A call to action

After a disappointing read of the Staff's report to the Commission ……a call to action is necessary:

It is imperative that we get as many attendees to this Wednesday's meeting (March 19, 2025, 12:30 pm in Council Chambers). What is discouraging is that the feedback from the March Open House. For those of us that attended.... its clear Westplan doesn't want to share it. As witnessed the comments are pretty negative and unsupportive for this development.

This development going forward untethered will cause a ripple effect throughout the District and this is not their only development moving forward in Oak Bay. Jennifer and Scott Travelbea's submitted plans for 23 units on to 960 Foul Bay - see plans here

Envision every large lot in our neighbourhood, and Uplands with 13 units, 3 stories (45 feet high). What makes this developer any more important than those playing by the rules.....entitled greed and miss information. Jennifer and Scott Travelbea's lack of respect and consideration for the immediate neighbours and broader community is offensive. This will not provide affordable housing and further disenfranchises housing challenged.

 If you can not attend you can call in and follow the meeting by using the remote access instructions found in the agenda  here. Find the Staff’s Report here

 I asked a sage advisor what to do. Their response:

"I strongly suggest Upper Henderson provides a submission to the APC on the 19th March. In the past, the APC has only heard the developer's and planner's rationale, and what they consider are benefits for the development proposal. No public input is provided - This lack of input has been raised many times by members of the community and community groups. Without this input, the proposal usually (read almost every proposal) gets an approval recommendation. I do not believe they have changed their no public input policy this year.   

I do not know any of this year's members, but in the past the APC has been top-heavy with pro-over development members and even developers. If staff will not let you submit a submission for APC members - what has worked many times in the past is, showing up at the meeting and handing them out to members pre-meeting - this is usually allowed, I think because they won't tackle members of the public to the ground.

Is there anyone out there that would put a one to two pager together for Wednesday’s meeting?"