The developer behind a 14-unit condominium project rejected by Oak Bay council has asked it to reconsider the decision not to move the project forward to a public hearing.
But Mayor Kevin Murdoch said Monday that without evidence a new vote on the project would have a different result, there’s little point in resurrecting the project. Council voted 4-3 against moving the proposal to public hearing last month.
“In discussions with councillors to date, I have not seen indications that a reconsideration would be appropriate, as there is no new information, have been no identified errors in process, and I haven’t seen any indication that a general mayoral reconsideration would result in a modified decision,” Murdoch told the Times Colonist.
Kim Colpman, chief executive of Large and Co., the firm behind the Quest condominium project proposed for 2326 Oak Bay Ave., said the company has been appealing to Oak Bay’s mayor and council to reconsider their decision “because people want it.”
She said she’s heard from many in the area over the past three weeks that they liked the idea of a project that would allow people to downsize from large single-family homes in the area and move into well-appointed condos. “We want to support their need for this type of housing by keeping the project alive.”
Colpman said they hope council will refer the project back to district staff and allow them to work with the developers to incorporate some of the feedback heard at last month’s council meeting, including improving the environmental performance of the building.
Under the Community Charter, municipalities in B.C. have a mechanism by which a mayor or one of the councillors can ask for a reconsideration of a motion within 30 days of that motion being defeated.
Murdoch said reconsideration votes are generally undertaken when someone feels the wrong decision was made or they want additional information that could change their vote.
He also noted the mayor’s reconsideration is generally used only when there is an identifiable error in a decision or a mistake in information is discovered.
“While I voted with the minority on this motion, I do respect the decision made by the majority of council,” said Murdoch, who noted the vote last month did not kill the project outright.
“The application can be resubmitted quickly so long as it contains changes, and it would appear at least some change is needed to gain the support of the majority of council.”
Some of the councillors who voted against sending the project to public hearing had said it was too big for the site.
Colpman said she is still waiting for a final verdict from the councillors and Murdoch on reconsidering the decision.
She said so far, she has heard back from only two members of council and only one of them was willing to meet to discuss the possibility.
aduffy@timescolonist.com
