Council has ignored repeated requests to ask the developer to significantly scale back the Clive rezoning application project and provide adequate appropriate parking.
Council has also ignored its own recommendations to make substantial modifications to scale back the building. However they have continued to extend the approval process for almost a year now and move it ahead to an advanced stage.
They are about to spend a lot of taxpayer dollars on drafting a zoning bylaw amendment, a housing agreement bylaw, a restrictive covenant and a development permit. In addition to the amount of staff time required, holding a large a public meeting to change our zoning bylaw will entail more expense.
A council member at the Nov. 18 committee of the whole meeting made the statement that many of the neighbour’s concerns have been met. This is not the case. In fact almost all of the neighbours oppose this project and have attended many meetings and submitted their concerns in writing.
Also well over 500 people have recently signed a petition in opposition and more continue to sign. Most don’t live near the Clive.
What is more disturbing is the initial zoning analysis provided by staff seven months ago outlines the many extensive variances and parking relaxations needed to allow the building to greatly exceed the requirements of our zoning and parking bylaws.
However when the current zoning analysis provided by staff on Nov. 18 is examined it shows there has been almost no reduction in the massing, setbacks or parking.
The building is still going to be almost 50 per cent bigger than it is supposed to be and has almost the same dimensions as the original rezoning application. A series of minor reductions over the many months only makes it appear that any real change has occurred.
Council would do well to take this into consideration before proceeding with this development any further.
Anthony Mears
Oak Bay