Council advanced two very different development proposals: a 12-storey rental building in Old Town and a six-storey, 30-room hotel on Rockland Avenue. The Old Town project passed 7–2, with debate focused on whether its height and density outweighed concerns about heritage scale and the loss of a private parking garage; an amendment asked staff to pursue a larger plaza and replacement parking for St. Andrew’s Church. The Rockland hotel proposal advanced 6–3, despite objections about its commercial use in a residential area, limited parking and consultation happening after council’s decision to advance it. Two consent items were deferred for final consideration at a future daytime council meeting, while council unanimously approved direction on new advisory-panel bylaws.
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What was discussed
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G.1 617-635 Broughton Street, 620-630 Courtney Street and 901-919 Gordon Street: Rezoning Application No. 00911 and Development Permit with Variances No. 00307 (Downtown)
Staff recommended a 12-storey, 242-unit purpose-built rental building, with ground-floor shops and a publicly accessible plaza beside St. Andrew’s Church. The proposal seeks a density of 5.94 floor space ratio, compared with the site’s existing 3.9, and includes variances for height, parking and bicycle parking. It would provide 141 vehicle stalls—48 fewer than required—and offer transportation benefits intended to reduce car use. Council debated the departure from Old Town’s general five-storey, 15-metre guidance, the effect on nearby businesses of losing the privately owned parking garage, and whether the plaza would improve the setting of the church. Council approved the application at committee by a 7–2 vote. An amendment, approved unanimously, directs staff to explore expanding the plaza onto church property and providing three replacement parking stalls in the proposed garage, through an agreement involving the church, applicant and City. The application is expected to return after further steps are completed.
Agreement
Supporters and opponents alike backed redevelopment of the site, rental housing, family-sized homes, ground-floor commercial space and a plaza beside St. Andrew’s Church.
Council recognized that the existing private garage could be demolished even if this application did not proceed, and that the City could not require its owner to keep it operating.
Several members supported finding a way to replace the church’s three surface parking stalls while expanding the public plaza.
Disagreement
Supporters considered the 12-storey height acceptable in light of the rental homes, family-sized units, plaza and improved setting for St. Andrew’s Church. A councillor described this height as near the upper limit they would accept in Old Town.
Two councillors opposed the proposal, arguing that more than 38 metres and a density of 5.94 departed too far from Old Town’s general height and density guidance and risked weakening public confidence in those policies.
Councillors differed on the parking impact: some pointed to nearby public and private garages with available capacity, while others cited local business concerns and the loss of convenient parking.
G.2 1114 Rockland Avenue: Rezoning Application No. 00855 and Development Permit with Variances Application No. 00313 (Fairfield)
The proposal would change the site-specific zoning to allow a six-storey, 30-room hotel, with a density of 2.35 floor space ratio. The plan includes four vehicle parking spaces, a large rooftop gathering area and retention of a nearby sequoia tree. Staff recommended advancing the proposal subject to revisions, including increasing the rear-yard setback from 5.4 to 8 metres; staff said this could require redesigning the rear stairs and might cost about five guest rooms. Council also discussed the hotel’s fit beside residential buildings, the fact that community consultation had been based on an earlier five-storey version, and the four-space parking supply. An amendment to require an in-building transformer failed 2–7. Council advanced the application 6–3; a further community meeting and design revisions are expected before the application returns for bylaw readings.
Agreement
Several councillors supported adding hotel rooms in Victoria and considered the site’s position near the downtown boundary suitable for a small hotel.
Council discussed the need for more community input on the updated plans, including the increase from five to six storeys; staff said a further meeting with the community association was required before bylaw readings.
Staff and some councillors considered the proposed parking supply workable, while recognizing that guests and workers may use other travel options.
Disagreement
Supporters said the hotel would add needed visitor accommodation and fit the site’s position near downtown. Opponents argued that hotel use was not the right replacement for previously approved housing in an area identified mainly for residential use.
Opposing councillors questioned advancing the six-storey design before the further community meeting, and raised concerns about parking, traffic, noise and transient visitors.
A councillor sought an in-building transformer because of concerns about noise and tampering; others opposed requiring it, citing cost and arguing that this technical design choice should be left to staff and the applicant. The amendment failed.
H.1 Vancouver Island Inter-Community Business Licensing Bylaw
This staff report proposed updates to the Vancouver Island inter-community business licensing scheme. It remained on the consent agenda, which council approved unanimously. The chair said it would return at a future daytime council meeting for final consideration; the transcript records no discussion of the proposed changes.
The report sought direction to bring forward bylaws setting the membership and procedures for the Advisory Heritage Panel and Advisory Design Panel, supporting their continued role in City processes. A councillor asked when a separate motion about a heritage committee focused on Old Town would be addressed. Staff said council would have a chance to consider public engagement on heritage when it reviews scopes of work for the Downtown Core Area Plan and Heritage Program, expected later in the year. Council approved the staff recommendation unanimously.
Agreement
Council unanimously approved the staff recommendation to bring forward bylaws for the advisory panels.
Staff said the separate work on the Downtown Core Area Plan and Heritage Program would provide a later opportunity to consider engagement with the heritage community.
I.1 Council Member Motion: Finding approaches for the City of Victoria to further respond to America’s trade war with Canada
The motion asks staff to report on options and implications for further strengthening the City’s response to the United States’ trade war with Canada. It remained on the consent agenda, approved unanimously, and the chair said it would return at a future daytime council meeting for final consideration. The transcript includes no discussion of the motion’s proposals.
Decisions
Victoria has not published the minutes for this meeting yet. Councils post minutes only after a later meeting adopts them, usually two to six weeks afterwards. We check weekly. We last checked Fri, Oct 2, 2026. Votes and decisions are taken only from the official minutes, so this section fills in once Victoria publishes them. Anything above about motions comes from the recording and is preliminary.