REQUEST FOR DECISION
MEETING DATE: April 8, 2026 Report No. DRC-26-006
TO: Design Review Committee
FROM: Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: Review of the preliminary results of the Development Capacity Study: Draft Findings Report Version 1.1 April 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Design Review Committee provide the Committee of the Whole with any comments related to the Esquimalt Development Capacity Study: Draft Findings Report Version 1.1 April 2026 attached as Appendix “A” to staff report DRC-26-006.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In order to provide Council, committees, residents, businesses, and staff with a clear understanding of the development capacity of the Township for future residential development, Licker Geospatial Consulting has been engaged to produce a report that summarizes a number of variables including land use, sanitary sewer, water, electricity, traffic, transit, recreation and parks, tree canopy, and emergency services that may constrain potential future residential development both temporarily and spatially. As a committee whose members are professionally familiar with development constraints, the preliminary findings are being presented to the Design Review Committee for review and comment.
BACKGROUND:
The preliminary findings indicate that there are few constraints to potential future residential development. The most significant constraint identified so far is the capacity of the sanitary sewer system in certain areas. It should be noted that there are several areas where additional analysis needs to be completed such as:
- Obtaining the preliminary results of a new water modeling initiative by the City of Victoria.
- Including of the 2026 British Columbia Assessment data into the model.
- Fine tuning the financial model to account for unique attributes of the situation in Esquimalt.
- Incorporating final results of the Recreation Strategic Plan
- Incorporating proposed housing numbers on CFB Esquimalt lands in Esquimalt.
None of this additional information is expected to make significant changes to the results of the preliminary analysis.
Details of the methodology used to assess each variable along with the results of the analysis are found in the report attached as Appendix “A”. Appendix “B” contains 8.5 x 11 images of each map in the report for easier reading. Following the gathering of information from the review of the preliminary draft by the Design Review Committee, the Advisory Planning Commission, and the Committee of the Whole; staff and the consultants will address any issues raised, update various analyses where required, and publish a revised draft report for public review which will include both a physical and a virtual open house. Once the public review has been completed, a final report will be prepared and presented to the Council in July 2026.
ANALYSIS:
A detailed analysis of the data is found in the Report attached as Appendix “A”.
OPTIONS:
• That the Design Review Committee provide comments to the Committee of the Whole related to the draft Development Capacity Study Report.
• That the Design Review Committee decline to provide comments to the Committee of the Whole.
COUNCIL PRIORITY:
Housing
REPORT REVIEWED BY:
N/A
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:
1. Appendix “A” Esquimalt Development Capacity Study: Draft Findings Report Version 1.1 April 2026
2. Appendix “B” 8.5 x 11 copies of the Report maps
3. Appendix “C” Consultant’s presentation