Infill Housing Strategy: Options for Oak Bay

The Infill Housing project will resume this fall.

On June 19, 2023 Council endorsed the scope of work for the development of a program. Starting in the fall of 2023, and anticipated to complete in the summer of 2024, the next steps include analysis of public input from 2022; drafting of a program; consultation; and bylaw changes.

Previously, on September 26, 2022, Council reviewed the results of public input and endorsed the Guiding Principles and Key Directions for the Strategy. Council also requested staff to report back with an implementation plan which would outline the type of bylaw and policy changes needed, as well identify options for further engagement on the details of the strategy.

About the Infill Housing Strategy

Ensuring access to diverse housing options within the built environment is one of Council’s five strategic priorities, identified in the 2019-2022 Council Strategic Priorities Plan. Considering infill development within established neighbourhoods is also a policy objective stated in the Official Community Plan.

Infill housing, which is typically low scale and is intended to “fit within” an existing single-family neighbourhoods without significantly altering its character and appearance, is one way to provide diverse housing options in Oak Bay.

The purpose of the Infill Housing Strategy, which began in 2021 and will complete in 2022, is to identify how infill housing could work in different Oak Bay neighbourhoods to create more diverse housing opportunities within the community.

The types of infill housing that have been considered are:

• Detached Suites (laneway houses and garden suites are an example)
• Duplexes (a building with two units that are independently owned)
• Triplexes (a building with three units that are independently owned)
• Townhouses (a building with multiple units that are independently owned)
• Heritage Conversions (converts an existing heritage home into multiple units)
• Subdivision of Larger Lots (larger lots can be subdivided to allow for new single detached homes)

Following Round 2 of the engagement process the following additional housing types have been identified in addition to the above:

• Lowrise Apartments
• Multiplexes
• Panhandle Lots Subdivision
• Secondary Suites in Infill Housing
• House Conversions

The community survey provided a lot of information about preferences and ideas for the various neighbourhoods. In addition to the Guiding Principles and Key Direction the Community Survey results will help inform implementation options for bylaw and policy changes. Once more details are available, Council will consider further consultation or engagement on these changes.