The willingness of Oak Bay residents to consider more varied housing options is in tune with the times. Results from the official community plan survey show Oak Bay residents strongly favour changing the municipality鈥檚 regulations to allow secondary suites, multi-family housing options such as residential units above businesses, and duplexes in existing single-family areas.
Secondary suites are a fact of life in Oak Bay, although they are officially prohibited. It鈥檚 one of those bylaws usually enforced when there鈥檚 a complaint. It鈥檚 a benign approach that recognizes reality, but the trouble with unregulated suites is that they are, well, unregulated, which means no official oversight concerning health and safety standards and other issues. Construction is not necessarily to code, and renters have little legal recourse or protection if something is amiss.
Of those contacted in the OCP survey, 78 per cent support regulating existing secondary suites and setting standards concerning those issues.
Oak Bay has traditionally been fiercely protective of its character and atmosphere, and even people who don鈥檛 live in the community appreciate it for its beautiful streets, heritage homes and splendid vistas. No one would want to see erosion of the positive things that make Oak Bay what it is.
But it鈥檚 a high-priced place to live, which limits the number of young families and seniors who can live there. Without demographic variety, a community loses its vibrancy and resilience. More flexibility in housing options will be good for the community.
Residents recognize this: 84 per cent favour more multi-family housing options such as living units above businesses; 73 per cent would like to encourage more housing for seniors and those with disabilities; 64 per cent support inclusion of duplexes in single-family areas; and 68 per cent support more long-term care space.
Besides making it a little more affordable for people to move to Oak Bay, allowing secondary suites to be developed (in addition to legalizing those already in place) can help current residents. A rented suite helps pay the mortgage.
The response to the OCP survey was strong 鈥� a third of Oak Bay households participated 鈥� so the results should quite accurately reflect the feelings of the whole community. It shows an awareness that the municipality needs to adapt to changing conditions, as Mayor Nils Jensen points out.
鈥淚 think it really shows a gradual shift in people鈥檚 views for certain housing options,鈥� he says.
Oak Bay is sometimes condescendingly described as being separated from the rest of Greater Victoria by the 鈥渢weed curtain,鈥� but the municipality should be commended for its efforts to preserve its uniqueness and its lifestyle. Loosening of some restrictions should not be seen as a sign that the development doors will be thrown wide open.
But as land becomes more precious, increasing residential density becomes more important. Making it feasible for more people to live in Oak Bay can help lessen urban sprawl elsewhere. While each community has its own priorities and aspirations, none lives in isolation from the others. What affects one affects all, to one degree or another.
Oak Bay鈥檚 governing officials have been given much to think about. It would be better to begin making changes soon so housing doesn鈥檛 get all muddled by becoming an election issue. The time is right to take a new direction.
Mr. Jensen, take down that tweed curtain.
