Victoria council is bracing for what could be another long night of debate over the proposed missing-middle housing initiative, with a public hearing set to restart Thursday evening.
City spokesman Bill Eisenhauer said there were dozens of people who did not get the chance to address the first public hearing in August and he expects they will be lined up on Thursday either in person or by phone.“There hasn’t been any more than last time, and that’s not uncommon,” he said. “The last time the list looked pretty thin, but then it was just like everybody showed up.”
The first meeting lasted nearly 4½ hours, with 50 speakers making impassioned pleas for council to enact the program, drop it entirely, or set it aside for the next council to tackle after the Oct. 15 election. The missing-middle initiative is designed to increase the number of housing options available between single-family homes and condo towers, in the hope more families will be able to stay in the city, while ensuring new development suits the character of neighbourhoods.
I admin home rental groups on facebook for years. It doesn't matter if you have money/good career/refetences/ a business- there simply is lack of housing stock. So many are leaving their/jobs/communities/Island/province to find housing. It is hurting families & communities.