There are many examples of community councils making decisions that in hindsight are remembered as being misguided and lacking foresight.
Such was the decision by Oak Bay council to reject the Baptist Housing proposal for Oak Bay Lodge. In their effort to give credence to a vocal minority, this council ignored the wishes of the less vocal majority.
Of course the minority voice should always be heard, their concerns duly noted and reasonable accommodation made. But councils are elected to represent the whole community even when that means not being able to satisfy everyone.
As this council faces other difficult decisions about secondary suites and building bylaws, I fear that a dangerous precedent has been set of council abdicating their responsibility to the good of the larger community.
In the past, when Oak Bay was behind the ‘tweed curtain,’ it often resisted change and was not the vibrant, diverse community we are today.
Stepping backwards into that history would be a tragic mistake.
Elizabeth Causton
Oak Bay