Council approved a revised accessory dwelling unit at 295 King George Terrace, but several councillors said Oak Bay needs clearer, stronger shoreline protections; a notice of motion will bring options for a marine shoreline setback back to Council. The most contested decision was to restrict election signs on public boulevards to designated locations: the bylaw passed, despite objections that it could disadvantage first-time candidates and limit political expression. Council also approved an $800,000 expansion of the Uplands sewer project, including a roughly $305,000 change order, and advanced four new blasting-related bylaws. The accessibility implementation plan was received, with annual progress reports and future budget decisions still to come.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
What was discussed
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4.1 Development Permit (DP000068) - 295 King George Terrace
The revised proposal is for an accessory dwelling unit on a steep shoreline lot. It is smaller than the earlier proposal—954 square feet rather than just over 1,000—and no longer needs zoning variances. A qualified environmental professional reviewed the design and rainwater plan. Council added a condition requiring the drawings to say that no additional fill will be placed beneath the unit and natural grade will be preserved, then approved the permit. Staff confirmed that the unit still encroaches into the shoreline development permit area to the same extent as the earlier proposal. Several councillors said the case exposed a gap in shoreline rules; Councillor Smart gave notice of a motion for staff to return with setback options.
Agreement
Councillors who spoke in support said the revised, smaller design and additional environmental information made the application acceptable under the current guidelines.
Several councillors agreed that Council should consider stronger, clearer shoreline protection rules for future applications.
Disagreement
Councillor Green raised concerns about environmental risk, precedent, and the effect of provincial housing requirements.
Councillors supporting the permit said the site is unusually steep and largely bare rock, and judged the limited environmental impact reasonable for the added housing.
Require the permit drawings to say that no extra fill can be placed beneath the proposed accessory dwelling unit and that the natural ground level must be preserved throughout the property.
Official wording: That the motion be amended to include:
That Council approve Development Permit (DP000068) for the property located at 295 King George Terrace subject to the drawings being revised to state that no additional fill shall be placed under the proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit, and that natural grade shall be preserved throughout.
Approve the development permit for 295 King George Terrace, provided the plans prohibit extra fill beneath the proposed accessory dwelling unit and preserve the natural ground level throughout.
Official wording: That Council approve Development Permit (DP000068) for the property located at 295 King George Terrace subject to the drawings being revised to state that no additional fill shall be placed under the proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit, and that natural grade shall be preserved throughout.
Council appointed Crystal Anderson as Chief Election Officer and Joanna Winter and Alex Heimburger as Deputy Chief Election Officers for the 2026 local election. The recommendation passed without discussion or opposition.
Appoint Crystal Anderson to oversee the District’s 2026 local election, with Joanna Winter and Alex Heimburger as deputy election officers.
Official wording: That Council appoint Crystal Anderson as Chief Election Officer for the 2026 General Local Election for the District of Oak Bay, and that Joanna Winter and Alex Heimburger be appointed as Deputy Chief Election Officers.
The project had about $1.4 million in unspent funds because some planned contingencies were not needed. Council approved using $800,000 for additional paving and repairs at critical points in the sanitary sewer network, including a change order of about $305,000 plus tax for Windley Contracting, and authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to sign it. Staff said targeted sewer repairs can prevent failures more economically than full replacement, although they could not give an exact number of extra years of service. New PVC sewer pipe is expected to last 90 to 100 years. Staff will execute the change order and share an updated schedule when it is ready.
Agreement
Councillors supported putting unused project funds toward additional work on the same project rather than automatically returning them to reserves.
Councillors praised staff for delivering a large, complex project with funds left over.
Add paving and sanitary sewer repairs to the Uplands project, with the added work expected to cost $800,000.
Official wording: That Council approve a modification to the scope of work for the Uplands Sewer Separation and Watermain Replacement Project to include additional paving and sanitary sewer repairs with a cost of $800,000 and as identified in the report of the Director of Engineering and Public Works titled "Uplands Sewer Separation and Watermain Replacement - Contemplated Change Order for Additional Work" dated May 19, 2026.
The strategy turns 16 barriers identified in Oak Bay’s 2025 accessibility plan into 28 actions. It tracks work already underway, identifies actions that may need future Council funding, and commits to annual public progress updates. Staff said an accessibility-impact box will be added to Council reports, and confirmed that a hearing loop is already operating in Council Chambers. A full review of accessible parking and bus stops was deferred because it would require a substantial inventory and coordination with BC Transit and regional partners; staff said individual projects can still include targeted reviews. The report will go to the Accessibility Advisory Committee for feedback before annual updates come to Council.
