Introduction
爱豆传媒 School District was successful in securing funding in early 2024 to create additional child care spaces at Willows Elementary, expanding before and after school care capacity to better serve the community. Following funding approval, the Facilities Department began working with an architect to develop the renovation plans.
As part of the building permit application, a review to confirm compliance with the District of Oak Bay听Parking Facilities Bylaw No. 3540 determined that five additional parking stalls are required, and an听upgrade to the听existing听accessible parking stall.
In order to ensure compliance with applicable bylaw, safety, and fire lane access requirements, two trees between the school and Musgrave field will need to be removed. For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What upgrades are taking place at Willows Elementary School?听
The听Greater Victoria School District听was successful in securing funding in early 2024 to create听additional听child听care听spaces at Willows Elementary, expanding before and after school care capacity to better serve the community. Following funding approval, the Facilities Department began working with听an听architect to develop the renovation plans.听
As part of the building permit application for the听project, a review was听undertaken听to confirm compliance with the District of Oak Bay听Parking Facilities Bylaw No. 3540.听The听review听determined听that听five听additional听on-site parking stalls are听required,听which would听increase听the total number of parking spaces from the existing 28 to听33.听听
The parking lot听redesign听will also include an upgrade to the听existing听accessible parking stall to meet current听building听code requirements,听reconfiguring the parking layout to accommodate 33 stalls听sized to听meet bylaw听requirements, and听levelling the existing听parking area听by installing a new retaining wall, improving safety,听accessibility听and听overall site听usability.听
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2. Where will the additional on-site parking be located?听
After carefully considering multiple parking lot configurations (more information on the following pages), it听was听determined听that the听optimal听location for the听additional听parking stalls is between the school building and Musgrave field.听
This听location听was selected because it preserves valuable play space, minimizes disruption听to听traffic flow,听retains听the听existing parking lot entrance and exit,听and provides听the safest听design for students, staff, and the broader community.听
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3. When did public engagement take place and how did feedback inform the project?听
In late May 2024, project information was shared with the school community via email and flyers,听followed by an in-person information session on June 5, 2024. During this opportunity for public feedback, the proposed听project was discussed including the听proposed听parking changes听along with听an anticipated听timeline.听Feedback informed the ongoing design process as the school district continued to work closely with the project architect to refine the plans before听submitting听the building permit application to the District of Oak Bay.听听听
Signs were installed at the school on June 11,听2026听to remind and inform the community about the project, a design听that听required听the removal of four Red Oak trees. A tree removal permit was granted to remove and replace these trees听in accordance with听the听District of Oak Bay Tree Protection Bylaw No. 4742.听Following feedback from the community, representatives from the Greater Victoria School District, the District of Oak Bay, the project engineers, arborist, and architect met on site to review the proposed parking lot design and project requirements.听
As a result of these discussions, it was听determined听that two of the four Red Oak trees could be听retained听through听a combination of听the use of听geogrid听reinforcement,听careful grading around root systems,听and听by听providing听reduced width听鈥楽mall Car鈥� parking stalls.听听
Two听trees will need to be removed to听maintain听the required fire lane and ensure compliance with applicable听bylaw,听safety,听and access requirements.听The revised parking lot design听will still accommodate the听33 parking stalls听required by听the District of Oak Bay Parking Facilities Bylaw No. 3450.听A rendering of the updated parking lot layout is provided听below.听
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4. Which trees will be affected and will they be replaced?听
爱豆传媒 School District听will be removing the two middle Red Oak听trees听(see photo on next page)听and听will听replace听these听in accordance with听District of Oak Bay Tree Protection Bylaw No. 4742听upon completion of the parking lot听improvements,听ensuring the听long-term听preservation of the site’s landscape and tree听canopy.听听
The replacement trees will meet the听minimum听requirements of the bylaw, with each tree being a minimum of two meters in height or four centimeters in diameter. The trees will be听maintained听by the school district, with opportunities for the school community to听participate听in their care as part of student learning.听
Wood from the听two听removed trees will be repurposed for a variety of projects across the district, further supporting the district’s commitment to responsible resource stewardship and sustainability.听
听5. What other locations were considered for additional on-site parking?听
Alternative locations for the required parking expansion were evaluated as听identified听on听the site plan below.听These options included:听
a. Parking on the north side of the building adjacent to the basketball court
b. Parking on the play field off Musgrave Street
c. Parking at the front of the school near the intersection of Dalhousie and Musgrave
d. Parking adjacent to Cadboro Bay Road 听
Each听option听above听was听determined听to be unsuitable for one or more of the following reasons:听
- Reduction of valuable play space and outdoor recreation areas for students and the broader community.
- Potential safety concerns associated with increased vehicle movements in areas used by students entering and exiting the school.听
- Limited vehicle maneuverability and operational challenges within proposed layouts.听
- The need to construct听additional听drive aisles and vehicle circulation routes, resulting in a larger asphalt footprint and the loss of green space.听
- Feedback received through community consultation emphasized the importance of preserving the school’s playing fields for both school and community use.听
- The potential听need听to听relocate听underground utilities and, in some cases, the existing bus stop, resulting in increased project complexity and cost.听
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6. What will happen if the听District听does not听begin project site preparation听in听summer听2026?听
The school district has a contract in place with a general contractor to complete the required parking lot improvements. Any delay to the project would result in听additional听costs and could significantly听impact听the construction schedule.听听As a听result听the construction would either significantly disrupt school operations during the 2026-2027 school year or need to be deferred until summer 2027. In听addition,听the school district will be unable to obtain occupancy approval for the renovated听child care听locations until the required parking improvements have been completed听in accordance听with听applicable requirements.听
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Thank you to the school community and beyond for your feedback and support as we look听forward to the benefits that this project will bring to Willows Elementary.