Council is being asked to give first, second, and third readings and adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment No. 26-042 for 19 Menzies Street in James Bay, and simultaneously authorize a Development Permit with Variances No. 00308. The property is currently a single-family dwelling that has operated as the Menzies Manor vacation rental. The rezoning and variance would permit a change in use or addition of units, though the application data does not specify unit count, height, or floor area. The consolidated readings on a single agenda are atypical; most rezoning applications proceed sequentially over multiple council meetings.
James Bay is a low-density, heritage-sensitive neighbourhood where any densification proposal draws scrutiny. The sole piece of correspondence opposes the project, citing construction impacts, neighbourhood character, and affordability—themes that have previously triggered design conditions or deferrals for James Bay infill projects. The speed of the vote suggests either a small-scale change that meets provincial expedited thresholds or a project staff consider non-controversial, yet the opposition letter indicates at least one resident is actively concerned. The applicant is not identified in the available data, making it impossible to assess track record or pipeline.
The next milestone is the adoption decision on the rezoning bylaw and authorization of the development permit. If approved, the DP with variances will be issued, after which a building permit application can be submitted—but without unit count or gross floor area, no construction timeline is estimable. The public notice (https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/19-menzies-notice) contains the formal proposal details, and the REW insight page (https://www.rew.ca/insights/3627352/19-menzies-street-victoria-bc) may provide recent assessment or sales data. The consolidated vote reduces the opportunity for mid-stream amendments, meaning any councillor discomfort with the project would have to be resolved before the single vote or the entire application could be defeated. The absence of a named applicant is a notable information gap that limits competitive intelligence.
Council is being asked to give first, second, and third readings and adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment No. 26-042 for 19 M…