REQUEST FOR DECISION
MEETING DATE: July 15, 2025 Report No. APC-25-015
TO: Advisory Planning Commission
FROM: James Davison, Manager of Development Services
SUBJECT: Development Variance Permit Application - 640 Lampson St - Staff Report No. APC-25-015
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Esquimalt Advisory Planning Commission recommend to Council that the variances requested, which will remove the requirement for much of the frontage works and services along Fernhill Rd for the development at 640 Lampson Street, be forwarded to Council with a recommendation to either approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application including reasons for the chosen recommendation.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The approved Small-Scale Multi-Family Residential project at 640 Lampson St would be required to make improvements along the street frontages of both Lampson St and Fernhill Rd at time of Building Permit.
The Fernhill Rd frontage is steeply sloped and treed, and staff does not wish to alter the condition of the road frontage, other than likely requiring milling and re-paving the road surface. The variance is requested to not require certain frontage improvements of the developer along the Fernhill Road frontage.
BACKGROUND:
The property at 640 Lampson St has an approved Development Permit to construct a 4-unit Small Scale Multi-Family project.
In this case, required improvements would cause the removal of trees and create practical difficulties in the construction of works and services given the steeply sloped bank running to property line at 640 Lampson. Requiring curb and gutter and sidewalk would require excavation which would disturb the trees along Fernhill Rd. Staff wish to leave the entirety of the Fernhill Road right-of-way as-is, except for possibly requiring milling and re-paving of Fernhill Road. The Lampson frontage will require works and services.
The Director of Engineering cannot waive the requirement for the provision of works and services.
ANALYSIS:
The variance requested is as follows:
At time of Building Permit the developer is required to adhere to Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw No. 3128 Section 5(a):
The Owner of Any Parcels that are the subject of any proposal for Subdivision or Development must provide each Parcel with Highway Works and Services including without limitation, sidewalks, cycling facilities, street lighting, transit shelter, pedestrian crosswalk, traffic sign or signal, street furniture and public improvements, transit bays, boulevards, highway median or boulevard planting
The variances requested may change as staff works to determine the exact wording and nature of the variances required to achieve the intended outcome in advance of the application’s consideration by Council.
OPTIONS:
1. That the Advisory Planning Commission recommends to Council that the rezoning application be approved including reasons for this recommendation.
2. That the Advisory Planning Commission recommends to Council that the rezoning application be approved subject to conditions, including reasons for this recommendation.
3. That the Advisory Planning Commission recommends to Council that the rezoning application be denied including reasons for this recommendation.
COUNCIL PRIORITY:
Housing
Climate Resilience and Environmental Stewardship
REPORT REVIEWED BY:
1. James Davison, Manager of Development Services, reviewed
2. Victoria McKean, Committee Coordinator, concurrence
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:
Appendix A Aerial Photo
Appendix B Landscape Plan/Site Plan
Appendix C Street View Photo Fernhill Rd
Appendix D Applicant Presentation