View Royal will not move forward with a motion that would have placed a six-month pause on approving new development and rezoning applications in the town after council reached a deadlock during debate.
At the Tuesday (June 6) regular council meeting, council’s vote on the motion made by Mayor Sid Tobias was split 3-3 due to Coun. Damian Kowalewich’s absence, Tobias said in an email Wednesday.
Despite his motion not proceeding, he said he is not disappointed with the result of the vote.
“Council had a respectful and comprehensive debate on the merit of a pause on rezoning. Although the council was split, I believe the discussion was useful in creating dialogue on the best interest of developing a healthy community that of course includes growth to meet the needs of current and future residents,” said Tobias.
READ MORE: View Royal mayor faces criticism for motion to pause new development
Speaking to the Goldstream Gazette on Tuesday ahead of the meeting, he said the move comes from his concern the province’s approach to addressing the housing shortage is problematic, requiring more time for his municipality to explore ways to move forward.
“Given the significant pressures we as a community are under, some describe it as a poly crisis. We have an environmental and climate emergency, a housing crisis, a primary care crisis, a phenyl crisis, and a safe drug supply crisis. We are at an inflection point,” he said Tuesday. “I believe that our community planning deserves a better and more thoughtful approach in times of complexity to work with communities to build a future we all want and deserve to live in.”
He said there is certainly a need to build more housing, but he feels View Royal is already doing that with three large developments under construction now totalling 354 rental and 92 strata units, plus another four developments totalling 435 units with approved development permits. But he is concerned the province’s approach is simply encouraging building for the sake of building, without considering a community’s other needs, and the impact more building will have on infrastructure.
The pause would have also allowed the town time to refresh its official community plan and address staff shortages within town hall, and comes after the province added View Royal to its list of municipalities which would be required to meet certain housing targets.
READ MORE: Greater Victoria schools win at high school rugby provincials