A Pause for Thought: Colwood Council Hits the Brakes on Royal Bay's Grand Vision, Remembering Lessons Learned

Colwood Council, for once, decided to pump the brakes. It was a recent meeting, and the topic on the table was a rezoning application for a shiny new 'neighbourhood hub' in Royal Bay. You could almost hear the collective sigh of caution, a silent echo from past missteps. They hit pause, a deliberate move that suggests, honestly, a much-needed evolution in how the city approaches its growth.

The proposal itself came from Horizon Pacific Planning, on behalf of Westmont Montessori, and it sounded reasonable enough on paper: a four-storey building, earmarked for commercial spaces, a daycare facility, and, yes, 30 residential units. It's the kind of mixed-use development that, in theory, breathes life into a community. But something felt off to the council, a sense of déjà vu, perhaps.

Councillor Doug Nutting, in a moment of candid reflection, didn't mince words. He spoke of the city having been, well, 'hoodwinked' in the past. This isn't just civic drama; it's a profound historical context for Colwood. Back when the Royal Bay master plan was first approved, the city envisioned a vibrant, comprehensive community — think commercial hubs, bustling schools, all woven together. Yet, many of those promised elements, those crucial amenities that truly define a neighbourhood, simply never materialized. They were, in truth, left waiting, leaving the community feeling a little short-changed. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, isn’t it?

And so, fast forward to today’s neighbourhood hub proposal. The council’s hesitation wasn't about the specific building, not really. It was about the lack of a bigger picture, a clear, shared vision for what this 'hub' was truly meant to be for the community. Are we just adding more buildings, or are we intentionally crafting a heart for Royal Bay? That was the core question. They felt, quite rightly, that they were being asked to approve a piece of a puzzle without even seeing the box top.

What the council wants, what they desperately need, is a genuine conversation. They’ve urged the developers to step back, to engage with the city not just as applicants, but as collaborators in defining this elusive 'neighbourhood hub.' What will it offer? How will it serve the people who live there? What's the grand, overarching plan? It’s a call for a community vision, one that goes beyond architectural drawings and dives into the very soul of what makes a place truly feel like home.

This isn't about rejection; it’s about refinement. It’s about ensuring that Colwood's future developments are built not just with bricks and mortar, but with foresight, integrity, and a deep understanding of the community's needs and aspirations. And honestly, after past experiences, who can blame them for being a little 'twice shy'?