind
of clientele in the evening. And I think that that's
appropriate. So I'll be voting in favor of the motion
by director Guess I Brother. Thank you very much. I'm
not suggesting for a moment I'd influenced by the date
of October 17th for less than four months to an
election. And you have 175 people who've written in and
said they are opposed to the extension. And you've had
coach and arguments from councillors Thorpe and Armstrong about the
use and it's permitted use. And yes, our bylaws and
zoning may be somewhat behind. But, uh, candidly, um, please
note the recommended motion is the council recommend the liquor
and cannabis regulation branch deny the application. I want to
emphasize something. This council has approved virtually every cannabis store
that's come before it. With great respect, the use of
cannabis, it is becoming apparent to me is far more
damaging and dangerous to this community than whether or not
we have another one or more licoricements. And whether or
not those include adult entertainment. So as much as I
am sympathetic to the challenges faced, it seems to me
that the behaviours that are occurring that are disturbing and
legitimately so to Mr. Butterworth and the dance school are
things that need to be enforced. And we have good
neighbour agreements and other things that can work to enforce
that. So, uh, as much as I appreciate all being
the minority tonight, uh, I'll be voting with councillors Armstrong
and thorope on this. The motion is to recommend that
the reliquarinal cannabis regulation branched deny the application. All those
in favor of the motion, councillors Eastmare, Kessel Rock Manly
Brown and preno, and those opposed. Councillor's Armstrong, Paloun Seremons,
Mayor Crowe, Councillor Thorpe, the Motion carries. Thank you very
much. Biggest debate tonight. We're on to 13D Rezoning Application
Number RA523 - 235 Departure Bay Road. Again, I know
the proponent fairly well, unfortunately, and we'll be declaring a
conflict accordingly and will remove myself. Over to you, Councillor
Hemmons.
Mr. E, do we have a staff introduction on this
one? Okay. We just go directly to the delegation chair.
So Mr. Scott Mack. Come on down.
Where is the clicker for. Thank you. Mr. Makif, five
minutes. Thank you, Madam Chair and members of council. My
name is Scott Mack. I'm the managing partner for Towns
Light Planning. And I'm here this evening on behalf of
my client regarding item 13D on your agenda. Which is
a rezoning application RA523. Townside Planning submitted an application to
the city on the NINIMLO on behalf of our client.
To rezone the subject property from R1 to a mix
of R5 and R8 medium density residential zoning. The property
is 1. 14 acres in size and designated for residential
development in city plan, which supports building forms and the
densities found in both the R5 and the R8 zones.
The property is also located two blocks from Brooks Landing
and Salair Elementary School, providing excellent access to shopping employment
and education all within close walking distance. And the property
is located on departure bay road. Which is an urban
collector roadway and has a major transit route running directly
past the property with several other routes also available at
Brooks Landing. I'm going to skip ahead of this slide
because I'm going to talk about it in the next
one. Here you can see the proposed forlot layout of
the property with the proposed R8 facing departure bay road
to the east, which is proposed to accommodate a small
multifamily building. Based on the topography of the site. This
building would be four stories facing departure bay road, but
only three stories facing the rear lane. Roughly 35 to
50 percent of the required parking for the R8 site
is supposed to be located underneath the building. With a
remaining parking located at the rear of the building and
access via the lane. The Western portion of the site
would be zoned to R5 in order to accommodate three
lots, providing for a density transition as you move away
from the busier departure bay road towards Lindburg Crescent. The
proposed R5 zoning would match the existing zoning that already
exists on the west side of Lindburg Crescent and on
the development directly to the north. You can also see
on the site plan the proposed extension of the lane
from Sandringham Avenue, running north - south through the site,
which will provide access for all of the lots. The
lane will eliminate an existing dangerous driveway access onto departure
bay road and also significantly reduces the impact from new
development on the existing local roads. We have also proposed
a pedestrian connection running east - west along the southern
boundary of the site between departure - bee road in
Lindburg Crescent. And of course, there will be front improvements
on both Departure Ba Road and Lin Burn at the
time of Development. In terms of community engagement, we did
hold a neighbourhood open house last spring and a total
of 16 residents attended the meeting. What we did here,
some of the typical concerns that you might expect to
hear at this type of meeting regarding development in general.
There were also several attendees who expressed support for and
interest in the project. Regarding amenities, we acknowledged that the
city recently adopted a new amenity cost charged bylaw that
will come into effect in January of 2029. We had
originally proposed a CAC of approximately 125, 000 dollars based
on the cities now rescinded policy, but have since updated
the proposal to match the rates in the new ACC
bylaw, which we anticipate will result in the contribution of
approximately 131, 000 dollars. These funds would be directed towards
the city's affordable housing reserve fund and the parks reserve
fund. Finally, we of course watched with great interest as
council deliberated the rezoning application further down the hill, uh,
in recent weeks at 2565 departure road. We noted that
council expressed some concern with the proponent's application. In terms
of this idea of potentially showing something at rezoning stage
and then coming in later and looking for more or
additional density than what was shown at the time of
rezoning. And we saw obviously what was done in order
to address that concern with that application in discussions with
staff. We've essentially proposed a very similar restriction with our
application where the maximum density would be capped at 1.
