An unusually large number of proposals (five) are being rescinded and re-voted on at tomorrow’s Langford Council meeting. With the City of Langford reducing the costs for developments, and reducing the number of affordable housing units required of developers, I wonder if there’s a connection? I haven’t yet finished the whole 188 page agenda.

There are also three public hearings (one for Boulder Ridge, one for Massie Drive, and one for Walfred Road), a development variance permit for Happy Valley, and several other proposals (including a “Request to Temporary Dye Goldstream Fountain Pink”). Click here to read the entire agenda.

One development on Happy Valley Road is requesting 5 different variances to make the development work on the site. I had previously suggested a ’3 strikes you are out’ policy in regards to needing 3 or more variances for one development, as I feel this could mean the proposed development does not fit the lot. If we believe that the City of Langford’s zoning bylaws are workable, reasonable and impose restrictions and limits to keep neighbourhoods liveable 5 variances seems very excessive. However, there maybe reasons and a rationale that will be presented by the proponent that explains it all. Also there is a proposed 4 storey residential building for Hockley and statistical info. on Feb. development applications and a table of current applications in process.

Planning, Zoning and Affordable Housing Committee
Monday, March 26th, 2012 @ 7:00 pm

REPORTS
a) Application to vary lot width, setbacks, parking requirements, turnaround area and height to allow for a five lot subdivision at 3380 Happy Valley Road – Staff Report
b) Application to Amend the Zoning Designation of the Property at 790 Hockley Avenue from Rl (One-Family Residential) to C8A (Community Town Centre Pedestrian A) to allow for the construction of a four (4) storey multi-family residential building consisting of approximately 21 dwelling units. – Staff Report
c) Planning Department – Statistical Information – February 2012 – Staff Report

The Parks and Rec Committee will be receiving 3 verbals reports. This should be a very informative meeting if you are interested in what happens in and around Langford’s lakes, in particular Langford Lake will be discussed for all 3 agenda items.

Parks, Recreation, Culture and Beautification Committee
Monday, March 26th, 2012 @ 5:00 pm
REPORTS
a) Interpretive Signs – Langford Lake
- Verbal Report – Mr. Ian McKenzie
b) Bullfrog Eradication Program Results – CRD 2011
- Prepared by Stan A. Orchard
c) Langford Lake Aerator
- Verbal Report- Parks Manager

Here is a quick look at the agenda for the Monday, March 12th, 7pm, Planning, Zoning & Affordable Housing Committee meeting. And a reminder, if you have questions or want to give input on any of these proposals, this is your best opportunity as there is more discussion between committee members and sometimes with members of the public when proposals are at the committee level. Committees only give recommendations to council, but usually council follows the recommendations of their committees. Committees are composed of 2 councilors and 3-4 appointed members of the public for most of the committees.

1) Application to Rezone 703 Massie Drive from R2 (One and Two-Family Residential) to MUIA (Mixed Use Residential Commercial) in order to create a ten (10) unit residential development.

2) When Zoning Bylaw No. 300 was adopted in February 1999, it was anticipated that periodic revisions to the bylaw would be required. In consultation with developers, staff is proposing the following omnibus changes to Zoning Bylaw No. 300:
• Increase the maximum height of an apartment building in the C8, C8A, MU1, MUIA, RM7, RM7A and RM9 zones;
• Amend the subdivision lot requirements in the R4 zone to allow a parent parcel to be averaged out to 1 lot per 1/4 acre; and
• Amend Part 4 to prohibit recreational vehicle parking on small lots.

3) Application to amend the CD10 Zone (Comprehensive Development – Boulder Ridge) for the properties at 3347, 3348, 3351, 3354, 3355, 3359, 3360, 3363, 3364, 3367, 3368, 2271, 3375 Vision Way and 903 TayberryTerrace.

4) Application to Rezone 963 Walfred Rd from R2 (One and Two-Family Residential) to RS3 (Residential Small Lot 3) to Allow a 1-lot Subdivision.

