Oak Bay
Oak Bay is one of the four core municipalities within the Capital Region District.
According to Census data, its strongest period of growth occurred between 1941 and 1966. During that twenty-five years, Oak Bay’s population doubled, reaching 18,000.
Forty years later, its population is … well, 18,000, plus or minus a few. Virtually zero growth. There may be no truth to the rumour that the law requires someone has to leave Oak Bay before another is allowed to move in, but in reality, it has worked out that way for the past four decades. Why?
By 1966 a very large portion of all available land within Oak Bay’s borders had been developed - in other words, there hasn’t been a lot of physical room for growth, with population increases, since. And Oak Bay developed very much as a place for single family dwellings with lots of space for parks, recreation and golf courses. According to its 1997 Official Community Plan (OCP), the breakdown, measured in terms of area (excluding streets), was like this:
- single family dwellings: 63%
- parks, recreation, open spaces and golf: 18%
- duplexes, townhouses & apartments: 3%
- institutions, such as churches, schools, governments, etc: 13%
- business premises: 1%
- all other uses: 1%
Clearly, Oak Bay’s character as a highly desirable place to live in established neighbourhoods of single family residences is firmly established. The price tag attached to single family homes in this area has always reflected that desirability. But the appreciation in land values throughout the southern region of Vancouver Island in the past seven or eight years means that today, Oak Bay is simply not affordable for most young purchasers.
As a member municipality of the Capital Region District, Oak Bay agreed to a ‘Regional Growth Strategy’ in 2003. In so doing, Oak Bay committed to increasing its designated capacity for a variety of residential types by 5% by 2011. Given that Oak Bay doesn’t have much, if any, land available for new development, how is that growth going to be accommodated?
To meet this commitment, Oak Bay will need to be open to the concept of some multi family projects.
And it is. What seems to be most likely is some multi family projects specifically for Oak Bay’s aging demographic.
Residents of Oak Bay tend to want to remain residents, and so Oak Bay can work toward the Regional Growth Strategy targets simply be encouraging developments created specifically for it’s more senior citizens. Don’t look for tall towers. Instead, look for lower profile redevelopments concentrated in specific areas in close proximity to transportation links, shopping services, etc.
As other municipalities are doing, Oak Bay too is revisiting its policies concerning secondary suites as another means of taking up some of the demand for accommodation for seniors. Selective infilling to accommodate additional single family homes will add to the mix.
So, what does all this mean for people ‘from away’ looking to move to Oak Bay? Probably that your chances of finding a brand new home will be relatively rare. But it’s the price you pay to enjoy the charm, ambiance and quality of life in Oak Bay.
Sub Quercu Felicitas
