A 75-unit rental building proposed for the corner of Fort and Davie streets has cleared an early hurdle with Victoria city council, but the project plan will need tweaking.
Council voted unanimously to approve a rezoning application and development permit for the project at 1905-1907 Fort St. and 1923-1929 Davie St., but the endorsement came with plenty of reservation.
Coun. Marg Gardiner said she had intended to move a motion to decline the project.
“That’s what I really, really want for this application because I think it’s premature to be before us. The only reason I forwarded this motion [to approve] is because of the threat of the [Official Community Plan] coming forward,” she said, noting under the proposed OCP the site could instead be envisioned as a much larger development.
“I think the OCP coming forward will be disastrous for a lot of neighbourhoods, especially with traditional family dwellings,” she said. “That is what triggered me to move this.”
Coun. Jeremy Caradonna acknowledged the project has divided the area, but noted for those in the neighbourhood concerned about the size and density of the proposed six-storey mixed-use project, there is every likelihood the new OCP would up-zone the site to allow towers of at least eight to 12 storeys.
He said the developer could always press pause and come back and propose “something much bigger.”
“And for those who really want to see a lot more density, they might be disappointed that this is only a six-storey building,” he said.
A staff report summarized opposition to the project as focused on excessive height and density for the site.
Nearby residents were also concerned about inadequate parking on site and the effect of 75 units on traffic and parking in the neighbourhood.
The project proposes removal of four single-family houses and replacing them with a six-storey building that will include commercial space on the ground floor.
City council is seeking revisions that include changes to bike parking, adding accessible parking and visitor parking stalls, expanded amenity space for residents, adding stormwater infrastructure in line with city policies, streetscape elements with pedestrian fixtures, a bench and garbage can and a level-two car charger on Davie Street.
The developer, North Vancouver-based Three Shores, will also have to make “beneficial use of the rooftop” either as a garden, amenity space or perhaps a site for solar panels.
Gardiner said there are significant issues with the proposal, the biggest one for her being the transition from the building to adjacent lower-density homes. “I found the proposal quite disappointing. But I really appreciate staff’s approach to try and get it a lot better.”
Coun. Krista Loughton said there are good elements in the project, notably it is providing a tenant assistance policy for those displaced because of the loss of four homes and it exceeds the required number of two- and three-bedroom units to conform to the city’s family housing policy.
The project proposes three studio unit, 43 one-bedroom units, 24 two-bedroom units and five three-bedroom units.
“There’s still some work to be done between staff and the applicant,” she said. “On balance it’s a good project.”
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