PERIOD REPORT
DATE: January 26, 2026 Report No. DEV-26-003
TO: Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Bill Brown , Director of Development Services
SUBJECT:TITLEDevelopment Services- 2025 Third Period Report
Body
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the Development Services Department from September 1, 2025 to December 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 two new rezoning or Official Community Plan amendment applications in the third period.
• 1140-1148 Esquimalt Road (34-unit residential development)
• 851 Old Esquimalt Road (Addition of Group Children’s Day Care Centre Use to a single-family dwelling)
2. Development Permit (DP) Applications
In addition to the existing development permit applications that staff continued to process (Appendix “B”), the department received three new applications in the third period:
• 950 Lampson Place - (Delegated) proposed Small-Scale Multi-Family Housing (SSMFH) development of three dwelling units in two principal buildings
• 1007 Arcadia Street - (Delegated) proposed 4-unit Small-Scale Multi-Family Housing development
• 1340 Sussex Street & 1337 Saunders Street - 21-storey, 335-unit purpose built rental residential building including 240 m2 of commercial space
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 third period:
• 429 Lampson Street - Variance for Site A to use Site B parking spaces
• 429 Lampson - (delegated) Variance to building height on Site B
• 870 Lampson Street - (Delegated) Variance to reduce rear yard setback and building separation for SSMFH development.
• 950 Lampson Place - Variance to reduce rear yard setback for SSMFH development.
• 884 Lampson Street - Variance to reduce parking to match Parking Bylaw requirements.
• 1004 Gosper Crescent - Variance to reduce rear yard setback for SSMFH development.
• 860 Esquimalt Road - (delegated) Variance to increase the maximum allowable animated Sign Area that moves or changes and to increase the maximum allowable Sign Area devoted to automatic changeable Copy.
• 445 Grafton Street - Variance to reduce front and side yard setbacks for new single-family dwelling.
• 640 Lampson St - variance to Subdivision and Development Servicing bylaw for required frontage works and services
4. Board of Variance Application (BOV)
No new applications were received in the third period. There are no ongoing applications.
5. Heritage Alteration Permits (HAP)
No new applications were received in the third period. See Appendix “B” for ongoing applications.
6. Subdivision Applications
One new application was received in the third period.
• 533 Admirals Rd - Development of the excess land located at the rear of the property.
7. Temporary Use Permit [TUP] Applications
No new applications were received in the third period. See Appendix “B” for ongoing applications.
8. Liquor License Applications
No new applications were received in the third period. There are no ongoing applications.
9. Legal Documents
• 633 Admirals - Section 219 covenant modification to permit additional retail on the ground floor.
10. Building Inspections
• Details are shown in Appendix C.
11. Other Planning Projects
• Official Community Plan - organized a Council workshop, undertook community consultation, presented to the Advisory Design Panel and the Design Review Committee, prepared amending bylaw and presented bylaw to Council for adoption.
• Development Capacity Study - reviewed proposals, selected preferred proponent, met with preferred proponent for project kick-off, commenced study, provided data to proponent, meet weekly with the project manager to ensure study is progressing on time and on budget.
• Short Term Rentals Study - Engaged consultant, attend project kick-off, provided consultant with background material, helped consultant prepare for the open house, attended the open house.
• Health Needs Assessment - met with consultant, reviewed draft report, prepared staff report.
• Worked on an Omnibus Amending Bylaw for the Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050.
• DCCs and ACCs report - began research for potential project related to DCC and ACC bylaws.
• Prepared a “Strategic Levels of Service” presentation for Council.
• Assisted the Strategic Initiatives Department with research on docks.
• Did research on deer fencing in preparation of a presentation to Council.
• Prepared and published job posting for Planning Technician.
12. Consultation
• Met with staff from CFB Esquimalt to discuss future development on the Base.
• Staff participated in several pre-application consultations with various property owners, developers, and architects actively preparing submissions for multiple family residential projects.
• Fielded a significant volume of landowner, 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 presented the Climate Action Plan Annual Report to Council.
• 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.
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 26 property information requests.
• Processed 10 requests for building plans.
• Attended Emergency Management Committee meeting.
16. Training
Staff attended the following training sessions:
• Attended several Planning Institute of BC webinars.
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 three times in the third period and reviewed six applications.
Design Review Committee:
• The Design Review Committee met twice in the third period and reviewed three applications.
Board of Variance:
• The Board of Variance did not meet in the third period.