Victoria McKean From: Oak Bay Council Sent: September 28, 2020 3:28 PM To: Victoria McKean Subject: FW: September 28th Council Meeting, Agenda Item #13 785 Island Heritage Designation Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged From: Jane Hall Sent: Monday, September 28, 2020 2:34 PM To: Oak Bay Council <[email protected]> Subject: September 28th Council Meeting, Agenda Item #13 785 Island Heritage Designation September 27, 2020 Mayor and Council District of Oak Bay 2167 Oak Bay Avenue Victoria, BC As a long‐time resident of Island Rd., I am writing in support of potential solutions to preserve the 108 year old home at 785 Island. This property has heritage value as outlined in other official submissions to date and contributes to the character of the street in general. I’m aware that the idea of involuntary designation Bylaw 4764 is under discussion at Council and support going forward with Option 2 if the HRA that had been started cannot be completed. As someone who has been following this matter, to return to the option of an HRA, would allow the developer to retain the original home and add a second dwelling. If a creative and reasonable solution could be found to satisfy both the District and the developer, I believe this would be a sensitive way to increase density while preserving the character of the existing streetscape and reducing the environmental impact of new construction. The proposal put forward did also appear to minimize impacts on adjacent properties, and seemed consistent with existing policies and strategies of Council, for example: Official Community Plan, 2014 1.6.2 Broad Strategies BP2. Consider infill development as a tool for allowing more density to fit within neighbourhoods while respecting and conserving neighbourhood character. 1 BP3. Accommodate future growth, in general, in areas that are already developed in order to retain Oak Bay’s natural environment, parks and open space. Oak Bay Heritage Plan, 2013 1. Conserve established streetscapes and neighbourhoods 2. Conserve historic buildings and structures Thank you for your consideration of this matter, Jane Hall Oak Bay 2 To: Oak Bay Mayor and Council Re: Designation of 785 Island Road I would like to add my support to the preservation of 785 Island Road. It is a home of considerable architectural and historical merit as well as contributing to the ambience and streetscape of Island Road. Barriers to retention of this heritage building seem to be connected to the District’s unreasonable financial demands in relation to a proposed Heritage Revitalization Agreement. The province designed the HRA as a planning tool and incentive for repurposing and retaining heritage structures. It is meant to be a win-win situation for both the municipality and the owner. Oak Bay has seen fit to negate this balance by requiring extensive building code upgrades and infrastructure costs. As an owner of a heritage building, listed on the Oak Bay Heritage Register, I had seriously considered preserving our landmark home by entering into an HRA. However recent examples of the financial hardship and administrative obstructions encountered by owners when dealing with the municipality has given me grounds for second thought. Demolitions of significant heritage structures will continue erode the character and ambiance of Oak Bay until Mayor and Council review the policies and procedures that block incentives to preserve our historical neighbourhoods. Regards Jean Sparks Oak Bay, BC September 28,2020 Victoria McKean From: KIM THORNBER Sent: September 28, 2020 8:38 AM To: Oak Bay Council Subject: 785 Island Road Mayor and Council, I am hoping it will be possible to preserve the house at 785 Island Road. It has an interesting history, and the Karl Spurgin design is very attractive. I think it would benefit our neighbourhood if an agreement could be reached with the developer. Thank you, Kim Thornber 1 Victoria McKean From: Stuart Stark & Associates Sent: September 27, 2020 8:36 PM To: Oak Bay Council Subject: Re: 785 Island Road - Karl Spurgin Home September 27, 2020 Dear Mayor and Council of Oak Bay Re: 785 Island Road ‐ Karl Spurgin Home I would like to add my support of Oak Bay Council proceeding with the Heritage Designation of this significant Oak Bay House, which was first identified as having heritage significance in my book Oak Bay’s Heritage Buildings in 1986, written for Oak Bay’s Heritage Advisory Committee as an inventory of significant Oak Bay buildings worthy of preservation. A house designed and built by an architect for his own use is always important, as it helps define the architectural influences and preferences he (or she) used in their other commissions. Karl Spurgin was a well‐regarded architect, both on his own, from 1911 on; and as the partner of William Semeyn between 1928 and 1931. Spurgin trained in England, and came to Victoria in 1911 at the age of thirty‐four. He – along with other British‐born architects who came to live in