The beginning of Feb. brings the 2nd meeting of Langford Council in 2012. With only 4 Bylaws to vote on before the in-camera session on “Property Acquisition/Disposition and Negotiations” it could be a very short meeting. In quickly skimming over the agenda (available on the City of Langford website) what caught my attention was a proposal from the Planning Dept. to change the City of Langford’s Affordable Housing Program from 1 affordable home built for every 10 to 1 in every 15, along with, from the previous Council meeting in Jan., reducing DCCs (Develop Cost Charges), both are to be incentives to deal with the slowdown in development. Also, the recommendation is in for who to award the contract to for further work on the Spencer Road Interchange/Bear Mt. Connector/Bridge to Nowhere project to be paid for with the City of Langford’s newly borrowed $3 million.

Award of Consulting Engineering Services – Leigh Road Interchange Phase lb
• Northbound off – ramp (from the TCH heading toward the bridge and Bear Mountain Parkway);
• Southbound on – ramp (from Leigh Road heading to Victoria);
• Brock Avenue connector
• Frontage road from current Spencer Road on the north side of the highway leading to the Brock Avenue connector

Upon a thorough review of all proposals the evaluating committee recommends that the contract be awarded to FOCUS Corporation. FOCUS prepared a bid that included a cost estimate of $299,731.75 in fees and disbursements.

As well I would like to note, at the last Protective Services Committee meeting, Fire Chief Bob Beckett, did a wonderful presentation on the ongoing project the City of Langford Fire Department members and City of Langford staff and other community members have undertaken with their own time, energy and money to help rebuild and improve an orphanage in Haiti that was devastated by the earthquake in 2010. Rebuilding and improvements include:

While the initial goal was to replace the damaged building, our volunteers recognized that there was other work required in order to ensure the safety and sustainability of the orphanage. So, while our building was being designed and built, teams of volunteers using local Haitian labor accomplished the following:
• Built a 12′ security wall around the perimeter including a large metal gate and man door for the safety and security of the children.
• Refurbished the outdoor latrines including providing 2 more toilets and providing privacy doors.
• Installed a 500 gal water reservoir to provide for water reserves given the intermittent municipal water supply situation.
• Built a fully enclosed outdoor kitchen complete with a 3-burner propane stove so the children could boil their water and have adequate facilities to cook for 50 or so.
• Provided 2 40 ft. metal sea containers complete with shelving for dry, secure storage.
• Started to level the site so as to provide adequate drainage to remove the disease infested stagnant water.
In addition to the above mentioned goals we are also committed to have a deep well dug, a retaining wall on the inside of the compound built, security wire installed on the top of the perimeter wall, completing the site drainage project, and furnishing our building, all of which will be done in time for the dedication.

As we begin the 2nd week in Feb. volunteers once again, paying their own way and donating their own time, are off to Haiti to complete this project. Donations are being accepted to help support this community project. “Check out the City of Langford website for an article and a way to donate”.

There are two committee meetings scheduled for this week. And happily it is much easier to find that out and find the agendas since the ‘Meeting Calendar’ has been updated and the “List Upcoming Meetings’ tab on the left hand sidebar has returned to the City Hall page of the City of Langford website.

PLANNING, ZONING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE
Monday, January 23rd, 2012 @ 7:00 pm

REPORTS
a) Planning Department Five Year Financial Plan for 2012 – 2016
b) Planning Department Statistical Information for December, 2011
c) Application to vary the Rear Yard Setback for a Single Family Dwelling from the required 6 m. (20 ft.) to 3 m. (10 ft.) – 929 Aqua Court
d) Application to vary Frontage Improvements – 671 Hoylake Avenue
e) Application to vary the Minimum Required Lot Width and Minimum Required Setbacks to allow a 6 – lot Subdivision – 969 Brock Avenue
f) Application to Rezone various properties adjacent to Leigh Road to a new Business and Technology Park Zone

PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 @ 5 pm

PRESENTATION
Haiti Orphanage Project Update
- Fire Chief Bob Beckett (verbal)