Agreement
Councillors welcomed the plan and the commitment to track progress and report back each year.
Staff said accessibility features can be considered in individual transportation projects even before a comprehensive parking and bus-stop review.
Disagreement
Councillor Patterson felt postponing the parking and bus-stop review could leave accessibility concerns behind active transportation projects already being planned.
Staff said the full review was a significant undertaking, but that deferring it would not prevent targeted reviews tied to specific projects.
Routine: receive the staff report about the strategy for putting the Accessibility Plan into action.
Official wording: That Council receive the report titled “Accessibility Plan Implementation Strategy” dated May 19, 2026 from Crystal Anderson, Director of Corporate Services.
The bylaw would limit election signs on public boulevards to 11 designated locations, with two signs per candidate at each location and a four-foot height limit. One Oak Bay resident argued that the change was unnecessary, restricted political expression, and could create doubts about fairness. Councillors divided over whether designated sites improve safety and equal access or instead make it harder for new candidates to reach voters. Council approved the bylaw for its first and second readings, then amended the map to end the Beach Drive location at Beresford Street and remove the two sites in the 500 block of Beach Drive. Attempts to remove the Transit Road–McNeill Avenue and Crescent Road–Quimper Street sites, and to restore school-frontage boulevards as eligible locations, failed. The amended bylaw passed third reading. Staff noted the rules would also apply to provincial and federal election signs.
Agreement
Councillors agreed that election signs are part of political campaigning and that clear rules and locations matter to candidates and staff.
Council approved ending the Beach Drive site at Beresford Street and removing the two sites in the 500 block of Beach Drive.
Staff confirmed that the bylaw would apply to provincial and federal election signs as well as municipal signs.
Disagreement
Supporters said designated sites could improve traffic safety, reduce visual clutter, create clearer enforcement rules, and give candidates more equal access to public space.
Opponents argued there was no demonstrated safety problem, that the restrictions limited political expression, and that established candidates would have an advantage over first-time candidates who lack private-property sign contacts.
Councillors disagreed over whether signs should be allowed on municipal boulevards in front of schools; the proposal to allow them failed.
Councillors also disagreed over whether to remove the Transit Road–McNeill Avenue and Crescent Road–Quimper Street locations; both removal proposals failed.
Change the proposed sign map so the permitted election-sign area on Beach Drive ends at the Beresford Street crosswalk, while excluding the part of Beach Drive north of Beresford Street.
Official wording: That "Sign Bylaw No. 3946, 1997, Amendment Bylaw No. 4962, 2026" be amended by revising the following location from Schedule A:
a. Beach Drive from Windsor Road to Beresford Street: terminating the allowable election sign area along Beach Drive at the crosswalk at Beresford Street excluding the portion of Beach Drive north of Beresford Street.
Remove the 500 block of Beach Drive from the proposed locations where election signs may be placed.
Official wording: That "Sign Bylaw No. 3946, 1997, Amendment Bylaw No. 4962, 2026" be amended by removing the following location from Schedule A:
a. 500 block Beach Drive.
Remove the Transit Road and McNeill Avenue location from the proposed places where election signs may be put.
Official wording: That "Sign Bylaw No. 3946, 1997, Amendment Bylaw No. 4962, 2026" be amended by removing the following location from Schedule A:
a. Transit Road and McNeill Avenue.
Remove the Crescent Road and Quimper Street location from the proposed places where election signs may be put.
Official wording: That "Sign Bylaw No. 3946, 1997, Amendment Bylaw No. 4962, 2026" be amended by removing the following location from Schedule A:
a. Crescent Road and Quimper Street.
Allow election signs on municipal boulevards in front of school properties.
Official wording: That "Sign Bylaw No. 3946, 1997, Amendment Bylaw No. 4962, 2026" be amended to allow election signs to be placed in front of school properties on municipal boulevards.
Council considered four bylaws to update rules for blasting and rock breaking. The new standalone bylaw sets volume limits, limits rock-hammering work to afternoons, expands the notification area, and requires documentation such as proof of insurance. Staff said enforcement would mainly rely on building officials and that residents who believe blasting caused damage should contact their own insurer, which can then work with the contractor’s insurer. No one spoke during public input. Council gave all four bylaws first, second, and third readings; they still require adoption before taking effect.
Agreement
Councillors who spoke praised the consultation and the attempt to balance neighbourhood livability with construction needs.
Councillors supported rules intended to help monitor and regulate blasting, hammering, and rock breaking.
Give the proposed changes to planning and development fees their first two readings.
Official wording: That “Planning and Development Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 4845, 2023 Amendment Bylaw No. 4961, 2026” be read a first and second time.