Victoria – was responsible for the unique English appearance of our community through his designs, many referencing Arts & Crafts and Tudor‐revival influences. Spurgin designed many significant buildings in the 1920s, including Oak Bay High School (now demolished); and Margaret Jenkins Elementary School (extant). In Oak Bay he designed the houses on Patio Court (extant, Heritage Designated, in the Prospect); as well as 1220 Newport Avenue, the handsome block on the corner of Newport Avenue, with stores below and apartments above, overlooking Windsor Park (with architect J.G. Johnson, extant). Unfortunately, many of his buildings have been demolished, which makes his own home a rare example of his work. The next home he designed for his own family, was a Tudor‐revival built in 1928 in Saanich (1908 Waterloo Road, corner of Richmond Road). That municipality recognized the importance of his work by Designating that house in 1997. His earlier Oak Bay home is, in some ways, more significant than his later house, showing, as it does, his early designs, and a typical architect‐designed Oak Bay house of 1912‐1914. I encourage Oak Bay to Designate Karl Spurgin’s own house, and to work with the owners on a Heritage Revitalization Agreement. The property is ideal to allow such a move. With a separate frontage on Plumer Street, a new house could be built there (hopefully sympathetic to the neighbourhood), to offset keeping Spurgin’s original home as a Heritage Designated property, with no change to the important Island Road streetscape. The neighbours have already invested in restoring the exterior of their home on the corner of Island Road and the Plumer Street right‐of‐way. Designating the next‐door Spurgin home at 785 Island Road would reinforce the preservation of the special character of the neighbourhood. Thank you. Sincerely, 1 Stuart Stark Stuart Stark, B.Arch. Principal Stuart Stark & Associates Heritage Consultants Offices at: Victoria B.C., Canada Email: [email protected] Website: www.HeritageConsultants.ca 2 Victoria McKean From: taylorbronwyn Sent: September 27, 2020 8:15 PM To: Barb & Ken Grant Cc: Mayor Kevin Murdoch; Oak Bay Council; Andrew Appleton; Hazel Braithwaite; Tara Ney; Cairine Green; Esther Paterson; Eric Wood Zhelka; Lou Varela Subject: Re: Re. 785 Island Rd., September 28/20 agenda item number 14 I agree with your final statement, since the OBHC endorsed the HRA application many months ago. My understanding of establishing an HRA is that it involves negotiations between the parties (owner & Municipality) that results in a mutually agreeable situation, NOT one where the municipality imposes set fees on the applicant. I forwarded to Council the study done by the Foundation that indicates property values are not negatively affected by designation. Heritage BC also has information to support this position. On Sep 27, 2020, at 7:34 PM, Barb & Ken Grant wrote: Sept. 27, 2020 Re. 785 Island Rd., September 28/20 agenda item number 14 Dear Mayor and Council, We’re in favour of heritage designation for 785 Island Road, but gaining that designation by working out a win‐win situation for the property owner and the municipality. Since the owners were originally willing to pursue the option, recommended by staff, of a Heritage Revitalization Agreement, may this option be revisited? In Bruce Anderson’s staff report dated September 14, 2020, Mr. Anderson states that the owners have advised that they will be seeking financial compensation as based on the market value of the property as a result of a heritage designation (should designation be imposed by Council on the property). There seems to be an assumption by the owners of 785 Island Road and staff (please see “Option 2” of Mr. Anderson’s report) that there will be a reduction in market value as a result of the heritage designation. This assumption of loss of market value may be a misconception. It’s certainly something we’ve never experienced as owners of heritage properties. We have designated three homes in Oak Bay and sold two of them so far over the years and never once suffered any financial reduction when it came time to sell these properties. These homes were well maintained and in good working order when they were listed for sale, and quickly sold at market value. One of these homes sold the day the sign went up, even with the heritage designation in the works and still proceeding to Council. The purchaser was happy to sign a document saying she was aware of the forthcoming heritage designation and approved it. 1 Rather than entering into a “mediation process to determine financial compensation,” why not enter into a mediation process to solve the impasse to a Heritage Revitalization Agreement? Respectfully, Ken and Barb Grant 2 Victoria McKean From: Barb & Ken Grant Sent: September 27, 2020 7:36 PM To: Mayor Kevin Murdoch Cc: Oak Bay Council; Andrew Appleton; Hazel Braithwaite; Tara Ney; Cairine Green; Esther Paterson; Eric Wood Zhelka; Lou Varela Subject: Re.