Oak Bay’s advisory planning commission (APC) has had another meeting cancelled. Tuesday’s cancellation is the fifth straight and the APC has not sat since July 3.
Mayor Kevin Murdoch said the cancellations come down to a lack of land-use applications during the municipal elections and the holidays. Once council nails down their housing priorities the work should pick up.
“There’s going to be all kinds of land-use applications coming forward,” Murdoch said. “I don’t suspect they’re going to be lacking in work for the near future.”
Murdoch said the dates for council’s strategic planning sessions should be set soon, and they will likely begin sometime in the next few weeks.
The mandate of the APC is to advise council on land-use, community planning, or proposed bylaws. When directed by council, the APC can assist in the development of policies and bylaws pertaining to the official community plan and zoning.
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The APC has eight listed members. Members are elected by council and initially serve terms of one to two years, with a three term limit. Only two-thirds of the APC must live in Oak Bay. The APC’s mandated makeup is up to three members at large, then one member with each environmental, active transportation, heritage, and land-use backgrounds. Additionally, there is a slot for someone from the business community and someone under 35 years of age. Council could fill one more spot if desired.
jesse.laufer@oakbaynews.com
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