End of the Quest

The Oak Bay council chamber was full, seating was extended into the hallway, and people spilled out beyond that Monday night at municipal hall for the Committee of the Whole meeting.

12:00 a.m and the room was still full to hear council's decision to deny the Quest development. #oakbay pic.twitter.com/5BUiXPcTCB

— Oak Bay News (@OakBayNews) November 21, 2017

While many came out to speak about the parking regulations in the Oak Bay village area earlier in the agenda, most were there to voice their opinion on Quest’s controversial land use application asking for a zoning amendment to build a multifamily development at 2326 Oak Bay Avenue.

The public had an opportunity to share their concerns with the committee which lasted for hours and concluded at 11:30 p.m.

The issues that were of concern to residents were: size of building for lot size; loss of historic Garry oak; detrimental impacts to neighbouring properties; the development was contrary to points in the Official Community Plan (OCP)

At that time, the developers had an opportunity to respond, giving clarity on some of the issues discussed.

In the council chambers that were still full at midnight, the committee voted unanimously to deny the Quest application.

The committee expressed the same concerns as the residents but also noted that while some aspects of the proposal seemed counter to the OCP, the vagueness of the OCP wording leaves it somewhat up to interpretation.

The committee voiced the need to create more concrete parameters for the OCP so that developers don’t go so far down the design path before getting denied.

Decisions made at the committee level are made as recommendations to council. The next council meeting where those recommendations are to be considered is Monday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. in chambers at municipal hall, 2167 Oak Bay Ave.

keri.coles@oakbaynews.com