PERIOD REPORT
DATE: September 29, 2025 Report No. DEV-25-045
TO: Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Bill Brown , Director of Development Services
SUBJECT:TITLEDevelopment Services- 2025 Second Period Report
Body
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the Development Services Department from May 1, 2025 to August 31, 2025.
1. DIVISION ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Rezoning Application / Official Community Plan Amendments
In addition to processing rezoning applications submitted previously (Appendix “B”), the Department received no new rezoning or Official Community Plan amendment applications in the Second period.
2. Development Permit (DP) Applications
In addition to the existing development permit applications that staff continued to process (Appendix “B”), the department received five new applications in the second period:
• 889 Tillicum Road - (Delegated) proposed Small-Scale Multi-Family House (SSMFH) fourplex
• 891 Tillicum Road - (Delegated) proposed SSMFH fourplex
• 870 Lampson Street - (Delegated) proposed SSMFH
• 527 Lampson Street (Lot 16) - (Delegated) proposed SSMFH triplex
• 527 Lampson Street (Lot 17, also known as ‘1050 Dunsmuir Street’) - (Delegated) proposed SSMFH triplex
3. Development Variance Permit (DVP) Applications
In addition to the existing development variance permit applications that staff continued to process (Appendix “B”), the department received nine new applications in the Second period:
• 942 Wollaston Street - (Delegated) Variance to accessory building required setback and maximum height to authorize the construction of an accessory building sited differently than the approved BP
• 500 Admirals Road - (Delegated) Variance to lot coverage for Rainbow Kitchen loading dock addition
• 622 Admirals Road - Variances to wall sign size and number
• 301-503 Park Place - Variances to window sign size and to allow third floor window signs
• 527 Lampson Street (Lot 16) - Variances to reduce setbacks for principal buildings and to reduce drive aisle width
• 527 Lampson Street (Lot 17, also known as ‘1050 Dunsmuir Street’) - Variances to reduce setbacks for principal buildings and to reduce drive aisle width
• 640 Lampson St - delegated variance to front yard setback
• 640 Lampson St - variance to Subdivision and Development Servicing bylaw for required frontage works and services
• 884 Lampson St - delegated variance to setbacks for balcony projections
4. Board of Variance Application (BOV)
The department received one new application in the second period:
• 888 Dunsmuir Road - Reduction of front yard setback for additions and alterations to existing building nonconforming to setback.
5. Heritage Alteration Permits (HAP)
No new applications were received in the second period. See Appendix “B” for ongoing applications.
6. Subdivision Applications
No new applications were received in the second period. See Appendix “B” for ongoing applications.
7. Temporary Use Permit [TUP] Applications
The department received one new application in the second period:
• 533 Admirals - Principal Use of Commercial Surface Parking
8. Liquor License Applications
No new applications were received in the second period. There are no ongoing applications.
9. Legal Documents
• 1004 Gosper Crescent - Section 219 covenant, and housing agreement (DADU)
• 633 Admirals - Section 219 covenant modification
10. Building Inspections
• The downward trend in both the value of construction and building permit revenue that was identified in the first period of 2025 has continued in the second period of 2025. The total value of construction in the second period of 2025 was $4.0 million compared with $87.1 million in the second period of 2024. Like construction values, the permit fees showed a decrease, with $47,771.90 in the second period of 2025 compared to $658,124.80 for the second period of 2024. Details are shown in Appendix C.
11. Other Planning Projects
• Parking Bylaw received three readings and was subsequently adopted.
• Worked on an Omnibus Amending Bylaw for the Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050.
• Reviewed proposals received in response to the request for proposals for the Development Capacity Study.
• Negotiated contract with consultant for the Short-Term Rental study.
• Worked with consultant on finalizing the refresh of the Health Needs Assessment.
• Took the Official Community Plan recalibration report to council for review and approval.
• Undertook public engagement for the Official Community Plan recalibration.
12. Consultation
• Staff participated in several pre-application consultations with various developers and architects actively preparing submissions for multiple family residential projects.
• Consulted with developers and realtors to identify possible sites for small lot infill in Esquimalt.
• Fielded a significant volume of realtor, appraiser, developer, and potential home buyer inquiries regarding properties in Esquimalt, particularly those eligible for the new RSM-1 and RSM-2 zoning.
• Fielded a significant volume of inquiries about Short-Term Rentals in Esquimalt.
• Attended the UDI Liaison Committee meeting.
13. Sustainability
• Prepared and submitted the Local Government Climate Action Plan greenhouse gas inventory for the province.
• Staff continue to work with the CRD Climate Action Inter-Municipal Working Group.
• Supported Parks and Recreation with the greenhouse gas reduction building retrofit study.
• Initial preparation for the Climate Action Plan Annual Report
14. Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Provided digital data to the Integrated Cadastral Information Society.
• Created and updated online maps and specific thematic maps for staff.
• Provided mapping services to other departments as requested.
• Enhanced routine data maintenance tasks with scripting.
15. Other
• Reviewed numerous Building Permit applications for compliance with development permits and zoning regulations.
• Reviewed Business Licence Applications for Zoning Compliance.
• Responded to 34 property information requests.
• Processed 11 requests for building plans.
• Attended Emergency Management Committee meeting.
• Attended on-line demonstrations of the provincial building permit portal.
16. Training
Staff attended the following training sessions:
• Attended several Planning Institute of BC webinars.
• Staff attended the “Green Stormwater Infrastructure Common Design Guidelines” workshop.
• Director attended the national planning directors meeting in conjunction with the national planning conference.
17. Statistics
See Appendix “A” for housing statistics.
See Appendix “B” for status of development applications.
See Appendix “C” for building permit statistics
2. COMMITTEES
Advisory Planning Commission:
• The Advisory Planning Commission met four times in the second period and reviewed eleven applications.
Design Review Committee:
• The Design Review Committee met once in the second period and reviewed two applications.
Board of Variance:
• The Board of Variance met once in the second period and reviewed one application.