REQUEST FOR DECISION
MEETING DATE: September 8, 2025 Report No. DEV-25-043
TO: Council
FROM: James Davison, Manager of Development Services
SUBJECT: Development Variance Permit Application – 640 Lampson St – Staff Report No. DEV-25-043
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council approve DVP00161 to vary the applicable provisions of the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw for certain frontage works and services for the proposed Small-Scale Multi-Family Residential project at 640 Lampson Street as outlined in Staff Report No. DEV-25-043.
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.
Chronology:
Advisory Planning Commission – July 15, 2025
Advisory Body Recommendations:
Advisory Planning Commission
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 approved as it minimizes the impact to the community. Carried unanimously.
ANALYSIS:
The variance requested is as follows:
By not requiring at time of Building Permit that the owner is required to adhere to Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw, No. 3128, 2023 Section 5. 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.
OPTIONS:
1. That Council approve Development Variance Permit No. DVP00161.
2. That Council postpone consideration of Development Variance Permit No. DVP00161 pending receipt of additional information.
3. That Council deny Development Variance Permit No. DVP00161.
COUNCIL PRIORITY:
Housing
REPORT REVIEWED BY:
1. Bill Brown, Director of Development Services, Reviewed
2. Ian Irvine, Director of Finance, Reviewed
3. Deb Hopkins, Director of Corporate Services, Reviewed
4. Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer, Concurrence
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:
Appendix A DVP00161
Appendix B Aerial Photo
Appendix C Landscape Plan/Site Plan
Appendix D Street View Photo Fernhill Rd
Appendix E Applicant Presentation