Council sent the 960 Foul Bay Road proposal back for changes after a long debate over its 24 homes, building scale, parking, trees and fit with the neighbourhood; two councillors opposed the referral. At 1587 York Place, council approved changes that remove the heritage house’s rear wing and reduce its homes from four to two, while preserving more of its interior and original windows; one councillor opposed. Council also asked staff to find more South Oak Bay locations for election signs and approved a 48-inch height limit. It directed the province to receive Oak Bay’s interim housing report, which records 58 net new homes against a three-year target of 258, and advanced the 2026 tax-rate bylaws.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
Council approved the meeting agenda without discussion.
Routine: approve the agenda for this meeting.
Council adopted the minutes of its April 13 meetings at 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. No changes were raised.
Routine: adopt the minutes of the two April 13, 2026 Council meetings.
Council received the Advisory Design Panel’s February 10 minutes. The chair said the panel minutes were being received as approved, without discussion.
Routine: receive the Advisory Design Panel minutes for information.
A resident began speaking about the proposed election-sign bylaw changes. The chair stopped the remarks because the sign amendments were an agenda item with its own public-input period later in the meeting; the resident spoke then.
The province asked Oak Bay for an interim report on housing delivered from October 2025 through March 2026. Staff said Oak Bay was halfway through its three-year reporting period, with a target of 258 net new homes and 58 delivered so far. Council agreed to send the report to the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs by May 15. The mayor questioned the value of quarterly reporting but said the District would comply.
Send the interim housing-target report covering October 2025 through March 2026 to the provincial Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs by May 15, 2026.
The owner sought changes to the approved restoration of Annandale House after construction exposed structural, fire-flow and building-code challenges. The revised plan removes the house’s rear wing, reduces the main house from four dwellings to two, and protects four important interior rooms. It also allows the original York Place windows to be restored rather than replaced and includes restoration of the second chimney. Council supported staff preparing the amendment and waived a public hearing. One councillor opposed, citing the loss of original building fabric and housing, and concern that changing an approved agreement could weaken the process. Supporters said the revised plan offered a workable way to save the house and preserve important heritage features; the heritage commission had supported it.
Have staff prepare a bylaw amendment for the heritage agreement at 1587 York Place.
Do not hold a Public Hearing for the proposed heritage-agreement amendment at 1587 York Place.
The proposal would relocate and designate the Lawson Residence, convert it into eight two-bedroom homes, and add 16 townhouses—24 homes in all—on a large corner site near Oak Bay Village, transit and the Centennial Trail. The owner said the project would restore the 1914 Samuel Maclure-designed house and improve the Brighton Avenue pedestrian route. The proposal drew extensive questions about its scale, 72% impermeable coverage against a 50% R4-zone limit, 39 parking spaces, tree removal, access from Brighton rather than Foul Bay, accessibility and the lack of shared resident space. Staff said the current Official Community Plan does not designate the site for townhouse development, so the applications require a plan amendment. Council referred the applications to staff to work with the applicant on changes, including reducing townhouse massing, height and number; considering a mix of unit types or tenure; a tenant assistance plan; reduced impermeable surface, possibly through less on-site parking; shared amenity space; wheelchair access and accessible homes in the Lawson Residence; and replacing proposed vinyl window frames in the house with wood. A proposed extra direction to enhance tree retention, including significant Garry oaks, was defeated. The referral carried, with two councillors opposed. Staff said the revised proposal would return to council.
Add a requirement to consider reducing hard, non-absorbent surfaces at the site, including possibly reducing the amount of on-site parking.
Add a requirement to improve tree retention, particularly for significant Garry oak trees, and limit effects on trees outside the site.
Allow the meeting to continue until 11:00 PM.
Send the applications for the proposed development at 960 Foul Bay Road back to staff to work with the applicant on design changes that give the Lawson Residence more prominence, a wider mix of homes or tenure, a tenant assistance plan, less hard surface and possibly less on-site parking, shared resident space, wheelchair access and accessible units in the Lawson Residence, and wood rather than vinyl replacement window frames there.
Council adopted the zoning amendment for 1024 Transit Road. The transcript contains no discussion of the bylaw’s details at this meeting.
Adopt the zoning bylaw amendment for 1024 Transit Road.
Council adopted the Streets and Traffic Bylaw amendment. No details or debate about the change were captured in this part of the meeting.
Adopt the amendment to the Streets and Traffic Bylaw.
Staff described the tax-rate bylaw as the final step in the 2026 financial-planning cycle, translating the adopted financial plan into tax rates. No member of the public spoke. Council gave the bylaw first, second and third readings; it must return for adoption.
Give the 2026 Tax Rates Bylaw its first and second readings.
Give the 2026 Tax Rates Bylaw its third reading.
The boulevard frontage tax supports maintenance of selected boulevards. Council gave the amendment first, second and third readings; it will return for adoption. A letter questioned the service’s value and limited coverage. The mayor suggested a report on the program’s costs, benefits and sprinkler-system upkeep, but did not bring a motion forward. Staff said the rates recover 75% of the service cost, and a councillor expected costs and service details to be considered in the next financial plan.
Give the boulevard frontage tax amendment its first and second readings.
Give the boulevard frontage tax amendment its third reading.
The draft bylaw would set designated public locations for election signs. Staff said they found seven sign-related bylaw files since 2022: three involving signs placed in parks and four involving signs larger than two feet by two feet; there were no election-sign complaints or offences recorded in the 2022 local election. A resident argued that concentrated locations, mostly north of Oak Bay Avenue, could reduce voter awareness and disadvantage lesser-known candidates. Council asked staff to review additional possible sign locations in South Oak Bay, using a map supplied by a councillor for consideration, and directed that the maximum sign height be 48 inches. Staff had originally proposed 36 inches. The bylaw was not advanced to readings at this meeting.
Have staff consider the locations shown on the map and choose additional places in South Oak Bay where election signs may be placed.
Have staff change the draft sign rules so election signs can be up to 48 inches high.
Staff said the fee schedule was being updated to reflect the new Official Community Plan, delegated permits and a review of fees last changed in 2023. Council asked about the $6,000 fee for most rezonings, how detailed property-file reviews are charged, and how fees relate to staff time and other jurisdictions. A councillor proposed reducing the heritage designation or removal fee from $1,500 to $500, but the proposal did not receive a seconder. Council gave the bylaw first, second and third readings; it will return for adoption.
Give the amendment to planning, building and development fees its first and second readings.
Give the amendment to planning, building and development fees its third reading.
The amendments bring the bylaw into line with provincial legislative changes and make housekeeping updates. One change gives the chief election officer discretion to issue a mail ballot after the request deadline in exceptional circumstances, such as hospitalization, so an eligible voter is not prevented from voting. Council gave the bylaw first, second and third readings; it will return for adoption.
Give the amendment to the Elections and Voting Bylaw its first and second readings.
Give the amendment to the Elections and Voting Bylaw its third reading.
Council adjourned the meeting at 10:56 PM.
Routine: adjourn the meeting at 10:56 PM.
All 23 decisions from the minutes appear under the agenda items above.