Floor area ratio review comes back to the public this week.
The zoning bylaw regulations that govern single-family dwellings on residential lots zoned RS-4 and RS-5 have been reviewed. Now Oak Bay is considering changes to the allowable floor area, massing controls, setbacks and other guidelines that will impact how homes may be built or renovated in the future.
The review committee suggested more public consultation to augment the work done during the review, said Coun. Kevin Murdoch during a January committee meeting. “So everybody has a clear understanding of what the changes would be.”
Previous public input included a pair of sessions. One targeted professionals such as planners, developers and architects, while the second was geared for the general public interested in house sizes, allowable floor area, allowable site coverage, streetscapes and other aspects of residential properties. Comments from those sessions were used to help craft a draft report of potential regulation changes that will be available at the upcoming two sessions.
They will be held in the Sports View Lounge at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St. on Feb. 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Feb. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Each session will present the floor area review report with public discussions to follow.
Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to Krista Mitchell, Building and Planning Department, 250- 598-2042 or kmitchell@oakbay.ca.
Information from the sessions is expected back before council in March.
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com