0 FAR, which reflects the density that is shown in
our proposal and is significantly less than the 1. 85
FAR, which might otherwise be permitted without any restriction based
on the R8 zoning. In closing, just wanted to emphasize
a couple of key points, uh, one, our application aligns
with the density and policy objectives of city plan, especially
now even more so with the additional commitment to the
maximum FAAR. The site is centrally located on a major
roadway with excellent access to multiple transit routes, shopping, and
employment, all within easy walking distance. It provides new amenities,
both in the form of new pedestrian connection between de
BARCHAY Road and Lindburg Crescent. And through frontage improvements at
the time of development, as well as through a significant
cash amenity contribution. And ultimately our proposal generated very little
concern or feedback through the public consultation process. As a
result, we respectfully request the council grant first, second, and
third reading this evening. If you have any questions, I
would be happy to address them. Thank you, Mr. Mack.
A couple of questions for you. Councillor Armstrong. Thank you.
Um, I don't know, I couldn't see it. Where is
AXE is going to be? Is it going to be
off Lindburn or is it going to be off a
departure bay. Through the chair to Councillor Armstrong, the access
would actually, at this point in time, would come off
of Sandringham Avenue. Uh, because all of the development, the
three R5 lots, as well as the R8 lot, uh,
would all be provided to access from the lane that's
going to run through the centre of the site. So
that development there, like to the north of it, that's
owned by the same developer. So he has access to
those roads? It's a public lane that exists through that
site now. That that abut set my client's property. So
we would be extending that public lane, uh, through my
client's property. And then ultimately, if the property to the
South wherever developed that public lane could be further extended,
uh, as you move to the South. Thank you. Thank
you. There's no further questions from counsel. I appreciate your
presence. Thank you very much. Question for staff. Councillor Manley.
Go ahead. Uh, yeah, just a question for you to
staff. So the, the, um, 1. 0 FAR is that.
I didn't see that as a covenanted thing. Is that
I was that guaranteed in the, um, in the proposal.
Thank you for the question. Through the chair to Councillor
Manley. Yeah. That would be site specific for the, um,
uh, the property. Okay. Through the zoning. Okay. I didn't
see that. I didn't see it in the report. It
was, um, on the conditions of rezoning. It, yeah, through,
uh, through, uh, chair to Councillor Manley. So it would
be in the bylaw noted as cite specific maximum floraya
ratio. Okay. Thank you. Councillor Armstrong. Thank you. Thank you.
Um, I don't see anybody here from engineering. I'm just
wondering about, we have so many concerns already about departure
bay road. We've added more in at the other end
where we've added more. I just wanted to know what
the impact would be. Especially because the light on Sandringham.
Yeah, I'm just really struggling with this. I think it's
too many units for the size of the lot. Thank
you. Councillor Thorpe. Thank you very much, Chair. Yes. I
will likely support this, but I am struggling with it
somewhat. I feel the reality is that the dominoes have
started to fall in the, uh, departure bay neighbourhood. I
did not support the application a couple of weeks back
that we discussed. I thought the density was too great.
And quite frankly, I sometimes wonder why we bother have
zoning, uh, barraged with efforts or attempts to rezone from
R1 to R8 or something similar. Uh, so I'm still
giving this thought. Um, I concede that I have heard
very little community pushback on this one as opposed to
the earlier development. Which is good. Uh, I do have
a question about the, uh, amenity contribution. Uh, through you,
Chair.
And my question is. Are my preference would be that
100 percent of the amenity contribution be directed towards park
or trail improvements in that immediate neighbourhood. We have the,
uh, the small park where kinhut is located. We have
the departure bay sports fields, which are reasonably heavily used.
I'm sure there's lots of improvements that could be made
in those areas. So that's a comment for what it's
worth. And I don't know how this, uh, the suggested
allocation of the funds was determined. Thank you, Chair. Council,
I see no further questions or comments. I will indicate
that I am in support of this proposal one of
the resident wrote to us, uh, asking that we rejected.
And part of the rationale was that the primary school
in a shopping centre just up the street from the
property in question. And that in and of itself is
my rationale for density in that area. Um, 40 extra
cars. That's exactly where we want the cars. We want
people to be able to go to school and go
to the grocery store without having to get in those
cars. So, um, I'm the chair. And this is a
bylaw. I can't read it. Kelgo to counsel Manley first.
