Without prejudice - October 1, 2024
UPDATE ON UNFINISHED GAS STATION AT 308 MENZIES STREET IN JAMES BAY
After receiving 1,196 signatures on a petition posted online on June 7th, it was evident that James Bay residents are angry and frustrated with the inordinate amount of time that the unfinished gas station has languished. Almost 500 signatures were garnered within two weeks as media outlets were quick to publish and promote the story.
On September 26th, I delivered a power point presentation to Victoria Council. Although I went over the 3 minutes allotted time by 18 seconds, I couldn't complete all that I wanted to relay. I devised a timeline approach from the closing of Save On Gas in 2017 to present day to illustrate what little progress has been accomplished in seven years. Presentation time flew by and there was no communication permitted with Council, so with all due respect, I have no idea what impact my petition and presentation will have on furthering completion. I also wonder if the four questions near the end of my presentation will ever be answered. After reflecting on this issue for over four months and with the research I've done, I'm not sure how to personally proceed, but I have this to say.
In stating the obvious, the biggest single roadblock to completion is the allowance of minimal progress in a 30-day period, which the owner takes full advantage of. Council could amend our Abandoned Bylaw # 08-058, definitions 'Abandoned Property' and 'Unoccupied' a) and b) to remove ambiguity and include more precise language on certain percentages of progress to be completed in a 30-day period. This would move projects faster to completion.
I maintain that amending the Building & Plumbing Regulation Bylaw # 17-113 to include specific aspects of a Good Neighbour Bylaw, (which has not been used since 2015 in Victoria) is vital. New building permits issued with expected completion dates would be ideal.
Other B.C. municipalities currently utilize various forms of the Good Neighbour Bylaw that places more responsibility on owners, fines for amount of nuisance calls in a year, applying nuisance abatement fees, substantial progress in a year, describing unsightly conditions, no intent to occupy, and other non-compliance issues.
For more information, refer to:
Victoria Building & Plumbing Bylaw #17-113
Victoria Abandoned Bylaw #08-058
Summerland Good Neighbour Bylaw #2021 - 0234
https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/default-document-library/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023.pdf?sfvrsn=cc58f1fb_0
Osoyoos Good Neighbour Bylaw #1277, 2011 - Consolidated - Feb 29, 2024
https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/21499/
The added language and more importantly, direction from council to encourage building permit officers to readily enforce remediation/progress notices and non-compliance fines, would drastically reduce the number of unsightly properties in the city. Owners will be much more progressive when fined for each subsequent non-compliance issue. This is an important defence.
I believe these inclusions are the added clout our council was seeking in their directive to bylaw staff at the December 9, 2021 meeting (item H.2 minutes).
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H.2 Council Member Motion:
Supporting Bylaw Services in Addressing Unsightly or Unsafe Properties Committee received a Council Member Motion dated December 6, 2021 from Councillor Alto and Councillor Thornton-Joe requesting a report back on the feasibility and implications to increase bylaw staff's ability to address unsightly or unsafe properties.
Moved By Councillor Alto Seconded By Councillor Thornton-Joe.
That Council direct city staff to report back on the feasibility and implications of amending relevant city bylaws to increase and/or augment bylaw staff's ability to address unsightly or unsafe properties, whether abandoned or not, in a more efficient and effective manner.
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Bottom Line: This work must be undertaken by council and bylaw staff to finally do what is necessary to close up ambiguous building permit loopholes at the earliest possible timeframe. For them to do anything less will only add to the number of unsightly properties that are plaguing our city. We need action now! As a resident and supporter, you can help by making your wishes known to our James Bay Councillor, Jeremy Caradonna (jcaradonna@victoria.ca) and Mayor Alto (mayor@victoria.ca) to do what should have been done 2.5 years ago! They are the key to success.
I'd like to thank every petition supporter, the James Bay Neighbourhood Association, James Bay Local Facebook, James Bay Market and local media outlets for your support. A special thanks to Joanne Thibault of the James Bay Beacon for providing the Osoyoos Good Neighbour Bylaw prior to my presentation. It was crucial.
Respectfully,
Jen Reimer
Petitioner/Presenter
James Bay Resident