REPORTS
a) Police Services Five-Year Financial Plan for 2012-2016
b) Building Department Five Year Financial Plan for 2012-2016
c) Community Safety and Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Plan for 2012-2016
d) Fire Department Five Year Financial Plan 2012-2016
e) RCMP Monthly Report – October to December 2011
f) Fire Safety Report for December 2011

CORRESPONDENCE
Pacific Centre Family Services Association
Re: Community Outreach Prevention and Education Program July 1st – September 2011

The first Council meeting of 2012 starts out with a full gamut of items:
4 Public Hearings,
1 Temporary Use Permit,
2 Development Variance Permits,
7 Bylaws
But don’t be late, you might miss the meeting. Traditionally Langford Council does not have long meetings even with this many items. What might make the meeting more lengthy is if members of the public turn out and are willing to speak to Council in the Public Hearings or during Public Participation. Read the rest of this entry »

If you checked out the City of Langford’s Meeting Calendar for Jan. 2012, found under the City Hall tab along the top of the website then look down the left sidebar, you would think councilors and committee members were taking an extended break. But they are not. If you spend the time to click through each of the committees you will find there are actually three committees meeting this week.

Monday’s Planning & Zoning includes a proposal to delegate to staff Temporary Use Permit Authority for the removal and sale of rock from sites under development. This has been in the past a very controversial topic. This change to staff approving the temporary permits would eliminate the normal process that allows members of the public to speak on the issue with committee members who make recommendations to Council and also eliminate the opportunity to speak to the issue as it goes before Council for consideration. The change makes reference to there being legal requirements that there still be some avenue for public input, however real dialogue is not just the one-way communication of emailing or mailing in a letter. Dialogue that may bring understanding on both sides happens when all the interested parties are in the same room and can discuss and debate the whole issue and respond to each others’ concerns and grievances. Also people speaking at committee or council meetings become part of the legal minutes. Letters to staff may or may not be included in any committee or council minutes since the topic may never be brought up in committee or council, and thus there would be no record of the concerns of the general public.

There is also a proposal to rezone all nonALR lands currently designated AG1 to Rural Residential RR2 reportedly to end the confusion between ALR lands and AG1 lands. Check out this Monday’s 7PM Planning, Zoning & Affordable Housing Committee Meeting Agenda.

On Tues there are two more committee meetings Read the rest of this entry »

At the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Langford Council, Mayor Young charted a new course for the municipality for the coming years.

In the past Langford Council has bragged about how Langford is an expensive municipality to develop in; that Langford provides faster, simpler approvals for projects than other municipalities which saves developers costs, and that in return Langford charges higher development cost charges and asks for more amenities than other municipalities do. This is apparently, and surprisingly, about to change.

Though surprisingly I could find no evidence of this being announced during the campaign, the first initiative of this new Council, according to Mayor Young, will be to Read the rest of this entry »

CITY OF LANGFORD
INAUGURAL MEETING OF COUNCIL
Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 7:00pm
Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue

PROCLAMATION RESULTS – 2011 ELECTION – Mr. Tom Moore, Chief Election Officer          

SWEARING INTO OFFICE  Oath of Office – Oath of Allegiance
i) Councillors  
ii) Mayor Young  

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS   
a)  Acting Mayor    
b)  Capital Regional District Board and Hospital Board
c)  Regional Water Supply Commission and Juan de Fuca Water Distribution Commission
d) West Shore Parks & Recreation Society
e) Greater Victoria Library Board
f)  Family Court Committee
g)  CREST
h)  WestShore Chamber of Commerce
i)   Inter Municipal Committee on Disability Issues
j) Standing Committee Appointments  
1.  Administration & Finance Committee – Councillors Sahlstrom & Wade
2.  Parks, Recreation, Culture & Beautification Committee – Councillors Seaton & Wade
3.  Planning, Zoning & Affordable Housing Committee – Councillors Blackwell & Wade
4.  Protective Services Committee – Councillors Szpak & Seaton
5.  Transportation & Public Works Committee – Councillors Sifert & Szpak
k) Agricultural Advisory Committee
l) Court of Revision – Parcel Tax Assessment  
m) Board of Variance  
   
RECEPTION TO FOLLOW