And then if I was just going to express support
for this as well in city plan, this is identified
as, as corridor, um, for increased density. It's close to
amenities schools, shopping centres. Um, and this is, you know,
it's on a transit route. Um, this is where it
makes sense to density. And it's not, um, designated as
a suburban neighbourhood in our city plan. So I'm, I'm
in support of it. Thank you. Thank you. Madam Chair,
just of note, when you're ready, um, I think Council
Brown has his hand up, but, um, Councillor Easmir is
the next acting chair. So she can read the bylaw
when it comes out. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Over
to you, Council Brown. I just want to say supportive.
I also want to say chair that nothing stopping you
from reading the bylaw as well. Thank you. Thank you.
I prefer councillor easmir. I'll move that zoning amendment by
law 2026 number 4, 500. 253 to rezone 2335 departure
bay road from single dwelling residential R123 and four unit
residential R5 and medium density residential R8 with a site
- specific maximum floor area ratio of 1. 0 for
the R8 portion of the property passed first reading. Thank
you, Secretary by Councillor Armstrong. All those in favor. Any
opposed. I see none opposed. I move that zoning amendment
bylaw 2026 number 4, 500. 253 past second reading. Thank
you seconded by Councillor Armstrong. I'm sorry, sir, you're not.
If you haven't signed up for a delegation, what you
can do is put your name on the list for
questions that the end. Um, I'm sorry, sir. We're going
into second and third reading here. There is a question
and answer or question sheet you can sign up for.
Okay. Um, sorry, sir. I'm going to ask you to
stop. This is a place of business and we don't
take audience comment like that. So we are on second
reading. It's been seconded by Councillor Armstrong. All those in
favor. Sorry. Any opposed. I see none opposed. I move
that zoning amendment bylaw 2026 number 4, 500 point 253
past three reading. Second and by Councillor Thorpe, all those
in favor. Any opposed. I see none of post. And
I moved at council direct staff to secure the conditions
related to zoning amendment bylaw 2026 number 4, 500. 253
as outlined in the conditions of rezoning section of the
staff report titled Rezoning Application number, our A523 2335 departure
bay road dated. June 22nd, 2026 prior to final adoption.
Seconded by Councillor Armstrong, all those in favor. Any opposed?
I seen unopposed. Thank you.
And the next is E rezoning application of our RA536
- 2180HL in Boulevard. There is a recommended motion. Councillor
Hemins. Your worship I moved at zoning amendment by law
2026. Number 4500. 255 to rezone 2180 Highland Boulevard to
allow cannabis retail store as a site - specific use
in the existing neighbourhood centre, CC2 zone, PASS First Reading.
Seconded Councillor Armstrong, all those in favor. And opposed. Mo.
I move at the barn. Uh, past second reading. Second
- did Councillor Armstrong. All those in favor. Sorry. Yeah.
Councillor Smith, please. Thank you. I think the difference between
a rezoning for cannabis retail store is that the consumption
on site, unlike somewhere that has a liquor license. Um,
so to me, it does not have the same type
of potential negative impacts on the immediate surrounding neighbourhood. Um,
so I will be voting in support of this. Thank
you for what it's worth in response. There's one down
the hill. At the new development. And the one further
along the highway. It's enough for me. All those in
favor. Everybody accept me. I'm opposed. Thank you. Councillor Hennons.
Uh, I move that council direct staff to hold a
public hearing for zoning amendment by law 2026. Number four
five zero zero point two five. Secret councillor Thorpe. All
those in favor of a public hearing. That's all of
us. Un opposed. Councillor Hemons. Thank you. And finally, I
moved that council direct staff to secure the conditions related
to zoning amendment by law 2026. Number four five zero
zero point two five as outlined in the conditions of
rezoning section of the staff report titled rezoning application number
RA536 - 2180 Highland Boulevard dated 2026, June 22nd prior
to final adoption. Seconded councillor. Armstrong, all those in favor
and any opposed, none motion carries. We have no bylaws,
no correspondence, no no other business question period for agenda
items only. Ms. Curry, please. Thank you very much. Mr.
Anasley 12C. That's traffic demand management reserve
fund bylaw? Yeah. Sorry. I'm sorry if, uh, was said
during the presentation, but, uh, where is the, um, money
that is going to be put in this fun come
from is it, um, a new tax. Is it, uh,
general revenue? Is it from DCC's. How are you going
to fund this new, um, reserve. Thank you very much.
Mr. Home. Uh, yes. Thank you, your worship through to
the question. On this. So the, um, the fund will
be provided. Funds will be provided by developers who are
either required or choose to provide monetary contribution to this
traffic demand management. Reserve fund through development. So offset parking,
you can pay into the, um, uh, this fund. And
so it won't be funded by tax dollars. It'll be
through development. Okay. But not separate from DCCs and ACC.
It's sort of its own. It is separate from ACC's
and DCCs. Okay. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you very much.
No further items. Move Adjourn. Councillor Eastmare. Secretary Councillor Hemens.
All those in favor. Any opposed on motion carries. Thank
you staff everyone tonight. Thank you for attending.